System, identification device, program, and member

Abstract

SOLUTION: There is provided an identification device comprising: a storage unit for storing delay time-incident angle relationship data indicating a relationship between a delay time till a radio wave transmitted from a transmission antenna located in a housing reaches a reception antenna located inside the housing, in a state where a reflector is located in an open section of the housing which is at least partly open and has an inner surface at least a part of which reflects the radio wave, and an incident angle of when the radio wave enters the reflector; an analysis result acquisition unit for acquiring an analysis result in which the radio wave transmitted from the transmission antenna and received by the reception antenna in a state where a measurement object is located in the open part of the housing; and a reflection characteristic identification unit for identifying reflection characteristic of the radio wave of measurement object on the basis of the analysis result and the delay time-incident angle relationship data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system, a specific device, a program, and a member. [Background technology]

[0002] Non-Patent Document 1, Non-Patent Document 2, and Non-Patent Document 3 describe methods for measuring the reflective properties of materials. [Prior art document] [Non-patent literature] [Non-Patent Document 1] Takayuki Sasamori, Fundamentals and Applications of Antenna Measurement Using Network Analyzers, Design and Analysis Methods Workshop for Antennas and Propagation (54th), Antenna and Propagation Research Committee, June 2016 [Non-Patent Document 2] Yuto Kato, "Research on measurement technology and standard supply of material constants such as dielectric constant," AIST Metrology Standards Report, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 99-116, 2014. [Non-Patent Document 3] Keysight Technologies, "Agilent Dielectric Measurement Fundamentals," Application note, 5989-2589JA, 2014. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system. The system may include a housing having at least a portion that is open and at least a portion of an inner surface that reflects radio waves. The system may include a transmitting antenna disposed within the housing. The system may include a receiving antenna disposed within the housing. The system may include a reflection characteristic specifying unit that specifies a reflection characteristic of radio waves of the measurement target based on radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna and received by the receiving antenna when the measurement target is disposed in the open portion of the housing.

[0004] In the system, the housing may be a polyhedron having multiple faces with at least one side open, and the inner surfaces of two or more of the multiple faces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces. The housing may be a rectangular parallelepiped with one side open and having a first face, a second face opposite the first face, a third face, a fourth face opposite the third face, and a fifth face opposite the open one side, and the inner surfaces of the first face and the second face may be radio wave reflecting surfaces, and the inner surfaces of the third face and the fourth face may be radio wave absorbing surfaces. The inner surface of the fifth face may be a radio wave absorbing surface.

[0005] In any of the above systems, the distance between the first surface and the second surface may be configured to be changeable.

[0006] In any of the above systems, the housing may be a rectangular parallelepiped with one side open and having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface opposite the first surface, a fourth surface opposite the second surface, and a fifth surface opposite the open first surface, and the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface may be configured to be switchable between a state in which the first surface and the second surface are radio wave reflecting surfaces and the third surface and the fourth surface are radio wave absorbing surfaces, and a state in which the first surface and the second surface are radio wave absorbing surfaces and the third surface and the fourth surface are radio wave reflecting surfaces.

[0007] In any of the above systems, the reflection characteristic specifying unit may specify the reflection characteristic of the measurement target using delay time-incidence angle relationship data indicating a relationship between a delay time until the radio wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna is reflected by a reflector arranged in the open portion of the housing and reaches the receiving antenna, and an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector. The reflection characteristic specifying unit may specify the reflection characteristic of the measurement target using a reception level per time of the radio wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna and received by the receiving antenna in a state where a reflector having a known reflection coefficient is arranged in the open portion of the housing, a reception level per time of the radio wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna and received by the receiving antenna in a state where the measurement target is arranged in the open portion of the housing, and the delay time-incidence angle relationship data.

[0008] In any of the systems described above, the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna may be misaligned within the housing.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a determination device. The determination device may include a storage unit that stores delay time-incident angle relationship data indicating a relationship between a delay time until a radio wave transmitted from a transmitting antenna disposed in a housing is reflected by the reflector and reaches a receiving antenna disposed in the housing, and an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector, in a state in which a measurement target is disposed in the open portion of the housing. The determination device may include an analysis result acquisition unit that acquires an analysis result of an analysis of the radio wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna and received by the receiving antenna, in a state in which a measurement target is disposed in the open portion of the housing. The determination device may include a reflection characteristic determination unit that determines the reflection characteristic of the radio wave of the measurement target based on the analysis result and the delay time-incident angle relationship data.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to function as the specific device.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a member. The member may include a housing having at least a portion that is open and at least a portion of an inner surface that reflects radio waves. The member may include a transmitting antenna disposed within the housing. The member may include a receiving antenna disposed within the housing.

