Antenna test system and antenna test method

Abstract

The invention provides an antenna test system and an antenna test method. The antenna test system comprises a track simulation intelligent remote control car, an intelligent remote control lifting frame, a horn antenna, a tested antenna, a target simulator and a main control module, the intelligent remote control lifting frame is installed on the track simulation intelligent remote control car, and the horn antenna is installed on the intelligent remote control lifting frame. The main control module is connected with the target simulator, and the target simulator is connected with the horn antenna and the tested antenna; the main control module is used for controlling the target simulator to generate a radio frequency inquiry signal and driving the horn antenna to send the radio frequency inquiry signal when the tested antenna is in the response function mode; the target simulator is also used for sending a response signal generated by the tested antenna according to the radio frequency inquiry signal to the main control module when receiving the response signal; the main control module is used for testing the response function of the tested antenna according to the radio frequency inquiry signal and the response signal; the main control module is also used for controlling the target simulator to generate a radio frequency inquiry signal and driving the tested antenna to send the radio frequency inquiry signal when the tested antenna is in the inquiry function mode; the target simulator is also used for sending a response signal generated by the horn antenna according to the radio frequency inquiry signal to the main control module when receiving the response signal; and the main control module is used for carrying out inquiry function test on the tested antenna according to the radio frequency inquiry signal and the response signal. Signal transceiving and test comparison are automatically realized, and automatic test of the antenna is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of antenna testing, and in particular relates to an antenna testing system and an antenna testing method. Background Art

[0002] Antennas are an important part of radio communication systems, and the performance of antennas directly affects the transmission distance, coverage, signal strength and other indicators of aircraft systems. Therefore, testing antennas is the key to ensuring the normal operation of the system and optimizing performance.

[0003] At present, the commonly used test methods are mainly field test method and indoor test method. The antenna is tested and adjusted in the actual use environment. By collecting actual signal data, analyzing and comparing the changes in signal parameters, it is determined whether the antenna needs to be calibrated and corresponding adjustments are made. For the verification of the antenna's receiving and transmitting functions, the target signal simulation technology is used to build a test system and simulate the antenna's inquiry and response signals at the same time to achieve antenna function testing.

[0004] In the prior art, antenna testing has the following problems:

[0005] 1) Low test efficiency: Under the traditional test method, many types of test equipment are required and the process is complicated. It is necessary to control the signal source switch at the antenna signal receiving end and the transmitting end at the same time, and the antenna needs to be moved back and forth to different angles for testing. Finally, data analysis and recording are performed. The operation is complicated, time-consuming and labor-intensive.

[0006] 2) Poor test accuracy: In traditional testing methods, the signal source transmitter and the receiver transmit signals through RF cables, which results in high cable attenuation and low signal power. At the same time, the antenna is usually placed manually, making it difficult to ensure the accuracy of the angle, resulting in poor test accuracy.

[0007] 3) Low degree of test automation: In traditional testing methods, it is necessary to manually control the transmission and reception of signals, and manually move the test angle and position of the antenna. When solving data, it is also necessary to connect to the test computer for analysis. The degree of automation is extremely low, resulting in a waste of time and manpower costs.

[0008] 4) Difficulty in switching working modes: Under traditional testing methods, antenna function testing is required to verify whether the antenna transmission and reception functions are normal. The antenna working mode needs to be set manually, and the mode cannot be switched automatically, resulting in low test efficiency and insufficient antenna function verification. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention proposes an antenna testing system and an antenna testing method during the outdoor antenna testing process to realize functional testing and calibration of different types of antennas, greatly improving the antenna testing efficiency, and improving the antenna testing accuracy and automation level, so as to solve the problems of low testing efficiency, poor accuracy, low automation level, and difficulty in switching working modes in the current antenna calibration process involved in the above-mentioned background technology.

[0010] A first aspect of the present invention provides an antenna testing system, comprising: a track simulation intelligent remote control vehicle, an intelligent remote control lifting frame, a horn antenna, an antenna to be tested, a target simulator, and a main control module;

[0011] The intelligent remote control lifting frame is installed on the track simulation intelligent remote control car, and the horn antenna is installed on the intelligent remote control lifting frame;

[0012] The main control module is connected to the target simulator, and the target simulator is connected to the horn antenna and the antenna under test;

[0013] The main control module is used to control the target simulator to generate a radio frequency interrogation signal and drive the horn antenna to send the radio frequency interrogation signal when the antenna under test is in the answering function mode; the target simulator is also used to send the answering signal generated by the antenna under test according to the radio frequency interrogation signal to the main control module when receiving the answering signal; the main control module is used to perform the answering function test of the antenna under test according to the radio frequency interrogation signal and the answering signal;

[0014] The main control module is also used to control the target simulator to generate a radio frequency interrogation signal and drive the antenna under test to send the radio frequency interrogation signal when the antenna under test is in the interrogation function mode; the target simulator is also used to send the response signal generated by the horn antenna according to the radio frequency interrogation signal to the main control module when it receives the response signal; the main control module is used to perform an interrogation function test of the antenna under test according to the radio frequency interrogation signal and the response signal.

