Array antenna device, and method and program for controlling array antenna device
The array antenna device addresses phase offset issues in phased array technology by using a beam control and signal processing system to correct phase offsets, enhancing signal quality and reducing bit errors.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-03-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-10
AI Technical Summary
Phased array technology experiences signal quality degradation due to phase offsets exceeding 360°, leading to delays and bit errors in radio signals.
An array antenna device with a beam control unit, identification units, and signal processing unit that identify and account for phase offsets, allowing for modulation and demodulation to correct signal shifts and reduce bit errors.
The solution effectively reduces signal quality degradation by identifying and correcting phase offsets, thereby minimizing bit errors and maintaining signal integrity.
Smart Images

Figure 0007827351000001 
Figure 0007827351000002 
Figure 0007827351000003
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to an array antenna device, a control method for an array antenna device, and a program. [Background technology]
[0002] Beamforming is one technology that effectively utilizes frequency bands. Beamforming is a technology that emits directional radio waves to maintain signal quality while suppressing interference with other wireless systems, enabling wireless communication with a specified communication target.
[0003] A typical method for achieving beamforming is phased array technology, which adjusts the phase of radio signals fed to multiple antenna elements at the transmitter and combines the radio waves radiated from each antenna element in space to strengthen the signal in the desired direction.
[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a wireless communication device that forms directivity using an array antenna including multiple antenna elements and communicates wirelessly with other wireless communication devices. This wireless communication device includes a small camera, an image processing circuit, and an arrival angle estimation circuit. The small camera acquires image information in the front direction of the antenna plane, the acquired image information is analyzed by an image processing device, and the arrival angle estimation circuit estimates the arrival angle in the horizontal and vertical directions. The amount of complex phase rotation is estimated with high accuracy by eliminating the 2π periodic uncertainty related to the amount of complex phase rotation based on the estimated arrival angle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-142941 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0006] With phased array technology, when receiving, the radio signals received by each antenna element are given a phase difference using a phase shifter before being combined. When transmitting, the radio signal is divided, and each divided radio signal is given a phase difference using a phase shifter before being supplied to each antenna element. The value of the phase difference of the radio signal for each antenna element before combination or after division is determined by the beam direction. For this reason, depending on the beam direction, the phase to be given to the radio signal may exceed 360°.
[0007] However, the range of the phase given by the phase shifter is 0 to 360°. Therefore, when the phase to be given to the radio signal exceeds 360°, the phase given to the radio signal is offset by 360°. When the phase is offset by 360° in this way, delays in the radio signal occur between the antenna elements, which causes a problem of degradation in signal quality.
[0008] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an array antenna apparatus and a control method for an array antenna apparatus that can reduce the influence of degradation in signal quality caused by phase offset. [Means for solving the problem]
[0009] An array antenna device according to one embodiment is an array antenna device having adjustable directionality and including a plurality of array sections each including an antenna element and a phase shifter, and including a beam control section that outputs phase control information to the phase shifter corresponding to each antenna based on overall beam information transmitted and received by the array antenna device, for controlling the phase of individual beams transmitted and received by each antenna element; an identification section that identifies a phase-offset phase shifter based on the phase control information; and a signal processing section that performs modulation or demodulation taking into account the symbol shift of the signal generated from the phase-offset phase shifter.
[0010] A control method for an array antenna device according to one embodiment is a control method for an array antenna device having a plurality of array sections each including an antenna element and a phase shifter, and having an adjustable direction of direction, wherein, based on overall beam information transmitted and received by the array antenna device, phase control information for controlling the phase of individual beams transmitted and received by each antenna element is output to each phase shifter corresponding to each antenna, and based on the phase control information, a phase shifter that is phase-offset is identified, and modulation or demodulation is performed taking into account the symbol shift of the signal generated from the phase-offset phase shifter.
