A shielding coupling device and method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod

Abstract

The present invention discloses a shielding coupling device and method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod, which relates to the technical field of testing airborne electronic countermeasure equipment. The shielding coupling device is a split-type shielding coupling device. Aiming at the frequency band and installation position of the pod antenna, a segmented shielding coupling method is adopted. It is composed of two high-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes and two low-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes, which are respectively used for shielding and coupling the front and rear high-frequency directional antennas and the low-frequency omnidirectional antenna on the abdomen of the electronic jamming pod. For the shielding coupling device and method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod of the present invention, the shielding coupling box can completely and tightly wrap all the transmitting and receiving antennas of the electronic jamming pod, isolate external interfering electromagnetic signals, reduce the leakage of internal electromagnetic signals, can reduce the false alarm rate and improve the test accuracy; the in-situ testing of the electronic jamming pod can be carried out without building a microwave anechoic chamber, greatly reducing the test cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of airborne electronic countermeasure equipment testing, and particularly relates to a shielding coupling device and method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod. Background Art

[0002] An airborne electronic jamming pod is a key electronic warfare equipment mounted on a combat aircraft, integrating electronic reconnaissance and jamming functions. It is used for intercepting and sorting enemy communication and radar signals, and guiding the transmitter to perform jamming to provide electronic warfare support for the flight formation. At present, the maintenance and support of the pod mainly rely on in-field detection equipment for static performance and function testing of sub-assemblies and functional modules, lacking in-situ testing means for system-level performance indicators closely related to combat effectiveness such as data loading, signal sorting and recognition, and interference radiation power, and unable to comprehensively and objectively reflect the tactical performance that the pod should have in the real environment. Therefore, in-situ testing of the pod is required. Since the electromagnetic environment at the airport is relatively complex, especially the electromagnetic signals generated by navigation stations, mobile phone base stations, etc. are all within the working frequency band of the pod. If tested directly in an open environment, it is extremely easy to cause false alarm phenomena of the pod and possible damage to the transmitter and operators caused by high-power transmitted signals. In order to ensure the accuracy of the test results and the feasibility of the test process, it is necessary to isolate the pod from the external electromagnetic environment through electromagnetic shielding means. At present, pod equipment research and development units generally carry out tests on the overall characteristics of the pod in a microwave anechoic chamber. This method is relatively simple to operate, but the disadvantage is that it has high requirements for the site of the pod position, and a microwave anechoic chamber needs to be built, and the construction cost is expensive. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides a shielding coupling device and method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod to solve the problems raised in the above background art.

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, the technical solutions adopted by the present invention are:

[0005] A shielding coupling device and method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod. The shielding coupling device is a split-type shielding coupling device. According to the frequency band and installation position of the pod antenna, a segmented shielding coupling method is adopted, which is composed of two high-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes and two low-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes, and is respectively used for shielding and coupling the high-frequency directional antennas in the front and rear directions of the electronic jamming pod and the low-frequency omnidirectional antenna on the abdomen.

[0006] Preferably, the high-frequency antenna shielding coupling box is composed of an electromagnetic shielding housing, an absorbing module, a test antenna and a signal transfer module, a waveguide ventilation window and an exhaust fan, and a scissor lift mechanism;

[0007] The electromagnetic shielding housing is installed on the scissor lift mechanism;

[0008] The wave absorption module is installed on the inner surface of the electromagnetic shielding housing;

[0009] The test antenna is installed inside the electromagnetic shielding housing and is connected to the signal transfer module;

[0010] The waveguide ventilation window and the exhaust fan are installed at the openings on the upper and lower surfaces of the electromagnetic shielding housing.

[0011] Preferably, the electromagnetic shielding housing is a fully enclosed hexahedron metal shell, installed on a scissor lift mechanism. The housing is made of stainless steel plate and is treated with anti-rust spray on the outer surface; the inner surface is the installation surface for the wave absorption material. The electromagnetic shielding housing can be divided into a high-frequency shielding housing and a low-frequency shielding housing, and their structures are different due to different test parts. One side of the high-frequency shielding housing has a circular hatch for docking with the front / back end of the pod for high-frequency testing; the low-frequency shielding device housing is divided into independent left and right parts, and the hatch is an imitation structure of the antenna radome on the belly of the pod. After closing the left and right parts with universal wheels, the belly of the pod is clamped for low-frequency testing; the opening area of the shielding housing is covered with a shielding cloth to ensure the shielding efficiency after docking.