[0015] Optionally, the main control module is also used to control the trajectory to simulate the intelligent remote control car being in motion when performing a response function test and an inquiry function test on the antenna under test.

[0016] Optionally, the target simulator generates a radio frequency interrogation signal according to parameters of the antenna in the reply function mode.

[0017] Optionally, the horn antenna and the antenna under test are located at the same height.

[0018] Optionally, it also includes: a GPS antenna, a differential GPS module; a horn antenna, an antenna under test and a main control module are connected;

[0019] The main control module is used to set the antenna under test to the inquiry function state and control the antenna under test to send a radio frequency signal, obtain the real-time azimuth of the horn antenna according to the response signal of the radio frequency signal sent by the horn antenna, draw the antenna radiation pattern of the antenna under test according to the amplitude of the radio frequency signal and the real-time azimuth of the horn antenna, and determine the normal position information of the antenna under test according to the antenna radiation pattern; control the trajectory to simulate the movement of the intelligent remote control car to the normal position of the antenna under test, and set the normal direction as the reference azimuth; control the trajectory to simulate the intelligent remote control car at multiple angles with the reference azimuth, obtain the azimuth error at each angle, and calibrate the accuracy of the antenna under test according to all azimuth errors.

[0020] Optionally, move the horn antenna to a reference position, adjust the height of the intelligent remote control lifting frame so that the GPS antenna, the antenna under test and the horn antenna are at the same height, and control the horn antenna to send a radio frequency signal;

[0021] The differential GPS module is used to obtain a first azimuth value between the GPS antenna and the horn antenna according to a radio frequency signal received by the GPS antenna;

[0022] The main control module is also used to control the horn antenna to send a radio frequency signal to the antenna under test, obtain a second azimuth value between the antenna under test and the horn antenna according to the radio frequency signal received by the antenna under test, and obtain an azimuth error according to the first azimuth value and the second azimuth value.

[0023] Optionally, the angles include 0°, 45°, 60°, 80°, 90°, 100°, 120°, and 135°.

[0024] A second aspect of the present invention provides an antenna testing method, which is performed by the antenna testing system as described in any one of the first aspects.

[0025] The present invention proposes an antenna testing system and an antenna testing method in the process of outdoor antenna testing, and tests the antenna by building a modular hardware system in combination with digital signal processing technology. By collecting the signal data of the antenna input and output, the signal is analyzed and processed by using a digital signal processing algorithm, so as to realize the calibration of the antenna, which has the advantages of high precision, high efficiency and easy automation.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0027] 1. The present invention constructs a set of antenna field test system, proposes a multi-target motion trajectory, field azimuth automatic test method, designs a standard control interface, and utilizes antenna system test hardware and combines the main control module function software to replace the original various measurement and control hardware, simulates and constructs the general functions of multiple instruments, and automatically controls the antenna movement and antenna working mode switching, thereby solving the problem that the traditional test operation is complex and susceptible to interference from the external environment, and greatly improving the test efficiency.

[0028] 2. The present invention proposes an antenna calibration and signal transceiver function test method, which takes the antenna system as a unified test object, compares the standard GPS antenna test data with the test data of the antenna under test, and realizes antenna calibration; uses a target simulator to transmit or receive interrogation and response signals to check whether the target simulation function of the antenna under test is normal. The above method can make the test results more accurate and further improve the antenna test quality.

[0029] 3. The present invention develops a modular software testing system, which combines the main control module, the real-time data processing and analysis module, the data reading module and the target signal processing module with the hardware. The system can process and analyze the test data by sending unified control instructions, generate a use case model, drive the antenna test system to rotate at different angles, and finally display the generated test data results graphically. It can realize rapid testing such as data management sharing and automatic calibration, and can also quickly realize resource sharing, thereby improving the expansion capability of the test platform.