[0012] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention. Also, subcombinations of these features may also be inventions. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a system 10. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a system 10. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a system 10. [Figure 4] An example of a mirror image space 302 is shown diagrammatically. [Diagram 5] 4 shows a schematic diagram of an example delay profile 400. [Figure 6] 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a reflection coefficient incident angle characteristic 410. FIG. [Figure 7] 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example delay profile 500. [Figure 8] 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example delay profile 500. [Figure 9] 6 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a reflection coefficient versus angle of incidence 600. [Figure 10] 2 illustrates an example of a functional configuration of the identifying device 300. [Figure 11] 2 shows another example of the configuration of the system 10. [Figure 12] 1 shows an example of a measurement process flow in the system 10. [Figure 13] An example of a hardware configuration of a computer 1200 functioning as the specific device 300 is shown in schematic form. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention according to the claims. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0015] In the next generation mobile communication, the use of high frequencies in the millimeter wave band (30-300 GHz) is being considered. However, since the medium characteristics of materials in this band are not clear, simulations are forced to use medium constants below 100 GHz. Alternatively, users are forced to use estimated values ​​calculated from their own experimental values. On the other hand, even if the medium constants of the reflection characteristics in the millimeter wave band can be specified, the reflection itself has a strong element of diffuse scattering, so it is not necessarily possible to apply them as they are. In this situation, the inventor considered an approach that emphasizes experimental values, but it is difficult to efficiently measure the reflection scattering characteristics of materials. There is a method that uses an angle setting arm to measure the angular characteristics of regular reflection, but it requires mechanical setting and scanning, and requires a huge measurement time. In consideration of the above problems, a simultaneous measurement method of angular characteristics using multiple mirror image wave sources was considered as a method that does not require angle scanning in principle. As a specific example, in the system 10 according to this embodiment, a delay profile is obtained from the transmission characteristics of a transmitting / receiving omni-directional antenna installed in an open anechoic box, and the incident angle is calculated from the delay time to simultaneously measure the incident angle dependency of the reflection characteristics. This, in principle, makes mechanical scanning and setting for setting the incident angle unnecessary, and there is a possibility that it will be possible to realize high-speed measurement.

[0016] 1, 2, and 3 are explanatory diagrams for explaining a system 10. The system 10 includes a member 100 and a specifying device 300. The system 10 may include an analyzing device 200.

[0017] The member 100 has a housing 110, a transmitting antenna 150 disposed within the housing 110, and a receiving antenna 160 disposed within the housing 110. The housing 110 has an inner surface that is at least partially open and at least partially reflects radio waves.

[0018] In this embodiment, the case where the housing 110 is a rectangular parallelepiped will be mainly described as an example, but the housing 110 is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, for the sake of explanation, the respective faces of the housing 110 are described as an E face 111, a W face 112, a C face 113, an F face 114, an S face 115, and an N face 116, using east-west-north-south (E, W, S, N), a ceiling (C), and a floor (F). In this example, the N face 116 is an open face. That is, the N face 116 side is open. In addition, the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 are connected to the analysis device 200 by wiring that penetrates the F face 114. The transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 may be connected to the analysis device 200 by wiring that penetrates other faces.

[0019] 3, a measurement target 20, which is an object for measuring the reflection characteristics of radio waves, is placed in an open portion of the housing 110. The measurement target 20 may be any object. The measurement target 20 has a planar portion that is placed in the open portion of the housing 110. The entire measurement target 20 may be planar.

[0020] The inner surfaces of the surfaces other than the open portion of the housing 110 may be selected from a total reflection surface, a radio wave absorbing surface, and open depending on the case. In the example shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the inner surfaces of the E surface 111, the W surface 112, and the S surface 115 are total reflection surfaces, and the inner surfaces of the C surface 113 and the F surface 114 are radio wave absorbing surfaces. In this example, the housing 110 configures a closed system by disposing the measurement target 20 on the N surface 116. Note that the housing 110 may be open except for the N surface 116. For example, in addition to the N surface 116, the S surface 115 may be open. Also, for example, in addition to the N surface 116, the C surface 113 and the F surface 114 may be open. Also, for example, in addition to the N surface 116, the E surface 111 and the W surface 112 may be open.

[0021] The transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 disposed within the housing 110 are connected to the analysis device 200. The antenna directivity of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 may be omnidirectional.

[0022] The analysis device 200 has a function of measuring the time-based reception level of the radio waves received by the receiving antenna 160. The analysis device 200 may be a VNA (Vector Network Analyzer). The analysis device 200 may have a so-called time domain function.

[0023] The analysis device 200 analyzes radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160 while the measurement target 20 is placed on the N-face 116 of the housing 110, and provides the analysis results to the identifying device 300. The analysis device 200 may analyze millimeter wave band radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160, and provide the analysis results to the identifying device 300.

[0024] The identifying device 300 identifies the reflection characteristic of the measurement target 20 based on the analysis result acquired from the analysis device 200. Note that, although the case where the analysis device 200 and the identifying device 300 are separate has been exemplified here, the present invention is not limited to this, and the analysis device 200 and the identifying device 300 may be integrated. In other words, the identifying device 300 may have the functions of the analysis device 200.

[0025] A method for identifying the reflection characteristics of the measurement target 20 using the identifying device 300 will be described below with reference to an example in which the member 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is used.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows an example of a mirror image space 302 realized by the housing 110. Since the housing 110 is a rectangular parallelepiped, the two-dimensional mirror image space seen from the +z-axis direction is as shown in the mirror image space 302 in FIG. 4. (0, 0) in the figure is the ID of the mirror image space and represents the mirror image order on the x and y planes. The mirror image order corresponds to the number of reflections, and for example, in the case of two reflections, it is 2. The origin o in the figure is set to (0, 0) in the real space, and the negative direction of each axis coordinate is expressed as minus. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the x-axis is ±2nd order, and the y-axis is ±3rd order, representing a total of 35 mirror image spaces. The solid white circle indicating the transmission source is arranged in each mirror image space. The dashed white circle indicating the receiving antenna functions only in the real space (0, 0), but exists in each mirror image space as an obstacle blocking the path from each mirror image wave source. In principle, there are an infinite number of mirror image wave sources, so it is desirable to limit the target range to a finite distance. In this example, the target range is limited to the distance of the long delay cut 304. The system 10 may perform this limitation by using a time gate function of the analysis device 200.

