Measurement system, transmission system, and reception system
The system addresses the limitations of conventional antenna measurement systems by using wireless reference signals and synchronization for expanded frequency stability and range in diverse environments.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023124193
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-03
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-07-31
AI Technical Summary
Conventional antenna measurement systems in the millimeter-wave band are limited by wired connections, restricting their application range, and wireless systems require stable wireless links, which are only feasible in open sites or vehicle environments.
A measurement system that wirelessly receives a common reference signal to generate and transmit test signals, using GNSS receivers and rubidium oscillators for synchronization, allowing cable-free operation and expanded application range.
The system achieves stable frequency measurements in diverse environments without cables, expanding the application range beyond open sites and vehicles.
Smart Images

Figure 0007702453000002 
Figure 0007702453000003 
Figure 0007702453000004
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a measurement system, a transmission system, and a reception system for measuring the characteristics of an antenna.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, as this type of measurement system, there is known a system including a signal generator (SG) of a transmission system that transmits a high-frequency test signal in the millimeter-wave band (30 GHz to 300 GHz) and a vector network analyzer (VNA) of a reception system that analyzes a reception signal of the test signal received by an antenna to be measured, and having a wired connection between the SG and the VNA with a plurality of cables for transmitting a control signal. According to this system, by adopting a configuration in which the transmission system is installed outside the reception system and the reception system is directly connected to the antenna to be measured bypassing the S-parameter set, measurement can be performed in a millimeter-wave band multiplexed wave environment where the distance between the input / output ends of the test signal is long.
[0003] Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which, in a configuration where the transmission system is installed outside and the antenna to be measured is directly connected to the VNA, a control command and trigger signals (frequency switching trigger signal and frequency switching busy signal) are transmitted between the SG and the VNA via a wireless control line.
Prior Art Documents
Non-Patent Documents
[0004]
Non-Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] The above conventional system has the following problems. That is, in the above conventional system, since there is a wired connection connecting between the SG and the VNA with a plurality of cables, there is a problem that the applicable range is limited. Further, in the system of Non-Patent Document 1, since the stabilization of the quality of the wireless line for transmitting control commands and trigger signals is premised, the applicable range is limited to measurements in open sites, between vehicles running in a column, etc.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] A system according to one aspect of the present invention is a measurement system for measuring the characteristics of an antenna in a millimeter wave band. This measurement system receives a common reference signal wirelessly transmitted from an external common device, and based on the common reference signal, generates a test signal for measuring the characteristics of the antenna to be measured while switching a plurality of transmission frequencies in a predetermined frequency range at a predetermined frequency switching timing and wirelessly transmits it. A transmission system, and a reception system that receives the common reference signal wirelessly transmitted from the external common device, and measures the characteristics of the antenna by receiving the test signal transmitted from the transmission system based on the common reference signal, information on a plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range, and a trigger signal corresponding to the predetermined frequency switching timing.
[0007] A system according to another aspect of the present invention is a transmission system that constitutes a measurement system for measuring the characteristics of an antenna in a millimeter wave band. This transmission system includes means for receiving a common reference signal wirelessly transmitted from an external common device, and means for generating a test signal for measuring the characteristics of the antenna to be measured while switching a plurality of transmission frequencies in a predetermined frequency range at a predetermined frequency switching timing based on the common reference signal and wirelessly transmitting it.
[0008] A system according to another aspect of the present invention is a receiving system that constitutes a measurement system for measuring the characteristics of a millimeter-wave band antenna. This receiving system includes means for receiving the common reference signal wirelessly transmitted from an external common device, and means for receiving a test signal transmitted from a transmitting system based on the common reference signal, information on a plurality of transmission frequencies in a predetermined frequency range, and a trigger signal corresponding to a predetermined frequency switching timing, and measuring the characteristics of the antenna.
[0009] In the measurement system, the transmitting system may include a reference signal generator that generates a frequency reference signal and a synchronization reference signal based on the common reference signal, a trigger signal generator that generates a trigger signal corresponding to the frequency switching timing based on the synchronization reference signal, a signal generator that generates the test signal by switching the transmission frequency based on the frequency reference signal and the trigger signal, and a transmitting antenna that transmits the radio wave of the test signal generated by the signal generator. Further, the receiving system may include a reference signal generator that generates a frequency reference signal and a synchronization reference signal based on the common reference signal, a trigger signal generator that generates a trigger signal corresponding to the frequency switching timing based on the synchronization reference signal, a vector network analyzer that measures the characteristics of the antenna to be measured based on the received signal output from the antenna to be measured that has received the radio wave of the test signal transmitted from the transmitting system, the trigger signal, and information on a plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range.
