Multi-beam antenna and multi-beam forming method

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of satellite communication, and discloses a multi-beam antenna and a multi-beam forming method.The antenna comprises an installation body, a top face antenna, antenna sub-arrays, amplifiers A, amplifiers B, power dividers and combiners, the number of the antenna sub-arrays, the number of the amplifiers A, the number of the amplifiers B, the number of the power dividers and the number of the combiners are all M. The top face antenna is arranged on the top face of the installation body, the antenna sub-arrays are arranged on the side surface of the mounting body, the power dividers and the combiners are sequentially connected at intervals to form an annular structure, one power divider, one amplifier A and one antenna sub-array are sequentially connected, and one combiner is connected with one amplifier B; wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to 4. The problem that in the prior art, it is difficult to form multiple beams under the conditions that the size space is small and the device is simple is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of satellite communications, and in particular to a multi-beam antenna and a multi-beam forming method. Background Art

[0002] In satellite communication systems, low-orbit satellite systems have the characteristics of short propagation delay, low path loss, and convenient miniaturization of user terminals compared to satellite systems in other orbits. For medium and high-orbit satellites, the satellite covers a small angle of the earth, and the difference in path loss from the sub-satellite point to the edge of the coverage area is relatively small and almost negligible. However, for low-orbit satellites, the satellite covers a large angle of the earth, and different angles cause different propagation paths to the satellite and the ground, and different propagation losses. The "near-far effect" and "edge effect" are very obvious. The differences caused by this cannot be ignored, and measures must be taken to overcome them.

[0003] The low-orbit satellite payload antenna is an important component of the satellite payload and has a very important impact on the performance of the entire satellite communication system. The low-orbit satellite payload multi-beam antenna can generate multiple high-gain beams, covering a wider area under the satellite point and increasing the transmission rate. At the same time, it can also multiply the communication capacity through frequency reuse, so that precious spectrum resources can be effectively utilized. At present, the low-orbit satellite payload multi-beam antenna mainly includes analog phased array antenna, digital phased array antenna, multi-antenna and other implementation solutions.

[0004] In order to achieve wide-area high-gain beam coverage of low-orbit satellite sub-satellite points, a larger number of waves is usually required. The analog phased array antenna solution requires a complex beamforming network to achieve more beams, and the antenna is difficult to implement and large in size. Digital phased array antennas can easily achieve multiple beams, but there are problems of high power consumption and high cost. In addition, analog phased array antennas and digital phased array antennas generally have the highest gain at the sub-satellite point, and the gain decreases at the edge of the coverage area due to the increase in the scanning angle, which runs counter to the equal flux requirements of the low-orbit satellite coverage area. The solution of using multiple antennas to form multiple beams is relatively simple to implement, but it will occupy a larger space on the satellite platform size, and the gain is low due to the small aperture of a single antenna. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a multi-beam antenna and a multi-beam forming method, which solve the problems existing in the prior art, such as difficulty in forming multi-beams under the conditions of small size and space and simple device.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above problems is:

[0007] A multi-beam antenna comprises a mounting body, a top antenna, an antenna subarray, an amplifier A, an amplifier B, a power divider, and a combiner, wherein the number of the antenna subarrays, the amplifier A, the amplifier B, the power divider, and the combiner is M, the top antenna is arranged on the top surface of the mounting body, the antenna subarray is arranged on the side of the mounting body, the power divider and the combiner are sequentially connected at intervals to form a ring structure, a power divider, an amplifier A, and an antenna subarray are sequentially connected, and a combiner is connected to an amplifier B; wherein M≥4 and M is an integer.

[0008] As a preferred technical solution, it includes a central beam external radio frequency interface and an amplifier C respectively connected to the top antenna and the central beam external radio frequency interface.

[0009] As a preferred technical solution, it includes a power module, and the power module is electrically connected to amplifier A, amplifier B, and amplifier C respectively.

[0010] As a preferred technical solution, amplifier A, amplifier B, amplifier C, power divider, combiner, and power module are all installed in the installation body.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution, the top antenna includes one or more antenna units.

[0012] As a preferred technical solution, each antenna subarray includes one or more antennas.