[0030] 4. The present invention designs an automatic antenna testing process. By writing test cases, the entire antenna testing process is edited using software language, forming a unified testing process from antenna movement to testing, realizing automatic testing of outdoor antennas, breaking through the traditional manual testing mode, and reducing manpower and time costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 The hardware architecture diagram of the antenna test system platform of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a software architecture diagram of the antenna testing system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The present invention adopts the following technical solution: an antenna test system is composed of Figure 1 , its hardware feature is that the system mainly includes three parts, namely display subsystem, multi-target motion trajectory subsystem, and field azimuth automatic test subsystem. The display subsystem includes a display and an industrial computer; the multi-target trajectory subsystem includes a trajectory simulation intelligent remote control car, an intelligent remote control lifting frame, a horn antenna, a GPS antenna, and a differential GPS module; the field azimuth automatic test subsystem chassis includes a main control module, a data analysis and processing module, a vector signal analysis module, a clock synchronization module, a calibration module, a multi-channel matrix module switch, a power management module, and a target simulator. The antenna test software is built into the industrial computer and includes a main control module, a real-time data processing and analysis module, a data reading module, and a target signal processing module.

[0034] The display and industrial computer are mainly used to complete the operational control of the test status, the display of the test result data, and the dynamic display of the antenna directional diagram; the trajectory simulation intelligent remote control car is controlled by the signal of the main control module, so that within a certain period of time, the car is driven to move along a given trajectory; the intelligent remote control lifting frame is controlled by the signal of the main control module, and can automatically rise and fall the height of the horn antenna; the horn antenna is installed on the intelligent remote control lifting frame, and can transmit or receive standard radio frequency signals; the GPS antenna transmits or receives standard GPS radio frequency signals; the differential GPS module can provide a differential GPS reference for accurate three-dimensional coordinates, and calculate the angle of the horn antenna corresponding to the GPS antenna; the main control module is mainly used to complete the overall control of the entire calibration system, including the positioning of the trajectory simulation intelligent remote control car, the control of the intelligent remote control lifting frame, the transmission and reception of the inquiry or response signal of the target simulator, etc.; the data analysis and processing The module mainly completes the processing and analysis of the antenna calibration system data, such as the processing and generation of the antenna directional diagram, and sends the processing results to the main control module for display; the vector signal analysis module is used to sample and analyze the antenna's RF signal and convert the signal, and test the signal amplitude, and finally draw it into a directional diagram; the clock synchronization module mainly completes the synchronization of time information and completes the timekeeping function; the calibration module is mainly used for the calibration of the multi-target motion trajectory planning system and the error calibration between the standard value and the test value; the power management module is used to supply power to the chassis and maintain the power supply balance and stable voltage output between the modules; the target simulator is used for the target simulator to generate a RF interrogation signal and drive the horn antenna to send the RF interrogation signal; the target simulator is also used to send the response signal generated by the antenna under test according to the RF interrogation signal to the main control module when receiving the response signal, and is also used to generate a RF interrogation signal based on the parameters of the antenna in the response function mode.

[0035] The test software includes four modules. The main control module provides control signals and pointing commands for the system, and completes the movement of the remote control car, the lifting of the lifting frame, the analysis control of the antenna vector signal, the calibration control, the multi-channel matrix switch control and the target simulation parameter and type control; the real-time data processing and analysis module completes the comparison of the test data of the antenna under test with the standard antenna test signal, and performs processing and analysis, including antenna pattern data processing, target data processing, etc.; the data reading module completes the antenna test data storage and data reading playback; the target signal processing module completes the data processing of the antenna target signal for antenna function testing.

[0036] 1. Working principle and use process of the present invention: Taking the aircraft antenna function test as an example, an antenna testing method includes the following contents: 1) connecting an industrial computer, a test system cable and a power cable; 2) installing a horn antenna on an intelligent remote-controlled lifting frame, and placing the lifting frame on a mounting platform of a track-simulating intelligent remote-controlled vehicle; 3) adjusting the height of the intelligent remote-controlled lifting frame, aligning the horn antenna with the center position of the antenna under test, and locating them at the same height; 4) starting the industrial computer, running the antenna testing software, the industrial computer establishes a connection with the horn antenna through the standard communication control command signal provided by the main control module software, and sends a control signal to the horn antenna through the industrial computer to complete the sending and receiving of the standard RF signal of the horn antenna; 5) when the aircraft antenna under test is in the answering function mode, the main control module controls the target simulator to generate a RF interrogation signal and drives the horn antenna to send the RF interrogation signal. When the antenna under test receives the interrogation signal of the horn antenna, the target simulator sends the interrogation signal to the horn antenna through the target simulator. The simulator receives the response signal generated by the antenna under test according to the RF interrogation signal, forms a response message and sends it to the main control module. The target signal processing module in the software performs data analysis on the response signal parsed by the target simulator, and transmits the result to the data analysis processing module for data solution generation, and then sends the processing result to the main control module and the display for display; 6) When the antenna under test of the aircraft is in the interrogation function mode, the target simulator is controlled to generate an RF response signal and drive the antenna under test to send an RF interrogation signal. When the horn antenna receives the interrogation signal emitted by the antenna under test, the response signal generated by the horn antenna according to the RF interrogation signal is received by the target simulator, a response message is formed and sent to the main control module. The target signal processing module in the software performs data analysis on the response signal parsed by the target simulator, and transmits the result to the data analysis processing module for data solution generation, and then sends the processing result to the main control module and the display for display;