[0010] In the measurement system, the reference signal generator of the transmitting system and the reference signal generator of the receiving system may each include a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver that outputs a received signal of the common reference signal, and a rubidium oscillator that generates the frequency reference signal and the synchronization reference signal based on the received signal of the GNSS receiver.
[0011] In the measurement system, the vector network analyzer may receive the trigger signal from the trigger signal generator for each transmission frequency within the predetermined frequency range, and operate with the trigger signal as a measurement point trigger.
[0012] In the measurement system, the antenna to be measured is an antenna having directivity and rotatable at a predetermined rotation angle step. The vector network analyzer may receive the trigger signal from the trigger signal generator for each transmission frequency within the predetermined frequency range and for each rotation angle step of the antenna.
Advantages of the Invention
[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to expand the measurement application range without reducing the frequency stability in the characteristic measurement of the millimeter-wave band antenna in a multi-wave environment.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0014]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention
[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that each drawing only schematically shows the shape, size, and positional relationship to the extent that the content of the present invention can be understood. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to only the shape, size, and positional relationship illustrated in each drawing. Also, the numerical values exemplified hereinafter are only preferred examples of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated numerical values.
[0016] The measurement system according to the embodiment described in this document is a vector network analyzer (hereinafter also referred to as "VNA") configured by virtually connecting an external transmission system capable of expanding the measurement application range without reducing the frequency stability in the measurement of the characteristics of antennas in the millimeter wave band (30 to 300 GHz) in a multi-wave environment. Further, the measurement system of the present embodiment can efficiently evaluate the characteristics of millimeter wave band antennas in a multi-wave environment.
[0017] In antenna measurements in a multi-wave environment, VNA is frequently used. VNA has advantages such as phase measurement, multi-channel measurement, ultra-wideband measurement, real-time high-resolution delay measurement by frequency sweep, frequency conversion measurement, calibration function, and high dynamic range associated with narrowband signals, so it can be said to be a practical measuring instrument even in millimeter wave field measurements. In a general configuration of an antenna measurement system using VNA, the three elements of VNA, namely the transmission system, the reception system, and the S-parameter set, are mounted in the same housing. In the case where the input / output terminal distance is short, such as in a microwave device, there is no problem with this general configuration. However, in antenna measurements in a large anechoic chamber or an open site, since the transmission and reception antenna distances are long, the transmission system of VNA is externally connected, the S-parameter set is bypassed, and the reception system VNA is directly connected to the antenna under measurement for reception (hereinafter also referred to as "VNA direct connection configuration"). The external connection of the transmission system and the utilization of the VNA direct connection configuration are considered effective also in the evaluation of antenna characteristics and arrival direction characteristics in a multi-wave environment.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the main configuration of a measurement system 90 with a wired connection VNA configuration according to a reference example. In the measurement system of FIG. 1, control commands and trigger signals are transmitted and received between the VNA of the transmission system and the reception system via a cable.
[0019] In FIG. 1, the measurement system 90 includes a transmission system 910 that constitutes a transmission system and a reception system 920 that constitutes a reception system. The transmission system 910 includes a signal generator (SG) 911 that generates a test signal by switching the transmission frequency based on a frequency reference signal (10 MHz reference signal) and a trigger signal (frequency switching trigger signal) corresponding to the frequency switching timing, and a transmission antenna 912 that transmits the radio wave of the test signal generated by the signal generator 911.
[0020] The reception system 920 generates and outputs a sweep trigger signal based on an angle pulse output every predetermined rotation angle from a rotation drive unit 210 that rotationally drives the antenna 200 in the antenna device 20, and a VNA 921 that measures the characteristics of the antenna 200 to be measured based on the sweep trigger signal.
[0021] Here, there are a trigger method and a command method in the measurement control method using a VNA. The trigger method is a method in which both the transmission system and the reception system (transmission system and reception system) hold a sweep frequency list in advance, and the frequency switching instruction and the switching completion report are handshake with a trigger signal, and the operation is faster than the command method. As trigger modes of the trigger method, there are a sweep trigger mode and a point trigger mode. The former sweep trigger mode is used in the measurement system 90 with the wired connection VNA configuration of FIG. 1, and the latter point trigger mode is used in the measurement system 10 with the virtual connection VNA configuration of FIG. 3 described later. On the other hand, the command method is slow because the sweep frequency is set with a control command each time, and is not used in the measurement system 90 with the wired connection VNA configuration of FIG. 1 and the measurement system 10 with the virtual connection VNA configuration of FIG. 3 described later.