[0027] In the mirror image space 302, a thick black line indicates the reflection surface of the measurement target 20. As shown in FIG. 4, a reflection surface appears every two spaces in the x-axis direction. In the mirror image space 302, there are two layers of the measurement target surface 0 reflection layer ((-1, y), (0, y)) and three layers of the measurement target surface 1 reflection layer ((-2, y), (1, y), and (2, y)) for the reflection surface of the measurement target 20. In FIG. 4, the mirror image space corresponding to the measurement target surface 2 reflections is omitted. In this example, there are 14 wave sources of the measurement target surface 0 reflections and 21 wave sources of the measurement target surface 1 reflection. In the mirror image space 302, if there is one reflection surface of the measurement target 20 on the path between the mirror image wave source and the receiving antenna (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 4), there is a loss of one reflection, if there are two reflections, there is a loss of two reflections, and if there are n reflections, there is a loss of n reflections. On the other hand, the other surfaces are total reflection surfaces, so the reflection coefficient is 1 and there is no loss due to reflection. Therefore, in a 0-reflection layer, the received level (S 21 ) is equivalent to the free space radio wave loss, and in an n-times reflection layer, the signal is received with a loss equal to the reflection coefficient according to the number of times.

[0028] Fig. 5 shows an example of a delay profile 400. In Fig. 5, the vertical axis indicates the reception level, and the horizontal axis indicates time. The delay profile 400 shows the reception level for each time of radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160 in a state where a total reflector with a reflection coefficient of 1 is placed on the N-plane 116. In other words, the delay profile 400 shows the reception level for each delay time from when the transmitting antenna 150 transmits the radio waves to when the receiving antenna 160 receives them. The delay time reception level characteristic 401 shows the relationship between the delay time and the reception level.

[0029] The longer the path from when the transmitting antenna 150 transmits the radio wave until when the receiving antenna 160 receives it, the larger the delay time. In other words, there is a dependency between the path and the delay time. For this reason, the path can be identified by the delay time. By identifying the path, it is possible to identify the angle of incidence when the radio wave is incident on the measurement target 20. In other words, the angle of incidence can be identified by the delay time. The identifying device 300 may store in advance delay time-incident angle relationship data indicating the relationship between the delay time and the angle of incidence, and a delay profile 400.

[0030] Fig. 6 shows a reflection coefficient incident angle characteristic 410. In Fig. 6, the vertical axis indicates the reflection coefficient, and the horizontal axis indicates the incident angle. The reflection coefficient incident angle characteristic 410 is identified using total reflection (reflection coefficient 1) as a reference value. The identifying device 300 may store the reflection coefficient incident angle characteristic 410 in advance.

[0031] 7 and 8 show an example of a delay profile 500. The delay profile 500 shown in Fig. 7 shows the delay time reception level characteristic 401 and the profiles of two layers of the 0-time reflection layer ((-1, y), (0, y)) on the measured surface (solid line), the 1-time reflection layer ((1, y)) on the measured surface (dashed line), and the 2-time reflection layer (3, y) on the measured surface (chain line). When the long delay cut 304 is applied, the long delay cut 502 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is applied.

[0032] 8, the identifying device 300 calculates a reflection coefficient for each delay time based on a level difference with respect to the delay time reception level characteristic 401. The identifying device 300 identifies the characteristics of the reflection coefficient and the incident angle from the calculation result and the delay time-incident angle relationship data.

[0033] FIG. 9 shows an example of the reflection coefficient incident angle characteristic 600. In the system 10 according to the present embodiment, the path of the radio wave from the transmitting antenna 150 to the receiving antenna 160 can be changed by changing the position of at least one of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160, or by changing the position of the reflecting surface without changing the positions of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160, and the reflection coefficient for different incident angles can be specified. FIG. 9 shows a case where the delay profile is generated three times (#1, #2, #3) by changing the position of the receiving antenna 160. In addition, in the system 10 according to the present embodiment, the characteristics of both TE incidence and TM incidence can be specified by changing the orientation of at least one of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 to change the polarization.

[0034] Measurement of the reflection characteristics of materials is classified into direct and indirect methods. In the direct method, a device that changes the angle of two antennas, one for transmission and the other for reception, is used to directly measure the reflection characteristics for each incident angle. A method is used in which plane waves are generated using lenses or the like so that radio waves are appropriately incident on the reflecting surface. Since mechanical angle scanning is required, the measurement time is long and the work is complicated. For this reason, it is difficult to say that this method can be measured casually. On the other hand, in the indirect method, the reflection characteristics are indirectly obtained by measuring the electric constants such as the dielectric constant of the material sample and substituting them for the Fresnel reflection coefficient. This includes a method of determining the material constant by transmitting a plane wave, and a method of filling a coaxial line or a waveguide with a material. Since it is known that the roughness of the reflecting surface greatly affects the reflection characteristics in the millimeter wave band, it is desirable to measure actual materials such as walls and features using the direct method. In the system 10 according to this embodiment, as described above, an omni-directional antenna is used to generate reflected waves from multiple angles, and the reflection coefficient incident angle characteristics are identified from the delay time, so that the reflection characteristics of the measurement target 20 can be identified very efficiently. Furthermore, in the system 10 according to this embodiment, the measurement environment is prepared by bringing the member 100 into contact with an actual material such as a wall or feature whose reflection characteristics are to be measured. This eliminates the need to cut out a material for measurement or to prepare a material whose size is adjusted for measurement, thereby making the measurement more efficient.

