Active phased array antenna based on captive balloon

Abstract

The active phased array antenna comprises an antenna module and a lifting module, the antenna module is composed of a first preset number of single-row sub-arrays, each single-row sub-array is vertically distributed on a flexible mooring line, each single-row sub-array is composed of a second preset number of antennas, each single-row sub-array is vertically distributed on the flexible mooring line, each single-row sub-array is vertically distributed on the flexible mooring line, each single-row sub-array is vertically distributed on the flexible mooring line, and each single-row sub-array is vertically distributed on the flexible mooring line. Each antenna is provided with an independent T / R assembly; the lifting module comprises a captive balloon, and the captive balloon is connected with one end of the mooring line and used for controlling lifting of the antenna module. The antenna module is lifted through the captive balloon, on one hand, rapid release can be achieved, and the advantages that fixed installation is not needed, the aperture of the antenna is flexible and variable, the antenna is easy to hide, not likely to be found by enemies, the position is easy to change, transportation is easy, and convenience is good are achieved; on the other hand, the large-caliber active phased array antenna can be rapidly put out; in addition, due to the fact that the cost of the balloon is low, the manufacturing cost is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of radio communication technology, and in particular to an active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon. Background Art

[0002] Phased array antennas are developed from array antennas, which are usually composed of multiple dipole antenna units. Dipole antennas are simple antennas with an approximately non-directional antenna pattern, so the antenna gain is very low, and the gain in free space is often only about 6dB. In order to obtain a higher antenna gain, multiple dipole antenna units can be arranged together according to certain rules to form a large array antenna.

[0003] Initially, in the field of communications, in order to change the beam pointing of a large array antenna pattern, the initial phased array antenna was realized by changing the signal phase relationship of each antenna unit in the array. With the advancement of technology, the emergence of active phased arrays has realized the flexibility and adaptability of antenna beams, but a large active phased array antenna has the disadvantages of needing fixed installation, limited area, difficult to transport, difficult to conceal, and easy to be discovered by the enemy.

[0004] In view of this, how to provide a low-cost active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon that can be quickly deployed, easy to change position, easy to transport, flexible in caliber and large enough in antenna caliber has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved. Summary of the invention

[0005] An embodiment of the present application provides an active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon, which is used to address the shortcomings of existing active phased array antennas, such as being too large in size and difficult to transport, while allowing the antenna to maintain a sufficiently large diameter. A low-cost active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon is provided, which can be quickly deployed, easy to change position, easy to transport, has a flexible and changeable diameter, and has a sufficiently large antenna diameter.

[0006] The embodiment of the present application provides an active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon, wherein the active phased array antenna comprises an antenna module and a lifting module, wherein:

[0007] The antenna module is composed of a first preset number of single-row sub-arrays, and each of the single-row sub-arrays is vertically distributed on a flexible tether, and the single-row sub-array is composed of a second preset number of antennas, wherein each of the antennas has an independent T / R component;

[0008] The lifting module includes a tethered balloon, wherein the tethered balloon is connected to one end of the tether cable and is used to control the lifting of the antenna module.

[0009] Optionally, when the tethered balloon is in an uninflated state, the tether cable and the antenna are in a folded state.

[0010] Optionally, when the tethered balloon is in an inflated state, the tether cable and the antenna change from a folded state to an unfolded state, and the antenna module is in an ascending state, wherein the tether cable and the antenna change from a folded state to an unfolded state based on the degree of ascent of the tethered balloon, thereby obtaining an antenna array surface.

[0011] Optionally, the tethered balloon is of a rotating shape, and the height of the tethered balloon is determined based on an inflation state.

[0012] Optionally, a weight is connected to the other end of the tether cable to prevent external factors from affecting the tethered balloon, wherein the external factors include wind.

[0013] Optionally, a power supply unit is provided inside the tether cable, wherein the power supply unit includes integrated circuit power supply or wireless energy power supply.

[0014] Optionally, the tether is rigidly connected during the ascent, or changes from a flexible connection to a rigid connection.

[0015] Optionally, the number of the tethered balloons corresponds one-to-one to the number of the single-column sub-arrays.

[0016] Optionally, the tethered balloons are arranged in a line;

[0017] Each of the single-row sub-arrays on the tether connected to the tethered balloon constitutes an antenna array surface.

[0018] Optionally, each of the single-column sub-arrays is rigidly connected to form an antenna array surface.

[0019] An embodiment of the present application provides an active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon, wherein the active phased array antenna includes an antenna module and a lifting module, wherein the antenna module is composed of a first preset number of single-row sub-arrays, and each of the single-row sub-arrays is vertically distributed on a flexible tether, and the single-row sub-arrays are composed of a second preset number of antennas, wherein each of the antennas has an independent T / R component; the lifting module includes a tethered balloon, wherein the tethered balloon is connected to one end of the tether for controlling the lifting of the antenna module.