[0022] The transmission system 910 and the reception system 920 are connected by a cable group 930 consisting of four cables. As shown in FIG. 1, the cable group 930 includes a LAN cable 931 for transmitting and receiving control commands, a cable 932 for transmitting and receiving a frequency switching busy signal, a cable 933 for transmitting and receiving a frequency switching trigger signal, and a cable 934 for transmitting and receiving a frequency reference signal (10 MHz reference signal). The sweep trigger signal output from the measurement pulse generator 922 for each predetermined rotation angle of the antenna 200 is input to the VNA 921 as an external trigger. The frequency switching trigger signal output from the VNA 921 based on the external trigger (sweep trigger signal) is transmitted via the cable 933 and input to the signal generator (SG) 911. The frequency switching busy signal output from the signal generator (SG) 911 is transmitted via the cable 932 and input to the VNA 921. Also, the frequency reference signal (10 MHz reference signal) output from the signal generator (SG) 911 is transmitted via the cable 934 and input to the VNA 921.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an observation example of the waveform of the trigger signal in the sweep trigger mode transmitted and received in the measurement system of the wired connection VNA configuration of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, when the VNA 921 on the reception system side receives the sweep trigger signal of the external trigger (the upper signal in the figure) from the measurement pulse generator 922, it measures the received signal from the antenna 200 at the initial frequency (the first frequency of the sweep) for a predetermined measurement time Tm. When the measurement is completed, it transmits a frequency switching trigger signal (the middle signal in the figure) to the signal generator (SG) 911. In the observation example of FIG. 2, the first two frequency switching trigger signals during the sweep of 201 points per rotation angle are observed. The signal generator (SG) 911 on the transmission system side transmits a frequency switching busy signal (the lower signal in the figure) to the VNA 921 simultaneously with the start of frequency switching. After the VNA 911 detects the fall (switching completion) of the frequency switching busy signal after a predetermined frequency switching time (Ts) has elapsed, it waits for a certain time (the waiting time Tw in the figure) and then measures the received signal from the antenna 200 at the next new frequency.
[0024] In the measurement system of the wired connection VNA configuration according to FIGS. 1 and 2, since it is necessary to connect between the transmission system 910 and the reception system 920 with four cables 931 to 934, the application range of antenna measurement in the millimeter-wave band multiplexed wave environment is limited.
[0025] As a method that does not use the wired connection of the above cables, a wireless connection is made between the transmission system 910 and the reception system 920 instead of the wired connection of the cables, and the control command, frequency switching busy signal, frequency switching trigger signal, and frequency reference signal (10 MHz reference signal) are transmitted and received via a wireless line. A configuration of a wireless connection method can be considered. According to this configuration of the wireless connection method, for example, it can also be applied to the evaluation of propagation characteristics in in-vehicle communication of columnar running vehicles. However, in the configuration of the wireless connection method, since the stabilization of the wireless line quality used for the transmission of control commands and various signals is a prerequisite, the application range is limited to open sites and in-vehicle spaces of columnar running vehicles.
[0026] In order to further expand the application range of millimeter-wave band multiplexed wave environment antenna measurement, the measurement system of this embodiment is configured to apply a method of virtually connecting a transmission system and a reception system (VNA) as a method that expands the wireless connection method, as shown below (hereinafter also referred to as "virtual connection VNA configuration").
[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the main configuration of a measurement system 10 of a virtual connection VNA configuration according to an embodiment. In the example of FIG. 3, a case where an external common device is a GNSS satellite and the common reference signal is a GNSS signal received from the GNSS satellite will be described. However, the external common device may be a device other than the GNSS satellite, and the common reference signal may be a signal received from a common device other than the GNSS satellite.