[0037] 7) The data reading module in the software displays and stores the query and response processing results of the aircraft antenna under test, and generates the test results; 8) After the test is completed, turn off the power of the test system and remove the horn antenna.

[0038] 2. Working principle and use process of the present invention: Taking the aircraft antenna calibration test as an example, an antenna testing method includes the following contents: 1) connecting an industrial computer, a test system cable and a power cable; 2) installing a horn antenna on an intelligent remote control lifting frame, and placing the lifting frame on a mounting platform of a track-simulating intelligent remote control vehicle; 3) adjusting the height of the intelligent remote control lifting frame, aligning the horn antenna with the center position of the antenna under test and locating them at the same height; 4) starting the industrial computer, running the antenna testing software, and establishing a connection between the industrial computer and the horn antenna through the standard communication control command signal provided by the main control module software, and sending a control signal to the horn antenna through the industrial computer to complete the sending and receiving of the standard radio frequency signal of the horn antenna; 5) placing the aircraft under test The antenna is set to the inquiry state, and the main control module in the software controls the target simulator to generate a response signal. When the horn antenna receives the inquiry signal, it is transmitted to the vector signal analysis module via the RF cable. The vector signal analysis module completes the sampling and analysis of the RF signal and converts it into data information and sends it to the data analysis and processing module. The data processing and analysis module draws the antenna directional diagram according to the amplitude of the inquiry signal and the real-time azimuth of the antenna, and finds the antenna normal position information; 6) Power on the antenna test system, start the normal operation of each subsystem, run the clock synchronization module, and transmit the standard time signal to each subsystem through the RF cable to complete the time synchronization and timekeeping functions between the test systems; 7) The main control module controls the trajectory to simulate the intelligent remote control car in the aircraft The normal direction of the antenna under test, adjust the height of the intelligent remote control lifting frame so that the GPS antenna, the horn antenna and the aircraft antenna under test are at the same height; 8) The main control module controls the trajectory simulation intelligent remote control car to be in the normal position of the aircraft antenna under test, and sets the normal direction to the reference azimuth. The main control module controls the system to enter the antenna calibration mode, establishes the motion trajectory parameters through the main control module, and adjusts the trajectory simulation intelligent remote control car to be at 0°, 45°, 60°, 80°, 90°, 100°, 120°, 135° and other angles with the reference azimuth; 9) When the trajectory simulation intelligent remote control car is at 0° with the reference azimuth, move the horn antenna to the reference azimuth, and adjust the height of the intelligent remote control lifting frame so that the GPS antenna, the horn antenna and the aircraft antenna under test are at the same height; 10) When the trajectory simulation intelligent remote control car is at 0° with the reference azimuth, move the horn antenna to the reference azimuth, and adjust the height of the intelligent remote control lifting frame so that the GPS antenna, The aircraft's antenna under test and the horn antenna are located at the same height, and the antenna test system is run. The main control module sends a command to the horn antenna to turn on the horn antenna. After receiving the control command, the horn antenna sends a radio frequency signal to the GPS antenna. The differential GPS module processes and analyzes the radio frequency signal received by the GPS antenna to calculate the azimuth value between the GPS antenna and the horn antenna; 10) Keep the trajectory to simulate that the position of the horn antenna on the intelligent remote control car remains unchanged, and run the antenna test system. The main control module sends a command to the horn antenna to turn on the horn antenna. After receiving the control command, the horn antenna sends a radio frequency signal to the antenna under test. The data analysis and processing module performs azimuth solution to calculate the azimuth value between the antenna under test and the horn antenna.11) Similarly, when the trajectory simulation intelligent remote control car is at an angle of 45°, 60°, 80°, 90°, 100°, 120°, 135°, etc. with the reference azimuth, repeat the above operation to measure the azimuth value between the GPS antenna and the horn antenna, and the azimuth value between the antenna under test and the horn antenna at different azimuths. The standard azimuth value measured by GPS and the azimuth value measured by the antenna under test are analyzed and calculated by the calibration module. After the errors of the two tests are resolved, error compensation is achieved to complete the precision calibration of the antenna under test. 12) Turn off the power of the antenna test system, remove the antenna and test cable, and the test is completed.