[0020] By using the active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon provided in the present application, the antenna module can be lifted through the tethered balloon. On the one hand, it can be quickly deployed and has the advantages of not requiring fixed installation, flexible and changeable antenna caliber, easy concealment, not easy to be discovered by the enemy, easy to change position, easy to transport, and good convenience; on the other hand, a large-caliber active phased array antenna can be quickly deployed; in addition, due to the low cost of the balloon, the manufacturing cost is also saved.

[0021] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present application, it can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below. The accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be considered as limiting the present application. Also, the same reference symbols are used throughout the accompanying drawings to represent the same components. In the accompanying drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the composition structure of an existing active phased array antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of a structure of a low-cost active phased array antenna that can be quickly deployed based on a tethered balloon provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of a tether structure of an active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0026] Among them, single-row sub-array-1; antenna-2; tether-3; tethered balloon-4; rigid connection-5; control module-6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited by the embodiments set forth herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to enable a more thorough understanding of the present disclosure and to fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0028] The characteristic of active phased array radar is that each array unit is connected to a transmitter / receiver front end (i.e., T / R component). Because its antenna array contains a large number of active components, it is called an active phased array radar. The T / R component is generally composed of phase shifters, transceiver switches, transmitting high-power amplifiers, receiving low-noise amplifiers, attenuators, wave controllers, etc. In active phased array radars, the exciter is connected to the feed network of the antenna array. The final amplifier of the transmitter is located in the transceiver / receiver component of each array unit and is used to perform high-power amplification on the signal generated by the exciter. The target echo signal is amplified by the low-noise amplifier in each transceiver / receiver component and then enters the receiving host after passing through the feed network.

[0029] With the advancement of technology, A / D converters can be integrated into each transceiver / receiver component. When transmitting, the A / D converter converts digital signals into analog signals and sends them to the antenna for transmission; when receiving, the A / D converter converts analog signals into digital signals and feeds the digital signals into the radar signal processor with digital beamforming function through the bus to realize signal processing.

[0030] The reason why active phased array radar is superior to other radars is that it uses many new technologies to make the antenna beam extremely flexible and adaptive. The technical basis for active phased array radar to achieve adaptive adjustment is mainly based on the flexibility of antenna beam scanning, the agile performance of signal waveform and the digital beam forming (DBF) technology developed in recent years.

[0031] DBF technology combines the beam forming of the receiving antenna with signal processing, so that two-dimensional signal processing can be performed in the time domain and space domain, and adaptive control of the antenna beam sidelobes can be achieved. As a result, the adaptive working mode of the active phased array radar is more flexible, providing the necessary conditions for realizing the multi-function of the radar. The beam controller is unique to active phased array radars, which replaces the servo drive subsystem in mechanical scanning radars. The feed network of the active phased array antenna is a transmission line system that connects the numerous antenna units on the array surface to the radar transmitter or receiver in order to solve the problem that the signals received by each antenna unit can be weighted according to certain amplitude and phase requirements. The amplitude and phase weighting required by each antenna unit are also implemented in the feed network system. The composition structure of a typical transceiver active phased array antenna is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the composition structure of an existing active phased array antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] A large active phased array antenna has the disadvantages of needing to be fixedly installed, limited in area, difficult to transport, difficult to conceal, and easy to be discovered by the enemy. However, in order for the antenna gain to be large enough, the antenna aperture must be large enough, which means that it is impossible to reduce its size by reducing the antenna aperture.

[0033] The present application embodiment provides an active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon, see Figure 2 ,in, Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a low-cost active phased array antenna that can be quickly deployed based on a tethered balloon provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0034] like Figure 2 As shown, the active phased array antenna comprises an antenna module and a lifting module, wherein the antenna module is composed of a first preset number (which may be N) of single-row sub-arrays 1, and each of the single-row sub-arrays 1 is vertically distributed on a flexible tether 3, and the single-row sub-array 1 is composed of a second preset number (which may be M) of antennas 2, wherein each of the antennas 2 has an independent T / R component;

[0035] The lifting module includes a tethered balloon 4, wherein the tethered balloon 4 is connected to one end of the tether cable 3, and is used to control the lifting of the antenna module. It should be noted that the number of the tethered balloons 4 can correspond to the number of the single-row sub-arrays 1.

[0036] In practical applications, a single-row subarray 1 or adjacent multiple-row subarrays are lifted by a tethered balloon 4 via a tethered cable 3, and the tethered balloons 4 are arranged in a linear manner, and each of the single-row subarrays 1 on the tethered cable 3 connected to the tethered balloon 4 constitutes an antenna array surface. Each of the single-row subarrays 1 constitutes an antenna array surface by means of a rigid connection 5, wherein each of the single-row subarrays 1 can be connected in the form of a fixed spacing.

[0037] In an optional embodiment, the rigid connection 5 can be a rigid lock installed on both sides of the tethered balloon 4, and the locks are connected in pairs before the balloon is inflated. The locks can ensure that the spacing between each column sub-array is fixed (a typical value is such as half a wavelength).