[0028] In FIG. 3, the measurement system 10 operates in the aforementioned point trigger mode and includes a transmission system 110 that constitutes a transmission line and a reception system 120 that constitutes a reception line. The transmission system 110 receives a common reference signal (GNSS signal) wirelessly transmitted from an external common device (GNSS satellite), and based on the common reference signal, generates a test signal for measuring the characteristics of the antenna 200 to be measured while switching a plurality of transmission frequencies in a predetermined frequency range at a predetermined frequency switching timing, and wirelessly transmits the test signal. The reception system 120 receives a common reference signal wirelessly transmitted from an external common device (GNSS satellite), and based on the common reference signal, information on a plurality of transmission frequencies in a predetermined frequency range, and a trigger signal (measurement point trigger signal) corresponding to the predetermined frequency switching timing, receives the test signal transmitted from the transmission system 110 and measures the characteristics of the antenna 200.
[0029] The transmission system 110 includes a reference signal generation unit 114 that generates a frequency reference signal and a synchronization reference signal based on a common reference signal (GNSS signal), a measurement pulse generator 113 as a trigger signal generation unit that generates a trigger signal corresponding to the frequency switching timing based on the synchronization reference signal, a signal generator (SG) 111 that generates a test signal by switching the transmission frequency based on the frequency reference signal and the trigger signal, and a transmission antenna 112 that transmits the radio wave of the test signal generated by the signal generator (SG) 111.
[0030] The reference signal generation unit 114 includes a GNSS receiver 115 that outputs a reception signal of a common reference signal (GNSS signal), and a rubidium (Rb) oscillator 116 that generates the frequency reference signal and the synchronization reference signal based on the reception signal of the GNSS receiver 115. The frequency reference signal is, for example, a 10 MHz reference signal, and the synchronization reference signal is, for example, a 1PPS (Pulse per Second) signal.
[0031] The receiving system 120 includes a reference signal generator 123 that generates a frequency reference signal and a synchronization reference signal based on a common reference signal (GNSS signal), a measurement pulse generator 122 as a trigger signal generator that generates a trigger signal corresponding to a frequency switching timing based on the synchronization reference signal, a received signal output from the antenna 200 of the measurement target that has received the radio wave of the test signal transmitted from the transmission system 110, the trigger signal, and based on information on a plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range, a VNA (Vector Network Analyzer) 121 that measures the characteristics of the antenna 200 of the measurement target.
[0032] The reference signal generator 123 includes a GNSS receiver 115 that outputs a received signal of a common reference signal (GNSS signal), and a rubidium (Rb) oscillator 116 that generates a frequency reference signal and a synchronization reference signal based on the received signal of the GNSS receiver 115. The frequency reference signal is, for example, a 10 MHz reference signal, and the synchronization reference signal is, for example, a 1PPS (Pulse per Second) signal.
[0033] The VNA 121 receives a measurement point trigger signal from the measurement pulse generator 122 and operates using the measurement point trigger signal as a measurement point trigger.
[0034] The antenna 200 of the antenna device 20 to be measured is an antenna that has directivity and can be rotationally driven in a predetermined rotation angle step. The VNA 121 receives the measurement point trigger signal from the measurement pulse generator 122 for each transmission frequency among a plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range and for each rotation angle step of the antenna 200.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an observation example of the waveform of the trigger signal transmitted and received in the measurement system 10 of the virtual connection VNA configuration of FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, for reference, the frequency busy signal output from the signal generator (SG) 111 is also shown, but it is not used in the measurement system 10 of the present embodiment.
[0036] In the measurement system 10 with a virtual connection VNA configuration, as a result of observing the behavior of each trigger signal (measurement point trigger signal and frequency switching trigger signal) shown in FIG. 4, it was found that each trigger signal is transmitted at a specific period every time the setting is changed, and its reproducibility is also high. In general antenna measurements, settings such as sweep frequency, number of points, and IF (intermediate frequency) bandwidth are not dynamically changed but are operated fixedly. Therefore, in the configuration of this embodiment, each trigger signal (measurement point trigger signal and frequency switching trigger signal) is emulated by the measurement pulse generators 113 and 122 installed in both the transmission system 110 and the reception system 120, so that the cable connection can be eliminated.
[0037] In the measurement system 10 with a virtual connection VNA configuration of this embodiment, as described above, the transmission system 110 of the transmission line and the reception system 120 of the reception line are each provided with separate GNSS receivers 115 and 124, and separate rubidium oscillators (Rb) and measurement pulse generators 113 and 122 are connected to the signal generator (SG) 111 of the transmission line and the VNA 121 of the reception line, respectively. Since the transmission system (transmission line) 110 is not controlled by the VNA 121, it is a so-called droop sweep method in which frequency sweeping is performed at a timing synchronized with the 1PPS signal of GNSS to transmit a test signal. Similarly, the VNA 121 (reception line) also performs frequency sweeping and reception at a timing based on the 1PPS signal of GNSS, so that the transmission and reception of the test signal are synchronized.