[0011] A program according to one embodiment is a program for controlling an array antenna device having a plurality of array sections each including an antenna element and a phase shifter and having an adjustable direction of direction, and causes a computer to execute the following processes: outputting phase control information to the phase shifter corresponding to each antenna based on overall beam information transmitted and received by the array antenna device, for controlling the phase of individual beams transmitted and received by each antenna element; identifying a phase shifter that has a phase offset based on the phase control information; and performing modulation or demodulation taking into account the symbol shift of the signal generated from the phase shifter that has a phase offset. [Effects of the Invention]
[0012] According to the above aspect, it is possible to reduce the influence of degradation of signal quality caused by a phase offset. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an array antenna device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control method of the array antenna device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an array antenna device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a signal processing unit in FIG. 3. [Figure 5]4 is a diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of the signal processing unit in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the array antenna device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an array antenna device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the array antenna device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of communication between an artificial satellite and a ground station. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a problem in the related art. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a simplified conceptual diagram showing the waveform of individual beams radiated from each antenna element and the overall beam synthesized from these beams in the related art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and for clarity of explanation, duplicate explanations will be omitted as necessary.
[0015] The present embodiment relates to an array antenna device with adjustable beam direction, which includes multiple array sections each including antenna elements and phase shifters. In such an array antenna device, by adding a predetermined phase difference to signals transmitted and received by multiple antenna elements arranged at equal intervals, it is possible to specify the intensities at which the signals enhance each other in any direction. Hereinafter, the beam radiated by the array antenna device may be referred to as an overall beam, and the beams radiated by each of the multiple antenna elements may be referred to as individual beams.
[0016] First, problems with the related art will be described with reference to Fig. 10. In the example shown in Fig. 10, antenna elements a1 to a4 are arranged at equal intervals d. Phase shifters p1 to p4 are connected to the antenna elements a1 to a4, respectively. The phase control amount of the phase shifters p1 to p4 is set to any value within the range of 0° to 360°. The phase shifters p1 to p4 gradually delay the signal for each of the antenna elements a1 to a4 to align the phase of the signal output from each antenna element. This allows the array antenna device to emit a directional beam in which signals enhance each other in a predetermined radiation direction.
[0017] The angle between the front direction of the array antenna device and the beam radiation direction is defined as θ (hereinafter referred to as the beam radiation direction θ). The phase difference Δφ of signals output from adjacent antenna elements is expressed as 2πd / λ×sinθ. For example, when the antenna spacing d is λ / 2 (λ is the wavelength) and the beam radiation direction θ is set to 60°, phase adjustment units p1 to p4 delay the phase of the signals output from each antenna by approximately 155.9° from antenna element a1 toward antenna element a4.
[0018] Here, as the number of antenna elements increases, the amount of phase delay applied to the signal may exceed 360°. For antenna element a4 in Fig. 10, the delay is approximately 467.7°, which is three times the approximately 155.9°. However, because phase shifters p1 to p4 can only impart phases between 0 and 360°, the amount of delay applied to the individual beam radiated from antenna element a4 is offset by 360°, making it approximately 107.7°.
[0019] In this case, the delay of the individual beam emitted from antenna element a4 is insufficient by 2π, so it is output 1 / fc (fc is the carrier frequency) earlier. Figure 11 shows the signals output from each of antenna elements a1 to a4 and the waveform of the signal obtained by combining these. Figure 11 is an image diagram that shows a simplified representation of signal changes in order to explain how phase delay affects signals. As shown in Figure 11, the overall beam is a composite wave of the individual beams of each of antenna elements a1 to a4, so the waveform of the overall beam changes as a result of the offset individual beams being superimposed.
[0020] Typically, data is judged based on the signal state for each symbol length. The sampling timing for data judgment is the time when the signal trajectory (eye pattern) is most open. As mentioned above, when the signal waveform changes due to a phase offset, the eye pattern is deformed, affecting the bit error rate. If the frequency at which symbols are changed is high relative to the carrier frequency, the symbol rate increases, and bit errors due to deterioration of the eye pattern become more pronounced. Furthermore, if the frequency at which symbols are changed is increased to increase the signal transmission capacity, the above-mentioned problems arise, creating a dilemma. To address this issue, the inventors have devised the following configuration.
