A polarisation reconfigurable electronic reflector

Abstract

The application relates to a polarized reconfigurable electronic reflector, comprising a receiving antenna array, a transmitting antenna array, a radio frequency integrated array and a controller; the receiving antenna array and / or the transmitting antenna array are polarized reconfigurable antenna arrays; the receiving antenna array comprises a plurality of receiving antennas, the transmitting antenna array comprises a plurality of transmitting antennas, and the radio frequency integrated array comprises a plurality of radio frequency integrated modules; the receiving antennas, the transmitting antennas and the radio frequency integrated modules are in one-to-one correspondence; one receiving antenna is connected with a corresponding radio frequency integrated module through an input wire harness, and the radio frequency integrated module is connected with a corresponding transmitting antenna through an output wire harness; the receiving antennas and the corresponding transmitting antennas satisfy a phase conjugate relationship, and the lengths of the input wire harnesses and the corresponding output wire harnesses are equal; and the controller is connected with each radio frequency integrated module. The application can realize rapid regulation and control of echo polarization information to adapt to the reconfigurable demand of radar target echo polarization characteristics.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of radar, in particular to a polarization reconfigurable electronic reflector. BACKGROUND

[0002] The reflector refers to a reflector device capable of focusing and reflecting radar signals back along the incident direction within a certain radar wave incident angle range. It generally has strong backscattering echo and is widely used in radar target positioning, remote sensing reconnaissance and other fields. Common reflectors include corner reflectors, dragon lenses and direction backtracking antenna arrays.

[0003] The conventional passive reflector design is fixed after being designed and shaped, and the amplitude, phase and polarization characteristics of the radar echo do not have the ability to be regulated. Therefore, the amplitude, phase, polarization and other characteristics of the reflector echo can be regulated by adding mechanical or electronic regulating devices to the passive reflector.

[0004] However, the regulation of the prior art is limited to modulating the phase and polarization characteristics of the echo, and cannot achieve rapid regulation of the polarization information of the echo. SUMMARY

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a polarization reconfigurable electronic reflector to meet the demand for reconfigurable radar target echo polarization characteristics.

[0006] A polarization reconfigurable electronic reflector, comprising: a receiving antenna array, a transmitting antenna array, a radio frequency integrated array and a controller;

[0007] The receiving antenna array and / or the transmitting antenna array are polarization reconfigurable antenna arrays;

[0008] The receiving antenna array comprises a plurality of receiving antennas, the transmitting antenna array comprises a plurality of transmitting antennas, and the radio frequency integrated array comprises a plurality of radio frequency integrated modules; the receiving antennas, the transmitting antennas and the radio frequency integrated modules correspond one-to-one;

[0009] One receiving antenna is connected to a corresponding radio frequency integrated module through an input line bundle, and the radio frequency integrated module is connected to a corresponding transmitting antenna through an output line bundle; the receiving antenna and the corresponding transmitting antenna satisfy a phase conjugate relationship, and the length of the input line bundle and the corresponding output line bundle is equal;

[0010] The controller is connected to each radio frequency integrated module.

[0011] In one embodiment, each radio frequency integrated module comprises two single-pole double-throw switches and an amplifier.

[0012] Two single-pole double-throw switches are connected with corresponding receiving antennas and corresponding transmitting antennas respectively, and the amplifier is connected with the two single-pole double-throw switches simultaneously.

[0013] In one embodiment, the input harness is connected with the input end of the radio frequency integrated module, and the output harness is connected with the output end of the radio frequency integrated module.

[0014] In one embodiment, the controller is connected with the single-pole double-throw switches of the radio frequency integrated module to control the switching of the channel state.

[0015] In one embodiment, the transmitting antennas or the receiving antennas are loaded with amplifiers and phase shifters to realize the control of the echo amplitude and phase characteristics of the electronic reflector.

[0016] In one embodiment, the transmitting antennas or the receiving antennas realize the switching of the polarization state through single-pole double-throw switches or diodes.

[0017] In one embodiment, the transmitting antennas or the receiving antennas are linearly polarized antennas switched between horizontal polarization state and vertical polarization state.

[0018] In one embodiment, the transmitting antennas or the receiving antennas are linearly polarized antennas switched between left-handed circular polarization state and right-handed circular polarization state.

[0019] The above-mentioned polarization reconfigurable electronic reflector, aiming at the demand for radar target echo polarization characteristic regulation, proposes an echo polarization characteristic reconfigurable electronic reflector based on polarization reconfigurable antennas and direction backtracking antenna arrays, which can change the polarization characteristics of the reflected echo as required, and realizes the reconfiguration of the echo polarization characteristics, including the proportion of different polarization wave components in the echo, the time-domain variation characteristics of the echo polarization characteristics, etc., by taking the polarization reconfigurable antennas as the array elements of the direction backtracking antenna arrays and controlling the polarization directions of all or part of the array elements. In addition, the electronic control method can also be programmed and configured for polarization reconfiguration, and the user can pre-set the time-domain on-off state of each channel and store it into the controller, or communicate with the controller through a computer or other upper computer to realize real-time control, simulate the echo polarization characteristics of different types of targets as expected. As for the specific modulation algorithm, existing technologies can be used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the polarization reconfigurable electronic reflector in one embodiment.