[0035] Fig. 10 illustrates an example of a functional configuration of the identifying device 300. The identifying device 300 illustrated in Fig. 10 includes a registration unit 312, a storage unit 314, an analysis unit 316, an analysis result acquisition unit 318, and a reflection property identifying unit 320. Here, a case is illustrated in which the identifying device 300 has the functions of the analysis device 200, but when the identifying device 300 does not have the functions of the analysis device 200, the identifying device 300 may not have the analysis unit 316, and the analysis device 200 may have the analysis unit 316.

[0036] The component 100 has a housing 110 having an inner surface that is at least partially open and at least a portion of which reflects radio waves, a transmitting antenna 150 disposed within the housing 110, and a receiving antenna 160 disposed within the housing 110.

[0037] Housing 110 may be a polyhedron having multiple faces, at least one of which is open. Of the multiple faces excluding the open face, the inner surface of one or more faces may be a radio wave reflecting surface. Of the multiple faces excluding the open face, the inner surfaces of two or more faces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces. Of the multiple faces excluding the open face, the inner surfaces of the faces other than the faces whose inner surfaces are radio wave reflecting surfaces may be radio wave absorbing surfaces. All of the inner surfaces of the multiple faces excluding the open face may be radio wave reflecting surfaces.

[0038] The housing 110 may be, for example, a hexahedron, one or more of the six faces of which may be open. For example, the housing 110 is a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0039] As a specific example, the housing 110 is a rectangular parallelepiped with one side open and having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a third surface, a fourth surface opposite the third surface, and a fifth surface opposite the open first surface. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the E surface 111 may be the first surface, the W surface 112 may be the second surface, the C surface 113 may be the third surface, the F surface 114 may be the fourth surface, and the S surface 115 may be the fifth surface.

[0040] Of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth surfaces, the inner surfaces of two surfaces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces, and the inner surfaces of the remaining three surfaces may be radio wave absorbing surfaces. For example, the inner surfaces of the first and second surfaces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces, and the inner surfaces of the third, fourth, and fifth surfaces may be radio wave absorbing surfaces. For example, the inner surfaces of the third and fourth surfaces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces, and the inner surfaces of the first, second, and fifth surfaces may be radio wave absorbing surfaces.

[0041] Of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth surfaces, the inner surfaces of three surfaces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces, and the inner surfaces of two surfaces may be radio wave absorbing surfaces. For example, the inner surfaces of the first, second, and fifth surfaces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces, and the inner surfaces of the third and fourth surfaces may be radio wave absorbing surfaces. For example, the inner surfaces of the third, fourth, and fifth surfaces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces, and the inner surfaces of the first and second surfaces may be radio wave absorbing surfaces.

[0042] Of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth surfaces, the inner surfaces of four surfaces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces and one surface may be a radio wave absorbing surface. Alternatively, the inner surfaces of all of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth surfaces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces.

[0043] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the C surface 113 may be the first surface, the F surface 114 may be the second surface, the E surface 111 may be the third surface, the W surface 112 may be the fourth surface, and the S surface 115 may be the fifth surface.

[0044] As another example, the housing 110 is a rectangular parallelepiped that is open on two sides and has a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a third surface, and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. In the example shown in Fig. 2, in addition to the N surface 116, the S surface 115 may be an open surface, the E surface 111 may be a first surface, the W surface 112 may be a second surface, the C surface 113 may be a third surface, and the F surface 114 may be a fourth surface.

[0045] Of the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface, two surfaces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces and two surfaces may be radio wave absorbing surfaces. For example, the first surface and the second surface may be radio wave reflecting surfaces and the third surface and the fourth surface may be radio wave absorbing surfaces. For example, the third surface and the fourth surface may be radio wave reflecting surfaces and the first surface and the second surface may be radio wave absorbing surfaces.

[0046] Of the first, second, third, and fourth surfaces, three may be radio wave reflecting surfaces and one may be a radio wave absorbing surface. Alternatively, the inner surfaces of all of the first, second, third, and fourth surfaces may be radio wave reflecting surfaces.

[0047] Housing 110 may be, for example, a heptahedron with one or more of the seven faces being open, or housing 110 may be a polyhedron with eight or more faces with one or more of the eight faces being open.