[0021] <Embodiment 1> Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an array antenna device according to embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the array antenna device 10 is an array antenna device that includes a plurality of array sections, each of which includes an antenna element and a phase shifter, and has an adjustable directivity. Fig. 1 shows logical functional blocks realized by the array antenna device 10.
[0022] The array antenna device 10 includes a beam control unit 11, a first identification unit 12, and a signal processing unit 13. The beam control unit 11 outputs phase control information to the phase shifters corresponding to each antenna, for controlling the phase of the individual beams transmitted and received by each antenna element, based on overall beam information transmitted and received by the array antenna device. The first identification unit 12 identifies the phase shifter with a phase offset based on the phase control information. The signal processing unit 13 performs modulation or demodulation taking into account the symbol shift of the signal generated from the phase-offset phase shifter.
[0023] Fig. 2 is a flow diagram showing a control method for the array antenna device 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the beam control unit 11 outputs phase control information for controlling the phase of an individual beam transmitted and received by each antenna element to each phase shifter corresponding to each antenna, based on the overall beam information transmitted and received by the array antenna device 10 (S11). Then, the first identification unit 12 identifies the phase shifter that has a phase offset based on the phase control information (S12). Thereafter, the signal processing unit 13 performs modulation or demodulation in consideration of the symbol shift of the signal generated from the phase shifter that has a phase offset (S13).
[0024] As described above, according to the first embodiment, in an array antenna apparatus that performs beamforming, a signal shift caused by a phase offset can be identified from beam phase control information, and modulation or demodulation can be performed taking the symbol shift into consideration, thereby reducing the occurrence of bit errors due to degradation of signal quality.
[0025] <Embodiment 2> Embodiment 2 is a specific example of the above-mentioned embodiment 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an array antenna device according to embodiment 2. Fig. 3 shows the components that make up the array antenna device 10 as well as logical functional blocks realized by the array antenna device 10. In the example shown in Fig. 3, four array sections are provided, in which antenna elements a1 to a4 are connected to phase shifters p1 to p4, respectively.
[0026] 3, the array antenna device 10 of the second embodiment includes a beam control unit 11, a first identification unit 12, a signal processing unit 13, and an RF (Radio Frequency) processing unit 14. Here, an example of a receiving system that receives beams at each of the antenna elements a1 to a4, combines the received beams, and demodulates them will be described.
[0027] The antenna elements a1 to a4 receive radio waves from space and convert the radio waves into electrical signals. Each of the antenna elements a1 to a4 may include an amplifier such as a low-noise amplifier. The antenna elements a1 to a4 transmit signals to the corresponding phase shifters p1 to p4.
[0028] The phase shifters p1 to p4 set the phase of each received signal to a phase value specified by the phase control information in accordance with phase control information transmitted from the beam control unit 11, which will be described later. That is, the phase shifters p1 to p4 impart a predetermined phase difference to the signals from the corresponding antenna elements a1 to a4. A general phase shifter capable of controlling the phase between 0 and 360° can be used as the phase shifters p1 to p4. The signals set to the specified phase values are multiplexed by a multiplexing unit (not shown), and the multiplexed signal is transmitted to the RF processing unit 14.
[0029] The RF processing unit 14 performs analog processing such as frequency conversion of the phase-shifted RF signal into an IF (Intermediate Frequency) signal and removal of unnecessary waves by filtering, and transmits the processed signal to the signal processing unit 13.
[0030] The beam control unit 11 generates the above-mentioned phase control information and transmits it to each of the phase shifters p1 to p4. The beam control unit 11 also transmits the phase control information to the first identification unit 12. Here, the phase control information is information for controlling the phase of the individual beam received by each of the antenna elements a1 to a4 in accordance with the direction of the overall beam to be received.
[0031] The first identifying unit 12 identifies a phase shifter that has a phase offset based on the phase control information, and outputs the phase offset information. The phase offset information indicates the degree of phase offset that has occurred. Specifically, the first identifying unit 12 calculates the phase setting of each phase shifter p1 to p4 from the setting of the antenna beam direction, and can identify the number of phase shifters that are offset by 360°.