[0012] Preferably, the hatch of the electromagnetic shielding housing is an imitation structure of the pod antenna radome.

[0013] Preferably, the wave absorption module is installed on the inner surface of the electromagnetic shielding housing. According to its working characteristics, its materials are divided into high-frequency wave absorption materials and low-frequency wave absorption materials; the high-frequency wave absorption material uses polyurethane pyramidal wave absorption material, and the low-frequency wave absorption material uses ferrite tile wave absorption material.

[0014] Preferably, the test antenna is installed inside the electromagnetic shielding housing, divided into high-frequency antennas and low-frequency antennas. Each frequency band has a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna; the high-frequency antenna uses a log-periodic antenna, with a working frequency band of 8 - 18 GHz, a length of 110 mm; the voltage standing wave ratio: ≤2, the 3 dB beam width: ≤60°, and the gain: ≥6 dB; the low-frequency antenna uses a helical antenna, with a working frequency band of 70 - 500 MHz, an outer dimension: diameter 38 mm, length 400 mm, the voltage standing wave ratio: ≤2, and the gain: -3 - 3 dB, using vertical polarization.

[0015] Preferably, the main function of the signal transfer module is to transfer various signal cables that need to pass through the anechoic chamber. The converter uses a shielded converter; the interface cover plate material is a nickel-plated steel component. After using a copper mesh lining for sealing between the cover plate and the plate frame, it is fixed by bolts. The RF interface is an N-type connector, and the interface and channel holes are configured with shielding caps.

[0016] Preferably, the scissor lift mechanism is a metal bracket structure to cooperate with the pod tooling for convenient docking; the bottom of the scissor lift mechanism is equipped with universal wheels, which can adjust the position and transfer the shielding device.

[0017] A shielding coupling method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod, which is implemented based on a shielding coupling device for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod. The shielding coupling device can realize the in-situ testing of a certain type of electronic jamming pod. The shielding coupling device adopts a segmented shielding coupling method according to the frequency band and installation position of the pod antenna. Two high-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes are used to cover the front and rear high-frequency directional antennas of the electronic jamming pod respectively, and two low-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes are used to cover the low-frequency omnidirectional antenna on the abdomen of the electronic jamming pod. The antenna shielding coupling box shields and absorbs the electromagnetic waves of all receiving and transmitting antennas of the airborne electronic jamming pod (a variety of antenna combinations in the frequency range of 0.07 GHz to 18 GHz), and conducts signal transmission and reception with the pod antenna through the built-in test antenna, which is equivalent to building a small microwave anechoic chamber within the working frequency range of the pod, and can carry out the tests of the pod in both receiving and radiation states under the conditions of shielding reception and radiation absorption space, so as to realize the in-situ testing of a certain type of airborne electronic jamming pod.

[0018] Due to the adoption of the above technical solutions, the technical progress achieved by the present invention compared with the prior art is as follows:

[0019] 1. The present invention provides a shielding coupling device and method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod. The shielding coupling box can completely and tightly cover all the receiving and transmitting antennas of the electronic jamming pod, isolate external interfering electromagnetic signals, reduce the leakage of internal electromagnetic signals, can reduce the false alarm rate, and improve the test accuracy.

[0020] 2. The present invention provides a shielding coupling device and method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod. It can perform in-situ testing on the electronic jamming pod without building a microwave anechoic chamber, greatly reducing the test cost.

[0021] 3. The present invention provides a shielding coupling device and method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod. By means of antenna shielding coupling, the whole machine in-situ testing of the electronic jamming pod can be carried out, and the true functions and performance technical indicators of the whole machine of the pod can be detected, avoiding the problems of inaccurate and incomplete testing of the sub-machine off-site testing. Description of the Drawings

[0022] Figure 1 It is the flowchart of the in-situ testing of the electronic jamming pod of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 It is the composition diagram of the shielding coupling device of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 It is the structure diagram of the high-frequency antenna shielding coupling box of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 It is the structure diagram of half of the low-frequency antenna shielding coupling box of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 It is an assembly structure diagram of a low-frequency band antenna shielding coupling box of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 It is an internal structure diagram of a high-frequency band antenna shielding coupling box of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 It is an absorbing module of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of in-situ test connection of the present invention.