[0038] Note that in the measurement system 10 with a virtual connection VNA configuration of this embodiment, different from the measurement system 90 with a wired connection VNA configuration in the reference example of FIG. 1 described above, a point trigger mode is adopted, and a measurement point trigger signal (the upper signal in FIG. 4) is given to the VNA 121 as an external trigger for each sweep frequency point. to is given.
[0039] In the sweep trigger mode of the wired connection VNA configuration measurement system 90 of the reference example of FIG. 1 described above, the VNA 121 receives an external trigger for each predetermined rotation angle (for example, every 1°) of the antenna 200, and internally issues a frequency switching trigger signal and a frequency switching busy signal as a whole system. On the other hand, in the point trigger mode of the measurement system 10 with a virtual connection VNA configuration according to the present embodiment, for a plurality of sweep frequencies (transmission frequencies) in a predetermined frequency range, for each predetermined rotation angle (for example, every 1°) of the antenna 200 and for each sweep frequency, a total of 72360 (= 360 × 201) external triggers are used in each of the transmission system 110 and the reception system 120. For example, a total of 72360 (= 360 × 201) frequency switching trigger signals are input as external triggers to the signal generator (SG) 111 of the transmission system 110, and a total of 72360 (= 360 × 201) measurement point trigger signals are input as external triggers to the VNA 121 of the reception system 120.
[0040] As described above, in the measurement system 10 with a virtual connection VNA configuration according to the present embodiment, since there is no control of the transmission system (transmission line) 110, a control command LAN cable is unnecessary, and since a synchronized trigger signal is available, a trigger signal cable is unnecessary. Since the rubidium oscillators 116 and 125 with GNSS receivers are provided, a frequency reference signal cable is unnecessary, and there is no configuration with any cable. Therefore, it is possible to expand the application range of antenna measurement in a millimeter-wave band multiplexed wave environment.
[0041] Table 1 shows measurement examples of the frequency stability (variation of the received signal) in the frequency band from 8.5 GHz to 300 GHz when operating in the measurement system 10 with the virtual connection VNA configuration of the present embodiment. Note that the numerical values in parentheses in the table are the variation widths of the received signal. For comparison, Table 1 also shows measurement examples of the measurement system 90 with the wired connection VNA configuration of the reference example. In the wired connection VNA configuration of the reference example, the 10 MHz reference signal of the transmission system (transmission line) was used. In the virtual connection VNA configuration of the present embodiment, measurement examples are shown for (A) the case of using the reference signal from the built-in signal source and (B) the case of using the reference signal from the rubidium oscillator with the configuration of FIG. 3. The case of the wired connection VNA configuration (IF bandwidth 10 kHz) in each frequency band is expressed as the reference value (0 dB).
[0042]
Table 1
[0043] As shown in Table 1, in the case (A) of using the reference signal from the built-in signal source, frequency deviation occurred and a significant decrease in the received level (the bold part in the table) was observed. On the other hand, in the case (B) of using the reference signal from the rubidium oscillator with the configuration of FIG. 3, high frequency stability comparable to that of the wired connection VNA configuration was confirmed, indicating its effectiveness.
[0044] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to expand the measurement application range without degrading the frequency stability in the characteristic measurement of the millimeter-wave band antenna in a multi-wave environment.
[0045] In addition, since the present invention can expand the measurement application range without degrading the frequency stability in the characteristic measurement of the millimeter-wave band antenna in a multi-wave environment, it can contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9, "Build the infrastructure for industry and innovation."
[0046] Note that the processing steps and the components of the measurement system described in this specification can be implemented by various means. For example, these steps and components may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.
[0047] Regarding hardware implementation, means such as processing units used to implement the above steps and components in an entity (e.g., a signal generator, a network analyzer, an oscillator) may be implemented in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronic units designed to execute the functions described in this specification, computers, or a combination thereof.