[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the polarization reconfiguration work of the polarization reconfigurable electronic reflector in one embodiment.

[0022] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of a transceiver antenna array for a polarized reconfigurable electronic reflector in one embodiment.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of a polarization-reconfigurable electron reflector in one embodiment.

[0024] Figure label:

[0025] Receiving antenna array 11, first receiving antenna 111, second receiving antenna 112; transmitting antenna array 12, first transmitting antenna 121, second transmitting antenna 122;

[0026] Input harness 21, first input harness 211, second input harness 212, output harness 22, first output harness 221, second output harness 222;

[0027] RF integrated module 3, single-pole double-throw switch 31, first single-pole double-throw switch 311, second single-pole double-throw switch 312, amplifier 32;

[0028] Controller 4. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0030] like Figure 1 As shown, the present application provides a polarization reconfigurable electronic reflector, which in one embodiment includes: a receiving antenna array 11, a transmitting antenna array 12, a radio frequency integrated array, and a controller 4;

[0031] The receiving antenna array 11 and / or the transmitting antenna array 12 are polarization-reconfigurable antenna arrays;

[0032] The receiving antenna array 11 includes multiple receiving antennas, the transmitting antenna array 12 includes multiple transmitting antennas, and the radio frequency integrated array includes multiple radio frequency integrated modules 3; the receiving antennas, transmitting antennas, and radio frequency integrated modules 3 correspond one-to-one.

[0033] A receiving antenna is connected to a corresponding RF integrated module via an input harness, and the RF integrated module is connected to a corresponding transmitting antenna via an output harness; the receiving antenna and the corresponding transmitting antenna satisfy a phase conjugate relationship, and the lengths of the input harness and the corresponding output harness are equal;

[0034] The controller is connected to each RF integrated module.

[0035] In the embodiment, the receiving antenna array 11 and the transmitting antenna array 12 are both antenna arrays formed by multiple identical antennas (antenna elements) through arraying, the receiving antenna array 11 is formed by multiple identical receiving antennas through arraying, and the transmitting antenna array 12 is formed by multiple identical transmitting antennas through arraying. The receiving antenna array 11 and the transmitting antenna array 12 constitute a polarization reconfigurable retrodirective antenna array.

[0036] The receiving antenna array 11 and the transmitting antenna array 12 can be different antenna arrays, but at least one of the antenna arrays is a polarization reconfigurable antenna array, and at least one of the antenna arrays is composed of polarization reconfigurable antennas, that is, at least one of the two kinds of antenna elements of the polarization reconfigurable retrodirective antenna array is a polarization reconfigurable antenna, that is, the receiving antenna is a polarization reconfigurable antenna, or the transmitting antenna is a polarization reconfigurable antenna, or both the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna are polarization reconfigurable antennas. The type and number of the specific polarization reconfigurable antennas (antenna elements) can be selected according to the prior art and actual requirements. The bandwidth and beam width of the antenna elements determine the bandwidth and spatial coverage range of the electronic reflector, which can be selected according to actual needs.

[0037] In one embodiment, the transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna is a linear polarization antenna switched between a horizontal polarization state and a vertical polarization state. That is, the transmitting antenna is a linear polarization antenna in a horizontal polarization state, and the receiving antenna is a linear polarization antenna in a vertical polarization state; or the transmitting antenna is a linear polarization antenna in a vertical polarization state, and the receiving antenna is a linear polarization antenna in a horizontal polarization state.

[0038] In one embodiment, the transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna is a linear polarization antenna switched between a left-handed circular polarization state and a right-handed circular polarization state. That is, the transmitting antenna is a linear polarization antenna in a left-handed circular polarization state, and the receiving antenna is a linear polarization antenna in a right-handed circular polarization state; or the transmitting antenna is a linear polarization antenna in a right-handed circular polarization state, and the receiving antenna is a linear polarization antenna in a left-handed circular polarization state.