[0030] In the figure: 1. Electromagnetic shielding housing; 2. Absorbing module; 3. Test antenna and signal transfer module; 4. Waveguide ventilation window and exhaust fan; 5. Scissor lift mechanism. Specific implementation manners

[0031] To make the technical means, creative features, achieved purposes and effects of the present invention easy to understand, the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific implementation manners.

[0032] As Figures 1 - 8 shown, a shielding coupling device and method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod. The shielding coupling device is a split-type shielding coupling device. For the frequency band and installation position of the pod antenna, a segmented shielding coupling method is adopted, which consists of two high-frequency band antenna shielding coupling boxes and two low-frequency band antenna shielding coupling boxes, and is respectively used for shielding coupling of the high-frequency band directional antennas in the front and rear directions of the electronic jamming pod and the low-frequency band omnidirectional antenna on the abdomen.

[0033] A split-type shielding test chamber is adopted, and antenna shielding couplers are respectively installed for the antennas at different positions of the pod. As a split-type shielding coupling device, it has a relatively small volume and low cost, and can meet the in-situ test requirements of the pod.

[0034] The high-frequency band antenna shielding coupling box consists of an electromagnetic shielding housing 1, an absorbing module 2, a test antenna and signal transfer module 3, a waveguide ventilation window and exhaust fan 4, and a scissor lift mechanism 5;

[0035] The electromagnetic shielding housing 1 is installed on the scissor lift mechanism 5;

[0036] The absorbing module 2 is installed on the inner surface of the electromagnetic shielding housing 1;

[0037] The test antenna is installed inside the electromagnetic shielding housing 1 and is connected to the signal transfer module;

[0038] The waveguide ventilation window and exhaust fan 4 are installed at the openings on the upper and lower surfaces of the electromagnetic shielding housing 1.

[0039] The electromagnetic shielding shell 1 is a fully enclosed hexahedral metal shell, which is installed on the scissor-type lifting mechanism 5. The shell is made of stainless steel plate and the outer surface is sprayed with plastic for rust prevention; the inner surface is the installation surface of the absorbing material; the electromagnetic shielding shell 1 can be divided into a high-frequency band shielding shell and a low-frequency band shielding shell. Due to the different test parts, its structure is different; a circular hatch is opened on one side of the high-frequency band shielding shell to dock with the front / rear end of the pod for high-frequency testing; the low-frequency shielding device shell is composed of independent left and right parts, and the hatch is a pod belly antenna cover imitation structure. After closing the left and right with universal wheels, it clamps the pod belly for low-frequency testing; the opening area of the shielding shell is covered with shielding cloth to ensure the shielding effectiveness after docking.

[0040] The hatch of the electromagnetic shielding shell 1 is a contoured structure of the nacelle radome.

[0041] The absorbing module 2 is installed on the inner surface of the electromagnetic shielding shell 1. According to the working characteristics, its material is divided into high-frequency absorbing material and low-frequency absorbing material; the high-frequency absorbing material adopts polyurethane pyramid absorbing material, and the low-frequency absorbing material adopts ferrite tile absorbing material.

[0042] The test antenna is installed inside the electromagnetic shielding shell 1 and is divided into a high-frequency antenna and a low-frequency antenna. Each frequency band has a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna. The high-frequency antenna adopts a logarithmic periodic antenna, with an operating frequency band of 8 to 18 GHz and a length of 110 mm. It has a standing wave ratio of ≤2, a 3dB beam width of ≤60°, and a gain of ≥6 dB. The low-frequency antenna adopts a helical antenna, with an operating frequency band of 70 to 500 MHz, dimensions of 38 mm in diameter and 400 mm in length, a standing wave ratio of ≤2, a gain of -3 to 3 dB, and vertical polarization.

[0043] The main function of the signal transfer module is to transfer various signal cables that need to pass through the darkroom. The converter uses a shielded converter; the interface cover is made of nickel-plated steel, and the cover and frame are sealed with a copper mesh lining and then fixed with bolts. The RF interface is an N-type connector, and the interface and channel hole are equipped with a shielded cover.

[0044] The scissor-type lifting mechanism 5 is a metal bracket structure to match the pod tooling for easy docking; the bottom of the scissor-type lifting mechanism 5 is equipped with universal wheels to adjust the position and transport the shielding device.