[0048] Also, for firmware and / or software implementations, means such as processing units used to implement the above components may be implemented by a program (e.g., code such as procedures, functions, modules, instructions, etc.) that executes the functions described in this specification. Generally, any computer / processor-readable medium that clearly embodies the firmware and / or software code may be used for implementing means such as processing units used to implement the above steps and components described in this specification. For example, the firmware and / or software code may be stored in a memory in a control device, for example, and executed by a computer or a processor. The memory may be implemented inside the computer or processor, or may be implemented outside the processor. Also, the firmware and / or software code may be stored in a computer- or processor-readable medium such as, for example, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, floppy (registered trademark) disk, compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), magnetic or optical data storage device, etc. The code may be executed by one or more computers or processors, and may also cause the computer or processor to execute the functional aspects described in this specification.
[0049] Also, the medium may be a non-transitory recording medium. Also, the code of the program may be any code that can be read and executed by a computer, processor, or other device or apparatus machine, and its form is not limited to a specific form. For example, the code of the program may be any of source code, object code, and binary code, or may be a mixture of two or more of these codes.
[0050] Also, the description of the embodiments disclosed in this specification is provided to enable those skilled in the art to manufacture or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein are applicable to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be limited to the examples and designs described herein, but should be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
Description of Reference Numerals
[0051] 10: Measurement system 20: Antenna device 110: Transmission system 112: Transmission antenna 113: Measurement pulse generator 114: Reference signal generation unit 115: GNSS receiver 116: Rubidium oscillator 120: Reception system 122: Measurement pulse generator 123: Reference signal generation unit 124: Receiver 125: Rubidium oscillator 200: Antenna 210: Rotation drive unit
Claims
1. A measurement system for measuring the reception characteristics of a millimeter-wave band antenna in a multi-wave environment, comprising: a transmission system that transmits millimeter-wave band radio waves in the multi-wave environment; and a reception system that can receive the millimeter-wave band radio waves transmitted from the transmission system via an antenna to be measured, wherein the transmission system: receives a common reference signal wirelessly transmitted from an external common device, by switching a plurality of transmission frequencies in a predetermined frequency range of the millimeter-wave band for measuring the reception characteristics of the antenna to be measured in the multi-wave environment at a predetermined frequency switching timing based on the common reference signal, generates a plurality of test signals each having one of the plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range of the millimeter-wave band for measuring the reception characteristics of the antenna to be measured in the multi-wave environment, and wirelessly transmits them, wherein the reception system: receives the common reference signal wirelessly transmitted from the external common device, based on information on a plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range and a plurality of trigger signals corresponding to the predetermined frequency switching timing generated from the common reference signal, receives the plurality of test signals transmitted by switching the plurality of transmission frequencies at the frequency switching timing corresponding to the plurality of trigger signals from the transmission system via the antenna to be measured connected to the reception system, outputs a reception signal of the radio waves of the plurality of test signals, and measures the reception characteristics of the antenna to be measured with respect to radio waves in a predetermined frequency range of the millimeter-wave band in the multi-wave environment. A measurement system.
2. In the measurement system of Claim 1, the transmission system: a reference signal generator that generates a frequency reference signal and a synchronization reference signal that are references for the plurality of transmission frequencies based on the common reference signal; a trigger signal generator that generates a plurality of trigger signals respectively corresponding to frequency switching timings for switching the plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range based on the synchronization reference signal; a signal generator that generates the plurality of test signals each having one of the plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range of the millimeter-wave band by switching the transmission frequency based on the frequency reference signal at each of the plurality of frequency switching timings respectively corresponding to each of the plurality of trigger signals. A transmission antenna that transmits radio waves of the plurality of test signals generated by the signal generator, The receiving system is, A reference signal generator that generates a frequency reference signal and a synchronization reference signal that are references for the plurality of transmission frequencies based on the common reference signal; A trigger signal generator that generates a plurality of trigger signals respectively corresponding to frequency switching timings for switching a plurality of transmission frequencies within the predetermined frequency range based on the synchronization reference signal; Based on a plurality of received signals output from the antenna under measurement that has received radio waves of the plurality of test signals transmitted by switching the plurality of transmission frequencies from the transmission system, the plurality of trigger signals corresponding to the respective plurality of frequency switching timings, and information on a plurality of transmission frequencies within a predetermined frequency range in the millimeter wave band, a vector network analyzer that measures the reception characteristics of the antenna under measurement with respect to radio waves within the predetermined frequency range in the millimeter wave band in the multi-wave environment; The transmission system and the receiving system each have a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver that outputs a received signal of the common reference signal; The reference signal generator of the transmission system and the reference signal generator of the receiving system are each a rubidium oscillator that generates the frequency reference signal and the synchronization reference signal based on the received signal of the GNSS receiver. Measurement system.