[0048] The housing 110 may be configured so that the distance between the faces can be changed. In particular, the housing 110 may be configured so that the distance between the face whose inner surface is a reflective surface and the other faces can be changed. As a specific example, in a case where the inner surfaces of the first and second faces are radio wave reflective surfaces and the inner surfaces of the third, fourth, and fifth faces are radio wave absorbing surfaces, the distance between the first and second faces can be changed. The housing 110 may be configured so that the distance between the faces can be changed, for example, by having a sliding structure. Note that the housing 110 is not limited to a sliding structure, and may have other structures as long as the distance between the faces can be changed. By configuring the distance between the faces of the housing 110 to be changeable, the variation of the reflection environment can be easily increased, and the efficiency of the measurement can be improved.

[0049] The housing 110 may be configured so that each of the inner surfaces of the multiple faces excluding the open face can be switched between a state of being a radio wave reflecting surface and a state of being a radio wave absorbing surface. As a specific example, the first face, the second face, the third face, and the fourth face are configured so that they can be switched between a state in which the first face and the second face are radio wave reflecting surfaces and the third face and the fourth face are radio wave absorbing surfaces, and a state in which the first face and the second face are radio wave absorbing surfaces and the third face and the fourth face are radio wave reflecting surfaces. For example, the housing 110 has a structure in which the inner surfaces of the multiple faces excluding the open face are radio wave absorbing surfaces, and the radio wave reflecting surfaces can be attached and detached to the inner surfaces. The attachment and detachment of the radio wave reflecting surfaces may be realized by magnetic force, or may be realized by adhesive or the like. Also, for example, the housing 110 has a structure in which the inner surfaces of the multiple faces excluding the open face are radio wave reflecting surfaces, and the radio wave absorbing surfaces can be attached and detached to the inner surfaces. The radio wave absorbing surface may be attached and detached by magnetic force, or by adhesive, etc. By configuring the housing 110 in this way, it is possible to increase the number of reflection paths and change the polarization, thereby increasing the variation of the reflection environment and improving the efficiency of the measurement.

[0050] Housing 110 may be a sphere or an ellipsoid that is at least partially open and has at least a portion of an inner surface that reflects radio waves. Housing 110 has, for example, a spherical incision shape obtained by cutting a hollow sphere along a single plane. One or more portions of the inner surface of housing 110 may be radio wave reflecting surfaces, and other portions may be radio wave absorbing surfaces.

[0051] The transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 may be arranged without being aligned in the housing 110. For example, the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 may be arranged so as not to be symmetrical with respect to the center of gravity of the housing 110. If the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 are arranged in alignment in the housing 110, the number of patterns in which the delay times are the same despite the different angles of incidence on the measurement target 20 in the path of the radio wave from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna, including reflection at the measurement target 20, increases, resulting in a decrease in effective data. On the other hand, by arranging the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 without being aligned in the housing 110, such patterns can be reduced and effective data can be increased.

[0052] At least one of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 may be repositionable within the housing 110. Both the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 may be repositionable within the housing 110, or only one of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 may be repositionable within the housing 110.

[0053] The registration unit 312 registers delay time-incident angle relationship data indicating the relationship between the delay time taken for radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 arranged in the housing 110 of the member 100 to be reflected by a reflector arranged in an open portion of the housing 110 and reach the receiving antenna 160, and the incident angle when the radio waves are incident on the reflector. The delay time-incident angle relationship data registered by the registration unit 312 is stored in the storage unit 314.

[0054] When multiple components 100 are present, the registration section 312 may register the delay time-incident angle relationship data for each of the multiple components 100 .

[0055] When the distance between the faces of the housing 110 of the component 100 is configured to be changeable, the relationship between the delay time and the incident angle changes depending on the distance between the faces. When the distance between the faces of the housing 110 of the component 100 is configured to be changeable, the registration unit 312 may register delay time incident angle relationship data for each distance between the faces.

[0056] When the housing 110 of the component 100 is configured so that each of the inner surfaces of the multiple surfaces excluding the open surfaces can be switched between a radio wave reflecting surface state and a radio wave absorbing surface state, the relationship between the delay time and the incident angle will change for each combination of the radio wave reflecting surface and the radio wave absorbing surface of the inner surfaces of the multiple surfaces. When the housing 110 of the component 100 is configured so that each of the inner surfaces of the multiple surfaces excluding the open surfaces can be switched between a radio wave reflecting surface state and a radio wave absorbing surface state, the registration unit 312 may register the delay time-incident angle relationship data for each combination of the radio wave reflecting surface and the radio wave absorbing surface of the inner surfaces of the multiple surfaces.

[0057] When the location of at least one of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 can be changed within the housing 110, the relationship between the delay time and the incident angle changes depending on the location. When the location of at least one of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 can be changed within the housing 110, the registration unit 312 may register the delay time incident angle relationship data for each location.

[0058] The analysis unit 316 analyzes the radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160. The analysis unit 316 may have a so-called time domain function. The analysis unit 316 may identify the reception level per time of the radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160. The analysis unit 316 may have a so-called time gate function. The analysis unit 316 may only target a time range shorter than a predetermined time.

[0059] The analysis unit 316 may identify the reception level per hour of radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160 in a state where a reflector with a known reflection coefficient is placed in the open portion of the housing 110 of the component 100. If there are multiple open portions of the housing 110, the reflector is placed in only one of the multiple open portions. For example, the analysis unit 316 identifies the reception level per hour of radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160 in a state where a total reflector with a reflection coefficient of 1 is placed in the open portion of the housing 110 of the component 100.

