Active phased array antenna and antenna controller

Details Active phased array antenna and antenna controller Active phased array antenna and antenna controller

2001-08-23

2002-12-17

Wong, Don (Department: 2821)

Communications: radio wave antennas

Antennas

Microstrip

C343S787000, C333S156000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06496147

ABSTRACT:

DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an active phased array antenna and an antenna controlling apparatus and, more particularly, to an active phased array antenna which receives and transmits a microwave in a communication equipment such as a wireless for mobile object identification equipment or a satellite broadcast receiving apparatus, as well as an active phased array antenna which receives and transmits millimeter waves employed in such as a collision preventing radar for automobiles, and also to an antenna controlling apparatus employed for controlling these active phased array antennas.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, a so-called active phased array antenna is generally used as an antenna which receives and transmits microwaves and millimeter waves.
This active phased array antenna conventionally used will be described with reference to figures.
FIG.
10
(
a
) is a diagram schematically illustrating a construction of a conventional active phased array antenna
100
, and FIG.
10
(
b
) exemplifies the construction of a phase shifter
707
as an element constituting the active phased array antenna
100
.
The conventional active phased array antenna
100
includes plural antenna patches
706
a
-
706
p
arrayed on a dielectric substrate and a feeding line
710
for distributing a high-frequency signal applied to a feeding terminal
711
to respective antenna patches
706
. The active phased array antenna
100
also includes phase shifters
707
a
-
707
p
corresponding to respective antenna patches
706
which are arranged on the feeding line
710
and changes a phase of the high-frequency signal passing therethrough and a control circuit
708
which applies a desired dc control voltage to each phase shifter
707
and controls a phase shift of the high-frequency signal passing each phase shifter
707
. While sixteen antenna patches
706
and sixteen phase shifters
707
are provided, respectively, in
FIG. 10
, this is only an example.
Further, FIG.
10
(
b
) is a diagram illustrating the construction of the phase shifter
707
used in the active phased array antenna
100
. All the phase shifters
707
have the identical constructions.
The phase shifter
707
includes first transmission lines
14
a
and
20
a
at an input side and an output side which are connected to the feeding line
710
as transmission lines that transmit inputted high-frequency signals, second transmission lines
14
b
and
20
b
at the input side and the output side which are connected to a dc power source through high-frequency blocking elements
21
and
27
, an intermediate transmission line
17
which is connected to a dc power source through a high-frequency blocking element
24
, a first and a second transmission lines for switching
15
and
16
of different lengths which are connected to a first control line V
1
and a first inversion control line NV
1
through the high-frequency blocking element
24
, respectively, and a third and a fourth transmission lines for switching
18
and
19
of different lengths which are connected to a second control line V
2
and a second inversion control line NV
2
through high-frequency blocking elements
25
and
26
, respectively.
A dc blocking element
12
which blocks a direct current is connected between the first transmission line
14
a
and the second transmission line
14
b
at the input side, and a blocking element
13
which blocks a direct current is connected between the first transmission line
20
a
and the second transmission line
20
b
at the output side, respectively.
Further, the first and the second transmission lines for switching
15
and
16
are located between the intermediate transmission line
17
and the second transmission line
14
b
at the input side.
Connected between an input side end of the first transmission line for switching
15
and an output side end of the second transmission line
14
b
at the input side is a PIN diode
31
a
connected in a forward direction viewed from the second transmission line
14
b
to the first transmission line for switching
15
, and between an output side end of the first transmission line for switching
15
and an input side end of the intermediate transmission line
17
is a PIN diode
31
b
connected in a forward direction viewed from the intermediate transmission line
17
to the first transmission line for switching
15
, respectively.
Connected between an input side end of the second transmission line for switching
16
and an output side end of the second transmission line
14
b
at the input side is a PIN diode
32
a
connected in a forward direction viewed from the second transmission line
14
b
to the second transmission line for switching
16
, and connected between an output side end of the second transmission line for switching
16
and an input side end of the intermediate transmission line
17
is a PIN diode
32
b
connected in a forward direction viewed from the intermediate transmission line
17
to the second transmission line for switching
16
.
Further, the third and the fourth transmission lines for switching
18
and
19
are located between the intermediate transmission line
17
and the second transmission line
20
b
at the output side.
Connected between an input side end of the third transmission line for switching
18
and an output side end of the intermediate transmission line
17
is a PIN diode
33
a
connected in a forward direction viewed from the intermediate transmission line
17
to the third transmission line for switching
18
, and connected between an output side end of the third transmission line for switching
18
and an input side end of the second transmission line
20
b
at the output side is a PIN diode
33
b
connected in a forward direction viewed from the second transmission line
20
b
to the third transmission line for switching
18
.
Connected between an input side end of the fourth transmission line for switching
19
and an output side end of the intermediate transmission line
17
is a PIN diode
34
a
connected in a forward direction viewed from the intermediate transmission line
17
to the fourth transmission line for switching
19
, and connected between an output side end of the fourth transmission line for switching
19
and an input side end of the second transmission line
20
b
at the output side is a PIN diode
34
b
connected in a forward direction viewed from the second transmission line
20
to the fourth transmission line for switching
19
.
The operation of the active phased array antenna which is provided with the so-constructed phase shifters
707
will be described.
When a high-frequency electric power is applied to the feeding terminal
711
, the high-frequency electric power is supplied to respective antenna patches
706
through respective phase shifters
707
. Then, a corresponding control voltage required is applied to each phase shifter
707
, and a processing of making the phase of the high-frequency electric power advanced or delayed by a prescribed phase shifter is performed at each phase shifter
707
on the basis of the control voltage from the control circuit
708
. Thereby, the high-frequency electric powers of the prescribed positions are inputted from respective antenna patches
706
.
In this way, the active phased array antenna
100
performs a control of its orientation characteristics by applying a dc control voltage from the control circuit
708
to respective phase shifters
707
to change the phase shift quantity.
Next, the operation of the phase shifter will be described.
The high-frequency electric power supplied to the phase shifter
707
through the feeding line
710
passes through sequentially the first transmission line
14
a
at the input side, the dc blocking element
12
, the second transmission line
14
b
at the input side, either one of the first and the second transmission lines for switching
15
and
16
, the intermediate transmission line
17
, either one of the third and the fourth transmission lines for switching
18
and
19
, the second transmission l

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Active phased array antenna and antenna controller does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Active phased array antenna and antenna controller, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Active phased array antenna and antenna controller will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2956364