[0038] When the tethered balloon 4 is in an uninflated state, the tether cable 3 and the antenna 2 are in a folded state.

[0039] When the tethered balloon 4 is in an inflated state, the antenna module is in an ascending state, and the spacing between the sub-arrays 1 in a single column is ensured to be fixed (a typical value is such as half a wavelength).

[0040] At this time, the tether cable 3 and the antenna 2 change from a folded state to an unfolded state, wherein the tether cable 3 and the antenna 2 change from a folded state to an unfolded state based on the rise of the tethered balloon 4 to obtain an antenna array surface.

[0041] The tethered balloon 4 is a rotating body, and the height of the tethered balloon 4 is determined based on the inflation state.

[0042] In an optional embodiment, the other end of the mooring cable 3 is connected to a weight to prevent external factors from affecting the tethered balloon, wherein the external factors include wind. It can be understood that the wind is prevented from affecting the position of the balloon. Those skilled in the art should know that the external factors here include factors that have the same or similar effects as wind, that is, factors that may affect the balloon, which can be understood as external factors in this application.

[0043] In an optional embodiment, a power supply unit is provided inside the tether 3, wherein the power supply unit includes integrated circuit power supply or wireless energy power supply. That is, the tether 3 can be powered by an integrated circuit power supply module, a control module 6, or a wireless energy module. Figure 3 , Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of a tether structure of an active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0044] The mooring cable 3 is rigidly connected during the ascent, or changes from a flexible connection to a rigid connection.

[0045] The present application provides an active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon, the active phased array antenna comprising an antenna module and a lifting module, wherein the antenna module is composed of a first preset number of single-row sub-arrays 1, and each of the single-row sub-arrays 1 is vertically distributed on a tether 3, and the single-row sub-array 1 is composed of a second preset number of antennas 2, wherein each of the antennas 2 has an independent T / R component; the lifting module comprises a tethered balloon 4, wherein the tethered balloon 4 is connected to one end of the tether 3, and is used to control the lifting of the antenna module. By lifting the antenna module through the tethered balloon, on the one hand, it can be quickly deployed, and has the advantages of no need for fixed installation, flexible antenna caliber, easy concealment, not easy to be discovered by the enemy, easy to change position, easy to transport, and good convenience; on the other hand, a large-caliber active phased array antenna can be quickly deployed; in addition, due to the low cost of the balloon, the manufacturing cost is also saved.

[0046] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also includes other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the sentence "includes a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the element.

[0047] The serial numbers of the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application are for description only and do not represent the advantages or disadvantages of the embodiments.

[0048] Through the description of the above implementation methods, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the above-mentioned embodiment methods can be implemented by means of software plus a necessary general hardware platform, and of course by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better implementation method. Based on such an understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM / RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk), and includes a number of instructions for a terminal (which can be a mobile phone, a computer, a server, an air conditioner, or a network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in each embodiment of the present application.

[0049] The embodiments of the present application are described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned specific implementation methods. The above-mentioned specific implementation methods are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Under the guidance of the present application, ordinary technicians in this field can also make many forms without departing from the purpose of the present application and the scope of protection of the claims, all of which are within the protection of the present application.

Claims

1. An active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon, characterized in that: The active phased array antenna comprises an antenna module and a lifting module, wherein: The antenna module is composed of a first preset number of single-row sub-arrays, and each of the single-row sub-arrays is vertically distributed on a flexible tether, and the single-row sub-array is composed of a second preset number of antennas, wherein each of the antennas has an independent T / R component; The lifting module includes a tethered balloon, wherein the tethered balloon is connected to one end of the tether cable and is used to control the lifting of the antenna module.

2. The active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the tethered balloon is in an uninflated state, the tether cable and the antenna are in a folded state.

3. The active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the tethered balloon is inflated, the tether cable and the antenna change from a folded state to an unfolded state, and the antenna module is in an ascending state, wherein the tether cable and the antenna change from a folded state to an unfolded state based on the ascending degree of the tethered balloon, thereby obtaining an antenna array surface.

4. The active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The tethered balloon is a rotating balloon, and the height of the tethered balloon is determined based on the inflation state.

5. The active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: The other end of the tether is connected with a weight to prevent external factors from affecting the tethered balloon, wherein the external factors include wind.

6. The active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: A power supply unit is arranged inside the tether cable, wherein the power supply unit includes integrated circuit power supply or wireless energy power supply.

7. The active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mooring cable is rigidly connected during the ascent, or changes from a flexible connection to a rigid connection.

8. The active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the tethered balloons corresponds one-to-one to the number of the single-row sub-arrays.

9. The active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tethered balloons are arranged in a linear pattern; Each of the single-row sub-arrays on the tether connected to the tethered balloon constitutes an antenna array surface.

10. The active phased array antenna based on a tethered balloon according to claim 1 or 9, characterized in that: The single-row sub-arrays are rigidly connected to form an antenna array surface.

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