[0060] The analysis unit 316 may identify the reception level per unit time of the radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160 in a state in which the measurement target 20 is placed in an open portion of the housing 110 of the component 100. When there are multiple open portions of the housing 110, the measurement target 20 is placed in only one of the multiple open portions.

[0061] The analysis result acquisition unit 318 acquires the analysis result by the analysis unit 316 from the analysis unit 316. The analysis result acquisition unit 318 acquires, for example, the reception level for each hour of radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160 in a state where a reflector with a known reflection coefficient is placed in the open portion of the housing 110 of the component 100. The analysis result acquisition unit 318 acquires, for example, the reception level for each hour of radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160 in a state where the measurement target 20 is placed in the open portion of the housing 110 of the component 100.

[0062] The reflection characteristic specifying unit 320 specifies the reflection characteristics of the radio waves of the measurement target 20 based on the radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160 in a state in which the measurement target 20 is placed in an open portion of the housing 110 of the component 100. The reflection characteristic specifying unit 320 specifies the reflection characteristics of the measurement target 20 using the delay time-incident angle relationship data corresponding to the component 100 used.

[0063] The reflection characteristic specifying unit 320 may specify the reflection characteristic of the object 20 using the reception level for each time of the radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160 in a state where a total reflector is placed in the open portion of the housing 110, the reception level for each time of the radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160 in a state where the object 20 is placed in the open portion of the housing 110, and the delay time incident angle data. Specifically, the reflection characteristic specifying unit 320 calculates the reflection coefficient of the object 20 from the level difference of the reception level for each delay time. Then, the reflection characteristic specifying unit 320 specifies the reflection coefficient for each incident angle using the delay time incident angle data.

[0064] This makes it possible to specify the reflection coefficient for each of a plurality of angles of incidence without changing the positions of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 relative to the measurement target 20, and to efficiently specify the reflection characteristics of the measurement target 20. In particular, when targeting the millimeter wave band, the positions of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 require extremely high accuracy, and a specification method that moves the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 becomes difficult, so the specification method of this system that can specify the reflection coefficient for each of a plurality of angles of incidence of the measurement target 20 without moving the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 can be said to be more effective.

[0065] When the distance between the faces of the housing 110 of the component 100 is configured to be changeable, the reflection characteristic specifying unit 320 specifies the reflection coefficient for each of a plurality of angles of incidence for each distance between the faces, using the delay time-incident angle relationship data registered for each distance between the faces. This makes it possible to specify the reflection coefficient for many angles of incidence, and to specify the reflection characteristic of the measurement target 20 more efficiently.

[0066] When the housing 110 of the component 100 is configured such that each of the inner surfaces of the multiple surfaces excluding the open surface can be switched between a radio wave reflecting surface state and a radio wave absorbing surface state, the reflection characteristic determination unit 320 determines the reflection coefficient for each of the multiple angles of incidence for each combination of the radio wave reflecting surface and the radio wave absorbing surface of the inner surfaces of the multiple surfaces, using the delay time incident angle relationship data registered for each combination of the radio wave reflecting surface and the radio wave absorbing surface of the inner surfaces of the multiple surfaces. This also makes it possible to determine the reflection coefficient for many angles of incidence, and to more efficiently determine the reflection characteristics of the measurement target 20.

[0067] In the measurement in the system 10, radio waves of different frequencies may be transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150, and the reflection characteristics of the measurement target 20 may be identified for each different frequency. For example, the analysis unit 316 may cause the transmitting antenna 150 to transmit radio waves while sweeping the frequency. The analysis unit 316 may cause the transmitting antenna 150 to sequentially transmit pulse waves of different frequencies. The reflection characteristic identification unit 320 may identify the reflection characteristics for each different frequency, that is, the reflection coefficient incident angle characteristics, from the analysis result by the analysis unit 316. This makes it possible to efficiently identify the reflection characteristics for each frequency of the measurement target 20. According to an experiment conducted by the inventor, no difference was observed in the reflection characteristics in the 30 GHz to 100 GHz band, but the reflection coefficient became lower in the 300 GHz band, and a frequency dependency specific to the 300 GHz band was observed. According to the system 10 of this embodiment, such frequency dependency can be efficiently measured, and can contribute to research in the field.

[0068] When at least one of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 is changeable in position within the housing 110, the reflection characteristic determination unit 320 determines the reflection coefficient for each of a plurality of incident angles for each position by using the delay time incident angle relationship data registered for each position. As illustrated in Fig. 11, the polarization can be changed by changing the position of the receiving antenna 160. This makes it possible to determine the reflection coefficient for more incident angles and to determine the reflection characteristics for different polarizations, although there is a burden to accurately position the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160, and therefore makes it possible to more efficiently determine the reflection characteristics of the measurement target 20.

[0069] 12 shows an example of a measurement process flow in the system 10. Here, the distance between the faces of the housing 110 of the component 100 is configured to be changeable, and a process flow will be described for a case in which measurement is performed appropriately while changing the distance between the faces. Note that the starting state is a state in which the measurement target 20 is in contact with the open part of the housing 110.