[0039] The invention has been successfully applied to the field test of multiple antennas of aircraft, realized the function and performance calibration of multiple different antennas, completed the azimuth accuracy test under different angle position relationship of antenna, formed a standard test method, and carried out the antenna function and performance test respectively, adopted the method of target signal simulation, verified the antenna receiving and transmitting function, proposed a calibration method of standard test error compensation, compared the test value with the standard value, and finally performed error compensation through data solution to realize antenna calibration. The invention can be extended to multiple antennas and multiple target function performance tests, and adjusted different angles and azimuths by adding trajectory simulation intelligent remote control car and horn antenna to realize multi-angle and multi-target accuracy test of antenna. Through the invention, the efficiency and quality of antenna test are greatly improved, the test cycle is shortened from the original 8 days to 3 days, and unified equipment test control and channel switching are supported at the same time, a unified test interface is designed, and combined with test software, the configuration development, test execution and data acquisition, storage and data analysis of the test system, automatic calibration terminal and other functions are realized, and finally the antenna automatic test is realized, which greatly improves the versatility and test accuracy of aircraft radome test, and can be extended to various aircraft tests, with strong economic benefits and practical value.

Claims

1. An antenna testing system, characterized in that: include: Trajectory simulation of intelligent remote control car, intelligent remote control lifting frame, horn antenna, antenna under test, target simulator, main control module; The intelligent remote control lifting frame is installed on the track simulation intelligent remote control car, and the horn antenna is installed on the intelligent remote control lifting frame; The main control module is connected to the target simulator, and the target simulator is connected to the horn antenna and the antenna under test; The main control module is used to control the target simulator to generate a radio frequency interrogation signal and drive the horn antenna to send the radio frequency interrogation signal when the antenna under test is in the answering function mode; the target simulator is also used to send the answering signal generated by the antenna under test according to the radio frequency interrogation signal to the main control module when receiving the answering signal; the main control module is used to perform the answering function test of the antenna under test according to the radio frequency interrogation signal and the answering signal; The main control module is also used to control the target simulator to generate a radio frequency interrogation signal and drive the antenna under test to send the radio frequency interrogation signal when the antenna under test is in the interrogation function mode; the target simulator is also used to send the response signal generated by the horn antenna according to the radio frequency interrogation signal to the main control module when it receives the response signal; the main control module is used to perform an interrogation function test of the antenna under test according to the radio frequency interrogation signal and the response signal.

2. The antenna testing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main control module is also used to control the trajectory to simulate the intelligent remote control car being in motion when performing the response function test and the inquiry function test of the antenna under test.

3. The antenna testing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The target simulator generates a radio frequency interrogation signal according to the parameters of the antenna in the reply function mode.

4. The antenna testing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The horn antenna is located at the same height as the antenna under test.

5. The antenna testing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: GPS antenna, differential GPS module; The horn antenna, the antenna under test and the main control module are connected; The main control module is used to set the antenna under test to the inquiry function state and control the antenna under test to send a radio frequency signal, obtain the real-time azimuth of the horn antenna according to the response signal of the radio frequency signal sent by the horn antenna, draw the antenna radiation pattern of the antenna under test according to the amplitude of the radio frequency signal and the real-time azimuth of the horn antenna, and determine the normal position information of the antenna under test according to the antenna radiation pattern; control the trajectory to simulate the movement of the intelligent remote control car to the normal position of the antenna under test, and set the normal direction as the reference azimuth; control the trajectory to simulate the intelligent remote control car at multiple angles with the reference azimuth, obtain the azimuth error at each angle, and calibrate the accuracy of the antenna under test according to all azimuth errors.

6. The antenna testing system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The main control module is used to move the horn antenna to the reference position, adjust the height of the intelligent remote control lifting frame, make the GPS antenna, the antenna under test and the horn antenna at the same height, and control the horn antenna to send radio frequency signals; The differential GPS module is used to obtain a first azimuth value between the GPS antenna and the horn antenna according to a radio frequency signal received by the GPS antenna; The main control module is also used to control the horn antenna to send a radio frequency signal to the antenna under test, and obtain a second azimuth value between the antenna under test and the horn antenna according to the radio frequency signal received by the antenna under test; The azimuth error is obtained according to the first azimuth value and the second azimuth value.

7. The antenna testing system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The angles include 0°, 45°, 60°, 80°, 90°, 100°, 120°, and 135°.

8. An antenna testing method, characterized in that: The method is performed by the antenna testing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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