3. In the measurement system according to claim 2, The vector network analyzer is, From the trigger signal generator, the trigger signal is input for each transmission frequency among the plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range, Operating so as to receive each of the radio waves of the plurality of test signals transmitted by switching the plurality of transmission frequencies from the transmission system using the trigger signal as a measurement point trigger. Measurement system.
4. In the measurement system according to claim 3, The antenna under measurement is an antenna having directivity and capable of being rotationally driven in predetermined rotation angle steps, The vector network analyzer receives the trigger signal from the trigger signal generator for each transmission frequency among the plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range and for each rotation angle step of the antenna. Measurement system. **Claim 5**: A measurement system for measuring the reception characteristics of a millimeter-wave band antenna in a multi-wave environment, comprising a transmission system that transmits millimeter-wave radio waves in the multi-wave environment, means for receiving a common reference signal wirelessly transmitted from an external common device that can communicate wirelessly with both the transmission system included in the measurement system and a reception system to which the antenna to be measured is connected; means for generating and wirelessly transmitting a plurality of test signals each having a transmission frequency in a predetermined frequency range of the millimeter-wave band for measuring the reception characteristics of the antenna to be measured in the millimeter-wave band in the multi-wave environment by switching a plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range of the millimeter-wave band at a predetermined frequency switching timing; A transmission system comprising: **Claim 6**: In the transmission system of Claim 5, a reference signal generator for generating a frequency reference signal and a synchronization reference signal based on the common reference signal; a trigger signal generator for generating a plurality of trigger signals respectively corresponding to the frequency switching timings for switching a plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range based on the synchronization reference signal; a signal generator for generating the plurality of test signals each having a transmission frequency in the predetermined frequency range of the millimeter-wave band by switching the transmission frequency based on the frequency reference signal at each of the plurality of frequency switching timings respectively corresponding to each of the plurality of trigger signals; a transmission antenna for transmitting radio waves of the plurality of test signals generated by the signal generator; a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver for outputting a received signal of the common reference signal, and the reference signal generator is a rubidium oscillator for generating the frequency reference signal and the synchronization reference signal based on the received signal of the GNSS receiver, A transmission system. **Claim 7**: A measurement system for measuring the reception characteristics of a millimeter-wave band antenna in a multi-wave environment, comprising a reception system to which the antenna to be measured is connected and which can receive the millimeter-wave radio waves transmitted from the transmission system via the antenna to be measured, means for receiving a common reference signal wirelessly transmitted from an external common device with which the transmission system included in the measurement system and the reception system can communicate wirelessly in common; means for receiving, via an antenna under test connected to the reception system, a plurality of test signals transmitted by switching the plurality of transmission frequencies at frequency switching timings corresponding to the plurality of trigger signals based on information on the plurality of transmission frequencies in a predetermined frequency range and the plurality of trigger signals generated from the common reference signal; means for outputting a received signal of the radio wave of the plurality of test signals and measuring the reception characteristics of the antenna under test with respect to radio waves in a predetermined frequency range of the millimeter wave band in the multipath environment; A reception system comprising:
8. In the reception system according to claim 7, a reference signal generation unit that generates a frequency reference signal and a synchronization reference signal based on the common reference signal; a trigger signal generation unit that generates a plurality of trigger signals respectively corresponding to frequency switching timings for switching a plurality of transmission frequencies in the predetermined frequency range based on the synchronization reference signal; a vector network analyzer that measures the reception characteristics of the antenna under test with respect to radio waves in a predetermined frequency range of the millimeter wave band in the multipath environment from the plurality of received signals output from the antenna under test that has received the radio waves of the plurality of test signals transmitted by switching the plurality of transmission frequencies from the transmission system, based on the plurality of trigger signals respectively corresponding to the plurality of frequency switching timings and information on the plurality of transmission frequencies in a predetermined frequency range of the millimeter wave band; a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver that outputs a received signal of the common reference signal; and the reference signal generation unit is a rubidium oscillator that generates the frequency reference signal and the synchronization reference signal based on the received signal of the GNSS receiver, A reception system.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Antenna directivity measuring device
JP1984068683A
Antenna measuring system
JP2000338155A
Antenna measuring device
JP2004301514A
Sampling synchronization device and sampling synchronization method
JP2009300128A
Device for measuring transmission line characteristic and system for utilizing transmission line measuring characteristic the same
JP2010233108A