[0070] In step (sometimes abbreviated as S) 102, the system 10 executes the measurement. Specifically, the analysis unit 316 first causes the transmitting antenna 150 to transmit radio waves and analyzes the radio waves received by the receiving antenna 160 to identify the reception level for each delay time. The reflection characteristic identification unit 320 then calculates a reflection coefficient for each incidence angle using the reception level for each delay time, the reception level for each time of the radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 150 and received by the receiving antenna 160 in a state where a total reflector is placed in the open portion of the housing 110 of the component 100, and delay time incidence angle relationship data corresponding to the state of the component 100.

[0071] If the measurement of all the relationships of the distances between the surfaces has not been completed, the process proceeds to S106. If the measurement has been completed, the process proceeds to S108. In S106, the positional relationship of the reflecting surfaces in the housing 110 of the component 100 is changed. Then, the process returns to S102 and the measurement is performed. The change may be performed by an experimenter who is performing the experiment. Note that, if the component 100 is configured to be capable of automatically changing the positional relationship of the reflecting surfaces by electrical drive or the like, the change may be performed automatically.

[0072] In S108, the reflection characteristic specifying unit 320 specifies the reflection characteristic of the measurement target 20 using the reflection coefficient for each incident angle calculated in S102. Then, the process ends.

[0073] In this way, by performing measurements while appropriately changing the positional relationship between the surfaces, it is possible to efficiently increase the data of the reflection coefficient corresponding to the angle of incidence and improve the characteristic accuracy of the reflection characteristics. Note that, although Fig. 12 shows an example in which the positional relationship between the surfaces is changed, this is not limiting, and the position of at least one of the transmitting antenna 150 and the receiving antenna 160 may be changed.

[0074] 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 1200 functioning as a specific device 300. A program installed on the computer 1200 can cause the computer 1200 to function as one or more "parts" of the device according to the present embodiment, or cause the computer 1200 to execute operations or one or more "parts" associated with the device according to the present embodiment, and / or cause the computer 1200 to execute a process or steps of the process according to the present embodiment. Such a program can be executed by the CPU 1212 to cause the computer 1200 to execute specific operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0075] The computer 1200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 1212, a RAM 1214, and a graphics controller 1216, which are connected to each other by a host controller 1210. The computer 1200 also includes input / output units such as a communication interface 1222, a storage device 1224, a DVD drive, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 1210 via an input / output controller 1220. The DVD drive may be a DVD-ROM drive, a DVD-RAM drive, etc. The storage device 1224 may be a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, etc. The computer 1200 also includes a legacy input / output unit such as a ROM 1230 and a keyboard, which are connected to the input / output controller 1220 via an input / output chip 1240.

[0076] The CPU 1212 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 1230 and the RAM 1214, thereby controlling each unit. The graphic controller 1216 acquires image data generated by the CPU 1212 into a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM 1214 or into itself, and causes the image data to be displayed on the display device 1218.

[0077] The communication interface 1222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The storage device 1224 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1212 in the computer 1200. The DVD drive reads programs or data from a DVD-ROM or the like and provides them to the storage device 1224. The IC card drive reads programs and data from an IC card and / or writes programs and data to an IC card.

[0078] The ROM 1230 stores therein a boot program or the like that is executed by the computer 1200 upon activation, and / or a program that depends on the hardware of the computer 1200. The input / output chip 1240 may also connect various input / output units to the input / output controller 1220 via a USB port, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

[0079] The programs are provided by a computer-readable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM or an IC card. The programs are read from the computer-readable storage medium, installed in the storage device 1224, the RAM 1214, or the ROM 1230, which are also examples of computer-readable storage media, and executed by the CPU 1212. Information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 1200, and brings about cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or method may be constructed by implementing operations or processing of information according to the use of the computer 1200.

[0080] For example, when communication is performed between the computer 1200 and an external device, the CPU 1212 may execute a communication program loaded in the RAM 1214 and instruct the communication interface 1222 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of the CPU 1212, the communication interface 1222 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer area provided in the RAM 1214, the storage device 1224, a DVD-ROM, or a recording medium such as an IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes reception data received from the network to a reception buffer area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0081] Furthermore, the CPU 1212 may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored in an external recording medium such as the storage device 1224, a DVD drive (DVD-ROM), an IC card, etc. to be read into the RAM 1214, and perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may then write back the processed data to the external recording medium.

[0082] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored in the recording medium and undergo information processing. The CPU 1212 may perform various types of processing on the data read from the RAM 1214, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the instruction sequence of the program, and write back the results to the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may also search for information in a file, database, etc. in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored in the recording medium, the CPU 1212 may search for an entry whose attribute value of the first attribute matches a specified condition from among the plurality of entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0083] The above-described programs or software modules may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium on the computer 1200 or in the vicinity of the computer 1200. In addition, a recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as a computer-readable storage medium, thereby providing the programs to the computer 1200 via the network.

[0084] The blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams in the present embodiment may represent stages of a process in which an operation is performed or "parts" of an apparatus responsible for performing the operation. Particular stages and "parts" may be implemented by dedicated circuitry, programmable circuitry provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium, and / or a processor provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium. The dedicated circuitry may include digital and / or analog hardware circuits, and may include integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. The programmable circuitry may include reconfigurable hardware circuits, such as, for example, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and the like, including AND, OR, XOR, NAND, NOR, and other logical operations, flip-flops, registers, and memory elements.