[0039] The receiving antennas, the transmitting antennas, and the radio frequency integrated modules are one-to-one corresponding, that is, the receiving antennas and the radio frequency integrated modules are one-to-one corresponding, and the transmitting antennas and the radio frequency integrated modules are one-to-one corresponding, that is, when one radio frequency integrated module is set, the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna corresponding to the radio frequency integrated module are also set. The number of receiving antennas, the number of input line bundles 21, the number of radio frequency integrated modules, the number of output line bundles 22, and the number of transmitting antennas are equal. One receiving antenna, one input line bundle 21, one radio frequency integrated module, one output line bundle 22, and one transmitting antenna are sequentially connected to form a polarization reconfigurable loop. The number of polarization reconfigurable loops in the reflector is equal to the number of radio frequency integrated modules. The receiving antenna, the radio frequency integrated module, and the transmitting antenna constituting a polarization reconfigurable loop correspond to each other.

[0040] The receiving antenna and its corresponding transmitting antenna are a pair of polarization reconfigurable antenna elements which are centrally symmetric in position, and constitute a pair of transceiving antenna elements, which are connected through equal-length transmission lines to satisfy the phase conjugate relationship, and the receiving antenna array and the transmitting antenna array also satisfy the phase conjugate relationship, so that the echo is still reflected back along the radar wave incidence direction.

[0041] The input harness 21 connects the antenna elements on the receiving antenna array with the input ends of the corresponding RFIC modules, and the output harness 22 connects the antenna elements on the transmitting antenna array 12 with the output ends of the corresponding RFIC modules.

[0042] The total length of the harness connecting each pair of transceiving antenna elements, i.e., the total length of a group of input harnesses and output harnesses, is the same, that is, the length of all input harnesses and all output harnesses is equal.

[0043] The controller is connected to the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna through the RFIC module.

[0044] In one embodiment, each RFIC module 3 includes two single-pole double-throw switches 31 and an amplifier 32; the two single-pole double-throw switches 31 are connected to the corresponding receiving antenna and the corresponding transmitting antenna respectively, and the amplifier 32 is connected to the two single-pole double-throw switches 31 simultaneously.

[0045] The controller 4 is connected to the two single-pole double-throw switches 31 of the RFIC module 3 to control the switching of the channel state, so the controller can also be called a polarization reconfigurable controller.

[0046] An input harness includes two input sub-harnesses, one of which connects a receiving antenna and one end point of a single-pole double-throw switch in the RFIC module corresponding to the receiving antenna, and the other connects the receiving antenna and the other end point of the single-pole double-throw switch in the RFIC module corresponding to the receiving antenna. Similarly, an output harness includes two output sub-harnesses, one of which connects a transmitting antenna and one end point of the other single-pole double-throw switch in the RFIC module corresponding to the transmitting antenna, and the other connects the transmitting antenna and the other end point of the other single-pole double-throw switch in the RFIC module corresponding to the transmitting antenna.

[0047] The working process of the present application is that the receiving antenna receives signals and inputs them to the RFIC module, and outputs them from the output end of the RFIC module to the transmitting antenna for transmission after processing.

[0048] The working principle of the polarization reconstruction of the traceback signal in this application is as follows: the polarization-reconfigurable antenna element (i.e., the transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna) achieves electronic switching of the polarization state through active switching elements such as single-pole double-throw switches (SPDTs) or diodes (such as PIN diodes). The specific locations of the SPDTs and diodes within the antenna element, and how the electronic switching of the polarization state is implemented, are existing technologies, such as placing them on the antenna or in the back-end circuitry. Amplifiers and phase shifters are loaded into the polarization-reconfigurable antenna element (i.e., the transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna) to control the echo amplitude and phase characteristics of the electron reflector. The specific locations of the amplifiers and phase shifters within the antenna element, and how the control of the echo amplitude and phase characteristics is implemented, are existing technologies and will not be elaborated upon here. The polarization reconfigurable controller controls the polarization direction of some polarization reconfigurable antenna elements according to requirements, so as to control different polarization components in the echo of the electronic reflector; the control signal output by the polarization reconfigurable controller 4 controls the rapid switching of the SPDT 31 channel status in all RF integrated modules 3, and the switching frequency and timing of the control signal can be set in the polarization reconfigurable controller 4.

[0049] The aforementioned polarization-reconfigurable electronic reflector addresses the need for adjusting the polarization characteristics of radar target echoes. It proposes an echo polarization-reconfigurable electronic reflector based on a polarization-reconfigurable antenna and a directional backtracking antenna array. This allows for the reconfigurability of the reflected echo polarization characteristics according to requirements. Reconfigurability is achieved by using the polarization-reconfigurable antenna as an element in the directional backtracking antenna array and controlling the polarization direction of all or some elements. This includes adjusting the proportion of elements with different polarization modes to adjust the proportion of different polarization wave components in the echo, and constructing the time-domain variation characteristics of the echo polarization characteristics by switching active switching devices at different times. Furthermore, the electronic control method allows for polarization reconfiguration programming and configuration. Users can pre-set the time-domain on / off state of each channel and store it in the controller. Alternatively, communication with the controller via a computer or other host computer enables real-time control, simulating the expected echo polarization characteristics of different target types. The specific modulation algorithm can be implemented using existing technologies.