[0045] A shielding coupling method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod, which is realized based on a shielding coupling device for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod. The shielding coupling device can realize the in-situ testing of a certain type of electronic jamming pod. The shielding coupling device adopts a segmented shielding coupling method according to the frequency band and installation position of the pod antenna. Two high-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes are used to cover the forward and backward high-frequency directional antennas of the electronic jamming pod respectively, and two low-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes are used to cover the low-frequency omnidirectional antenna on the abdomen of the electronic jamming pod. The antenna shielding coupling box shields and absorbs all the receiving and transmitting antennas of the airborne electronic jamming pod (a variety of antenna combinations in the frequency range of 0.07 GHz to 18 GHz), and conducts signal transmission and reception with the pod antenna through the built-in test antenna, which is equivalent to constructing a small microwave anechoic chamber within the working frequency range of the pod. It can carry out the testing work of the receiving and radiation states of the pod under the conditions of shielded reception and radiation absorption space, and realize the in-situ testing of a certain type of airborne electronic jamming pod.

[0046] The working principle of the present invention: First, use the shielding coupling device to shield and absorb all the receiving and transmitting antennas of the airborne electronic jamming pod, which is equivalent to constructing a small microwave anechoic chamber within the working frequency range of the pod. Second, carry out the test under the control of the automatic test system. Connect the pod to the automatic test system to realize the control and power supply of the pod state. Conduct signal transmission and reception between the built-in test antenna of the shielding coupling device and the pod antenna, and connect the corresponding test antenna RF ports to the signal source and spectrum analyzer in the automatic test system respectively, which are used to synthesize the signals required for testing and analyze the radiation signals of the pod under the control of the automatic test system. It can carry out the testing work of the receiving and radiation states of the pod under the conditions of shielded reception and radiation absorption space. The test process is as Figure 1 shown, and the specific steps are as follows:

[0047] (1) Due to the influence of the position of the pod trolley, the low-frequency shielding device cannot be directly installed on the abdomen of the pod. Therefore, during the actual docking and debugging, use the gantry crane to lift the pod (without using the trolley support), and then place the shielding device on the abdomen of the pod for installation. Install two low-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes on the abdomen of a certain type of electronic jamming pod, and cover the antenna from below the pod. When conducting docking tests with the pod, first align and approach the two low-frequency boxes, and ensure that the conductive foam between the boxes is in full contact; then adjust the lift truck to make the abdomen of the pod in full contact with the conductive foam; lock the buckle between the two boxes to keep the contact part between the pod and the box fully attached and with a certain pressure.

[0048] (2) Adjust the height of the two high-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes through the scissor lift mechanism, and put them on the front and rear ends of the electronic jamming pod respectively to shield and absorb the forward and backward antennas of the pod.

[0049] (3) After the shielding coupling device is docked with the pod, connect the disconnection plug at the top of the pod to the automatic test system through a cable. The connection schematic diagram is as shown in Figure 8 shown.

[0050] (4) Connect the signal source and spectrum analyzer in the automatic test system to the corresponding interfaces of the antenna shielding coupling device through a radio frequency cable. The connection schematic diagram is as shown in Figure 8 shown.

[0051] (5) According to the test plan, use the automatic test system to program and control the electronic interference pod, signal source and spectrum analyzer to complete the test. First, control the pod to be in a specific state, then control the signal source to synthesize the signals required for the test and couple them to the receiving antenna of the pod through the built-in transmitting antenna, and read the sorting and identification situation of the pod; or receive the interference emission signals radiated by the pod through the built-in receiving antenna and send them to the spectrum analyzer for testing. Finally, obtain the test results through analysis.