[0085] A computer-readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions that are executed by a suitable device, such that a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon comprises an article of manufacture that includes instructions that can be executed to create means for performing the operations specified in the flowcharts or block diagrams. Examples of computer-readable storage media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, and the like. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include floppy disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memories (RAMs), read-only memories (ROMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs or flash memories), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), static random access memories (SRAMs), compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROMs), digital versatile disks (DVDs), Blu-ray disks, memory sticks, integrated circuit cards, and the like.

[0086] The computer readable instructions may include either assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or source or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, JAVA®, C++, etc., and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages.

[0087] Computer readable instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, or to a programmable circuit, either locally or over a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet, etc., to cause the processor of the general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, or to a programmable circuit, to execute the computer readable instructions to generate means for performing the operations specified in the flowcharts or block diagrams. Examples of processors include computer processors, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc.

[0088] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the description of the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0089] It should be noted that the order of execution of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically stated as "before" or "prior to," and that the process may be performed in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that the process must be performed in this order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 10 system, 20 measurement target, 100 component, 110 housing, 111 E surface, 112 W surface, 113 C surface, 114 F surface, 115 S surface, 116 N surface, 150 transmitting antenna, 160 receiving antenna, 200 analysis device, 300 identification device, 302 mirror image space, 304 long delay cut, 312 registration unit, 314 memory unit, 316 analysis unit, 318 analysis result acquisition unit, 320 reflection characteristic identification unit, 400 delay profile, 410 reflection coefficient incident angle characteristic, 500 delay profile, 502 long delay cut, 600 reflection coefficient incident angle characteristic, 1200 computer, 1210 host controller, 1212 CPU, 1214 RAM, 1216 graphics controller, 1218 display device, 1220 input / output controller, 1222 Communication interface, 1224 storage device, 1230 ROM, 1240 input / output chip

Claims

1. A housing having an inner surface that is at least partially open and at least a portion of which reflects radio waves; A transmitting antenna disposed within the housing; A receiving antenna disposed within the housing; a reflection characteristic determination unit that determines a reflection characteristic of the radio wave of the measurement target based on the radio wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna and received by the receiving antenna in a state in which the measurement target is placed in the open portion of the housing; A system comprising:

2. The housing is a polyhedron having multiple faces, at least one of which is open, The system of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of two or more of the plurality of surfaces is an electromagnetic wave reflective surface.

3. the housing is a rectangular parallelepiped having one open side, a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a third surface, a fourth surface opposite the third surface, and a fifth surface opposite the open first surface, the first surface and the second surface have inner surfaces that are radio wave reflecting surfaces; The system of claim 2 , wherein the inner surfaces of the third surface and the fourth surface are radio wave absorbing surfaces.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein an inner surface of the fifth surface is an electromagnetic wave absorbing surface.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the distance between the first surface and the second surface is configured to be variable.

6. the housing is a rectangular parallelepiped having one open side, a first surface, a second surface, a third surface opposite to the first surface, a fourth surface opposite to the second surface, and a fifth surface opposite to the open first surface, 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface are configured to be switchable between a state in which the first surface and the second surface are radio wave reflecting surfaces and the third surface and the fourth surface are radio wave absorbing surfaces, and a state in which the first surface and the second surface are radio wave absorbing surfaces and the third surface and the fourth surface are radio wave reflecting surfaces.

7. 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reflection characteristic identification unit identifies the reflection characteristics of the object to be measured using delay time-incident angle relationship data indicating a relationship between a delay time taken for the radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna to be reflected by a reflector arranged in an open portion of the housing and reach the receiving antenna, and an incident angle when the radio waves are incident on the reflector.

8. The system described in claim 7, wherein the reflection characteristic identification unit identifies the reflection characteristics of the object to be measured using a reception level per hour of radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna and received by the receiving antenna when a reflector with a known reflection coefficient is placed in the open portion of the housing, a reception level per hour of radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna and received by the receiving antenna when the object to be measured is placed in the open portion of the housing, and the delay time-incident angle relationship data.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are misaligned within the housing.

10. a storage unit that stores delay time-incident angle relationship data indicating a relationship between a delay time taken for a radio wave transmitted from a transmitting antenna disposed in the housing to be reflected by the reflector and reach a receiving antenna disposed in the housing, the delay time being a relationship between an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector, the delay time being a relationship between a delay time taken for a radio wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna to be reflected by the reflector and reach a receiving antenna disposed in the housing, the delay time being a relationship between an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector, the delay time being a relationship between a delay time taken for a radio wave ... an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector, the delay time being a relationship between an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector, the delay time being a relationship between an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector, the delay time being a relationship between an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector, the delay time being a relationship between an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector, the delay time being a relationship between an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector, the delay time being a relationship between an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector, the delay time being a relationship between an incident angle when the radio wave is incident on the reflector, the an analysis result acquisition unit that acquires an analysis result obtained by analyzing the radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna and received by the receiving antenna in a state where a measurement target is placed in the open portion of the housing; a reflection characteristic specifying unit that specifies the reflection characteristic of the radio wave of the measurement target based on the analysis result and the delay time-incident angle relationship data; A specific device comprising:

11. A program for causing a computer to function as the specific device according to claim 10.

12. A housing having an inner surface that is at least partially open and at least a portion of which reflects radio waves; A transmitting antenna disposed within the housing; a receiving antenna disposed within the housing; A member comprising:

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