[0050] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment of the reflector, the antenna elements are all dual-polarized antennas controllable by SPDT. Each RF integrated module 3 contains two single-pole double-throw switches 31 (i.e., SPDTs) and an amplifier 32. All SPDTs 31 and amplifiers 32 of the RF integrated modules 3 are controlled by a polarization reconfigurable controller 4 to ensure that the receiving antenna array 11 and the transmitting antenna array 12 are in a phase conjugate state under different phase states, so that the direction of the reflected beam is consistent with the direction of the radar wave incident beam.

[0051] like Figure 2As shown, the receiving antenna array 11 and the transmitting antenna array 12 both adopt 4x4 antenna arrays, and the number of the radio frequency integrated modules 3 is 16. The horizontally polarized radar wave received by the first receiving antenna 111 passes through the first input line bundle 211, and the first single-pole double-throw switch 311 controlled by the polarization reconfigurable controller 4 selects the vertically polarized port of the first transmitting antenna 121 to send the signal to the first transmitting antenna 121 through the first output line bundle 221, so that the horizontally polarized radar wave becomes a vertically polarized echo wave after amplification; the horizontally polarized radar wave received by the second receiving antenna 112 passes through the second input line bundle 212, and the second single-pole double-throw switch 312 controlled by the polarization reconfigurable controller 4 selects the vertically polarized port of the second transmitting antenna 122 to send the signal to the second transmitting antenna 122 through the second output line bundle 222, so that the horizontally polarized radar wave becomes a vertically polarized echo wave after amplification; the principles of the remaining 14 signals are similar.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 1, the polarization reconfigurable controller 4 is independently set for each channel, and the proportion of the two polarization directions can be adjusted as needed. Figure 3

[0053] As shown in FIG. 1, the polarization reconfigurable controller 4 is independently set for each channel, and the proportion of the two polarization directions can be adjusted as needed. Figure 4

[0054] The above embodiments can be combined in any manner. To make the description concise, all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are not described, but as long as the combinations of the technical features do not contradict, they should be considered within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0055] The above embodiments only express several implementation manners of the present disclosure, and the description is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be understood as a limitation on the patent scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, some modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present disclosure, and these are within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the patent protection scope of the present disclosure should be subject to the appended claims.​​

Claims

1. A polarisation reconfigurable electronic reflector, characterised in that, Comprise: a receiving antenna array, a transmitting antenna array, a radio frequency integrated array, and a controller; the receiving antenna array and / or the transmitting antenna array are polarization reconfigurable antenna arrays; the receiving antenna array comprises a plurality of receiving antennas, the transmitting antenna array comprises a plurality of transmitting antennas, and the radio frequency integrated array comprises a plurality of radio frequency integrated modules; the receiving antennas, the transmitting antennas, and the radio frequency integrated modules correspond one-to-one; one receiving antenna is connected to a corresponding radio frequency integrated module through an input line bundle, and the radio frequency integrated module is connected to a corresponding transmitting antenna through an output line bundle; the receiving antenna and the corresponding transmitting antenna satisfy a phase conjugate relationship, and the length of the input line bundle and the corresponding output line bundle is equal; the controller is connected to each radio frequency integrated module; by taking the polarization reconfigurable antenna as an array element of a direction backtracking antenna array and controlling the polarization direction of all or part of the array elements, the reconfiguration of the echo polarization characteristics is realized, including adjusting the proportion of different polarization wave components in the echo by adjusting the proportion of different polarization mode array elements, and constructing the time domain variation characteristics of the echo polarization characteristics by switching the active switching device at different time instants.

2. The electronic reflector of claim 1, wherein, Each radio frequency integrated module comprises two single-pole double-throw switches and an amplifier. The two single-pole double-throw switches are respectively connected to a corresponding receiving antenna and a corresponding transmitting antenna, and the amplifier is connected to the two single-pole double-throw switches.

3. The electronic reflector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The input line bundle is connected to the input end of the radio frequency integrated module, and the output line bundle is connected to the output end of the radio frequency integrated module.

4. The electronic reflector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The controller is connected to the single-pole double-throw switches of the radio frequency integrated module to control the switching of the channel state.

5. The electronic reflector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that An amplifier and a phase shifter are loaded in the transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna to control the echo amplitude and phase characteristics of the electronic reflector.

6. The electronic reflector of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna switches the polarization state through a single-pole double-throw switch or a diode.

7. The electronic reflector of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna is a linear polarization antenna that switches between horizontal polarization state and vertical polarization state.

8. The electronic reflector of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna is a linear polarization antenna that switches between left-handed circular polarization state and right-handed circular polarization state.

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