[0013] As a preferred technical solution, the antenna units of the top antenna and the antenna units of the antenna subarray are all antennas with circular polarization characteristics.

[0014] As a preferred technical solution, the power divider and the combiner are both Wilkinson power dividers.

[0015] As a preferred technical solution, the mounting body is a regular polygonal pyramid mounting body, the side surface of the mounting body includes M pyramidal surfaces, and the M antenna sub-arrays are respectively mounted on the M pyramidal surfaces.

[0016] A multi-beam forming method uses the multi-beam antenna, wherein the top antenna forms a sub-satellite central beam, and every two adjacent antenna subarrays synthesize outer beams in sequence to form M outer beams in total.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] (1) The present invention adopts an analog active multi-antenna system with a regular multi-prism array, which does not require a beam controller and multiple beamforming networks, nor does it require digital multi-beamforming hardware. It has the advantages of simple implementation and low cost.

[0019] (2) The antenna subarray of the present invention can be composed of multiple antenna units, and every two antenna subarrays synthesize the outer beam in sequence, which has the advantages of high beam gain and low equipment complexity;

[0020] (3) In the present invention, one or more antennas on the top surface of the prism can realize the central beam of the sub-satellite point. The central beam and the high-gain beam realized by the antenna subarrays on each prism surface together form coverage of the ±64° area of ​​the sub-satellite point, and can effectively overcome the "near-far effect" and "edge effect". BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the antenna;

[0022] Figure 2 is the side view of the antenna;

[0023] Figure 3 It is the top view of the antenna;

[0024] Figure 4 This is the principle block diagram of the outer beam implementation;

[0025] Figure 5 This is the principle block diagram of the center beam implementation;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a diagram of the beam coverage effect.

[0027] Markings and their corresponding names in the accompanying drawings: 1. mounting body, 2. top antenna, 3. antenna subarray. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with embodiments and drawings, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0029] Example 1

[0030] like Figures 1 to 6As shown, the above-mentioned purpose of the present invention can be achieved by the following measures. In view of the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention proposes a wide-area coverage active multi-beam antenna, including: a regular polygonal pyramid mounting body (mounting body 1), a top antenna 2, an antenna subarray 3, an amplifier A, an amplifier B, an amplifier C, a power divider, a combiner, and a power module. The regular polygonal pyramid mounting body includes M prism surfaces, where M≥4. The top antenna is installed on the bottom surface of the prism. Optionally, the top antenna can be composed of one antenna unit or a plurality of antenna units. The top antenna forms a sub-satellite point center beam. M antenna subarrays are respectively installed on the M prism surfaces, and each antenna subarray can be composed of N antenna units, where N≥1. The antenna units of the top antenna and the antenna subarray are implemented by antennas with circular polarization characteristics. The M power dividers and the M combiners are all implemented by Wilkinson power dividers. Every two adjacent antenna subarrays synthesize the outer beam in turn, and a total of M outer beams can be formed. Amplifier A is connected to the antenna subarray and power divider through the RF interface. One end of amplifier B is connected to the combiner, and the other end is the external RF interface of the outer beam. One end of amplifier C is connected to the top antenna, and the other end is the external RF interface of the center beam. The power module supplies power to amplifier A, amplifier B, and amplifier C. Amplifier A, amplifier B, amplifier C, power divider, combiner, and power module are all installed in the regular multi-prism installation body.

[0031] Example 2

[0032] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, as a further optimization of Example 1, based on Example 1, this embodiment also includes the following technical features:

[0033] See also Figure 1. In the embodiment described below, a wide-area coverage active multi-beam antenna includes: a regular polygonal pyramid mounting body, a top antenna, an antenna subarray, an amplifier A, an amplifier B, an amplifier C, a power divider, a combiner, and a power module. The regular polygonal pyramid mounting body includes M prism surfaces, where M≥4. The typical number of the wide-area coverage active multi-beam antenna in this embodiment is M=12. The area of ​​the upper bottom surface and the lower bottom surface of the prism and the height of the prism are selected according to the coverage area requirements of the sub-satellite point and the size of the antenna. The top antenna is installed on the upper bottom surface of the prism. Optionally, the top antenna can be composed of one antenna unit or multiple antenna units. The top antenna forms a sub-satellite point center beam. The top antenna of the wide-area coverage active multi-beam antenna in this embodiment is composed of one antenna unit. M antenna subarrays are respectively installed on M prism surfaces. The wide-area coverage active multi-beam antenna forms a total of (M+1) beams. Each antenna subarray can be composed of an array of N antenna units, N≥1. The typical number of wide-area coverage active multi-beam antennas in this embodiment is N=2. The antenna units of the top antenna and the antenna subarray are implemented by antennas with circular polarization characteristics. Amplifier A, amplifier B, amplifier C, power divider, combiner, and power supply module are all installed in the regular multi-prism installation body.

[0034] See also Figure 2 . The i-th antenna subarray and the (i+1)-th antenna subarray are combined to form an outer beam i, where 1≤i<M. The M-th antenna subarray and the 1st antenna subarray form an outer beam M. Every two adjacent antenna subarrays are combined into an outer beam in turn, and a total of M outer beams can be formed. The M power dividers and the M combiners are both implemented using Wilkinson power dividers. Amplifier A is connected to the antenna subarrays and the power dividers through a radio frequency interface. One end of amplifier B is connected to the combiner, and the other end is the external radio frequency interface of the outer beam. The power module supplies power to amplifiers A and B.

[0035] See also Figure 3 One end of amplifier C is connected to the top antenna, and the other end is the external RF interface of the center beam. The top antenna forms a sub-satellite center beam.

[0036] See also Figure 2 and Figure 3 , which shows the implementation of receiving multi-beam. If the RF signal flow direction is reversed and an amplifier that satisfies the RF flow direction is selected, transmitting multi-beam can be achieved.

[0037] As described above, the present invention can be preferably implemented.

[0038] All features disclosed in all embodiments in this specification, or steps in all methods or processes implicitly disclosed, except for mutually exclusive features and / or steps, can be combined and / or expanded or replaced in any manner.

[0039] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any form. According to the technical essence of the present invention, within the spirit and principles of the present invention, any simple modification, equivalent replacement and improvement made to the above embodiment still falls within the protection scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-beam antenna, characterized in that: The invention comprises a mounting body (1), a top antenna (2), an antenna subarray (3), an amplifier A, an amplifier B, a power divider, and a combiner. The number of the antenna subarray (3), the amplifier A, the amplifier B, the power divider, and the combiner is M. The top antenna (2) is arranged on the top surface of the mounting body (1), the antenna subarray (3) is arranged on the side surface of the mounting body (1), the power divider and the combiner are connected in sequence at intervals to form a ring structure, a power divider, an amplifier A, and an antenna subarray (3) are connected in sequence, and a combiner is connected to an amplifier B; wherein M≥4 and M is an integer.

2. A multi-beam antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: It comprises a central beam external radio frequency interface and an amplifier C respectively connected to the top antenna (2) and the central beam external radio frequency interface.

3. A multi-beam antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that: It includes a power supply module, which is electrically connected to amplifier A, amplifier B and amplifier C respectively.

4. A multi-beam antenna according to claim 3, characterized in that: Amplifier A, amplifier B, amplifier C, power divider, combiner, and power module are all installed in the installation body (1).

5. The multi-beam antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top antenna (2) comprises one or more antenna units.

6. A multi-beam antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that: Each antenna sub-array (3) includes one or more antennas.

7. The multi-beam antenna according to claim 6, characterized in that: The antenna units of the top antenna (2) and the antenna units of the antenna subarray (3) are both antennas with circular polarization characteristics.

8. The multi-beam antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power divider and combiner are both Wilkinson power dividers.

9. A multi-beam antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The mounting body (1) is a regular multi-sided pyramid mounting body, the side surface of the mounting body (1) comprises M pyramidal surfaces, and the M antenna sub-arrays (3) are respectively mounted on the M pyramidal surfaces.

10. A multi-beam forming method, characterized in that: Using a multi-beam antenna as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, the top antenna (2) forms a sub-satellite central beam, and every two adjacent antenna subarrays (3) synthesize outer beams in sequence to form M outer beams in total.

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