[0052] The above shows and describes the basic principles, main features and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art of this industry should understand that the present invention is not limited by the above embodiments. What is described in the above embodiments and the specification only illustrates the principle of the present invention. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the present invention will have various changes and improvements, and these changes and improvements all fall within the scope of the present invention claimed. The scope of protection claimed by the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A shielding coupling device for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod, characterized in that: The shielding coupling device is a split-type shielding coupling device. According to the frequency band and installation position of the pod antenna, a segmented shielding coupling method is adopted. It consists of two high-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes and two low-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes, which are respectively used for shielding and coupling the front and rear high-frequency directional antennas of the electronic jamming pod and the low-frequency omnidirectional antenna on the abdomen; The antenna shielding coupling box consists of an electromagnetic shielding housing (1), an absorbing module (2), a test antenna and signal transfer module (3), a waveguide ventilation window and exhaust fan (4), and a scissor lift mechanism (5); The electromagnetic shielding housing (1) is installed on the scissor lift mechanism (5); The absorbing module (2) is installed on the inner surface of the electromagnetic shielding housing (1); The test antenna is installed inside the electromagnetic shielding housing (1) and is connected to the signal transfer module; The waveguide ventilation window and exhaust fan (4) are installed at the openings on the upper and lower surfaces of the electromagnetic shielding housing (1); The electromagnetic shielding housing (1) is a fully enclosed hexahedral metal shell, installed on the scissor lift mechanism (5). The housing is made of stainless steel plate, and the outer surface is spray-painted for rust prevention; The inner surface is the installation surface for the absorbing material; The electromagnetic shielding housing (1) can be divided into a high-frequency shielding housing and a low-frequency shielding housing. Due to different test parts, its structure is different. A circular hatch is opened on one side of the high-frequency shielding housing to dock with the front / back section of the pod for high-frequency testing; The low-frequency shielding device housing is an independent left and right part. The hatch is a structure imitating the antenna radome on the abdomen of the pod. After closing from left and right through universal wheels, it clamps the abdomen of the pod for low-frequency testing. The opening area of the shielding housing is covered with a shielding cloth to ensure the shielding effectiveness after docking. The antenna shielding coupling box shields and absorbs all the receiving and transmitting antennas of the airborne electronic jamming pod, and conducts signal transmission and reception with the pod antenna through the built-in test antenna, which is equivalent to constructing a small microwave anechoic chamber within the working frequency range of the pod.

2. The shielding coupling device for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hatch of the electromagnetic shielding housing (1) is a structure imitating the antenna radome of the pod.

3. The shielding coupling device for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod according to claim 1, characterized in that: The absorbing module (2) is installed on the inner surface of the electromagnetic shielding housing (1). According to its working characteristics, its material is divided into high-frequency absorbing material and low-frequency absorbing material. The high-frequency absorbing material uses polyurethane pyramidal absorbing material, and the low-frequency absorbing material uses ferrite tile absorbing material.

4. A shielding coupling device for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod according to claim 1, characterized in that: The test antenna is installed inside the electromagnetic shielding housing (1), divided into high-frequency antenna and low-frequency antenna. Each frequency band has a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna. The high-frequency antenna uses a log-periodic antenna, with a working frequency band: 8 - 18 GHz, length: 110 mm; Voltage Standing Wave Ratio: ≤2, 3dB beamwidth: ≤60°, gain: ≥6dB; The low-frequency antenna uses a helical antenna, with a working frequency band: 70 - 500 MHz, outer dimension: diameter 38 mm, length 400 mm, Voltage Standing Wave Ratio: ≤2, gain: -3 - 3dB, using vertical polarization.

5. A shielding coupling device for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main function of the signal transfer module is to transfer various signal cables that need to pass through the anechoic chamber, and the converter uses a shielding converter; The interface cover plate material is a nickel-plated steel component. A copper mesh gasket is used between the cover plate and the plate frame and fixed by bolts. The RF interface is an N-type connector, and the interface and channel holes are configured with shielding caps.

6. The shielding coupling device for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scissor lift mechanism (5) is a metal bracket structure to cooperate with the pod tooling for convenient docking; universal wheels are assembled at the bottom of the scissor lift mechanism (5) to adjust the position and transfer the shielding device.

7. A shielding coupling method for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod, implemented by the shielding coupling device for in-situ testing of an electronic jamming pod according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The shielding coupling device can realize the in-situ test of a certain type of electronic jamming pod; aiming at the frequency band and installation position of the pod antenna, the shielding coupling device adopts the method of segmented shielding coupling. Two high-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes are used to cover the front and rear high-frequency directional antennas of the electronic jamming pod respectively, and two low-frequency antenna shielding coupling boxes are used to cover the low-frequency omnidirectional antennas on the abdomen of the electronic jamming pod, so as to carry out the tests of the receiving and radiation states of the pod under the conditions of shielding reception and radiation absorption space, and realize the in-situ test of a certain type of airborne electronic jamming pod.

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