[0032] In addition, since the phase shifter to be offset becomes clear when the phase to be set for each antenna element is determined in the beam control unit 11, there is no need to perform a separate process to identify the phase shifter. Therefore, the first identification unit 12 can be a part of the configuration of the beam control unit 11.
[0033] The signal processing unit 13 performs demodulation based on the phase offset information, taking into account the symbol shift of the signal generated by the phase-offset phase shifter. Specifically, the signal processing unit 13 calculates how many and to what extent the phase-offset signals overlap, taking into account the carrier frequency, using the antenna beam direction setting and the state of the previous symbol. This makes it possible to determine the waveform of the composite wave and calculate how the signals are shifted from their original positions. Then, the signal processing unit 13 can determine the bit state by changing the determination criteria or modifying the signal based on the calculated composite wave.
[0034] The beam control unit 11, the first identification unit 12, and the signal processing unit 13 may be, for example, a single digital IC such as a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or may be an analog IC including various active elements.
[0035] An example of the signal processing unit 13 will now be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the signal processing unit 13 of the receiving system. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the signal processing unit 13 includes a signal correction calculation unit 30, an ADC 31, a variable amplifier 32, and a demodulation unit 33. The ADC 31 converts the received signal (analog signal) from the RF processing unit 14 into a digital signal and outputs it to the variable amplifier 32. Note that the received signal is a signal demodulated in the demodulation unit 33 described below, and is a signal modulated and transmitted in a radio wave format that can be demodulated by the array antenna device 10.
[0036] Variable amplifier 32 adjusts the level of the digital signal and outputs it to demodulation unit 33. Demodulation unit 33 demodulates the digital signal to generate a data sequence of the received signal. Here, signal correction calculation unit 30 performs signal correction based on the previous signal (received signal data sequence) and phase offset information. Note that signal correction calculation unit 30 may also perform signal correction using a signal that is earlier than the previous signal (received signal data sequence). Here, the signal level adjustment by variable amplifier 32 is changed to transform the signal. Note that, although variable amplifier 32 performs the above signal correction processing on the digital side in the example shown in FIG. 4, signal correction processing may also be performed on the analog side.
[0037] In the control method for the array antenna device 10 according to the second embodiment, first, the beam control unit 11 transmits phase control information to each of the phase shifters p1 to p4, and sets the phase shifters p1 to p4 to receive signals from a specific direction. Then, the first identification unit 12 identifies the phase shifter that has a phase offset based on the phase control information, and generates phase offset information that calculates the degree of phase offset that will occur. The first identification unit 12 transmits the phase offset information to the signal processing unit 13.
[0038] Furthermore, the signals received by antenna elements a1 to a4 are subjected to predetermined processing in RF processing section 14 and then input to signal processing section 13. Signal processing section 13 processes the deviation of the received signal based on the phase offset information and demodulates the signal taking the symbol deviation into consideration. This makes it possible to suppress the influence of deviation in the composite wave caused by combining signals including phase offsets.
[0039] The array antenna device 10 may be a transmission system that modulates a transmission signal, distributes it to each of the antenna elements a1 to a4, and outputs a beam. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the signal processing unit 13 of the transmission system. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the signal processing unit 13 includes a signal correction calculation unit 30, a modulator 34, a variable amplifier 35, and a DAC 36. The transmission signal is modulated in a modulator 34 (described later) in a radio wave format that can be demodulated by the communication partner, and then transmitted.
[0040] In the example shown in Fig. 5, signal correction calculation unit 30 performs signal correction based on the next signal (transmission signal data sequence) and phase offset information. Here, the signal is modified by changing the signal level adjustment by variable amplifier 35. DAC 36 converts the transmission signal (analog signal) whose level has been corrected by variable amplifier 35 into a digital signal. This makes it possible to suppress the influence of phase offset when transmitting the transmission signal.
[0041] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a modified example of the array antenna device 10 according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 6, the array antenna device 10 further includes a memory 15 in addition to the configuration shown in Fig. 3. The memory 15 stores phase control information indicating the phase settings of the phase shifters p1 to p4 and phase offset information indicating the extent of the phase offset, in association with each other. Upon receiving the phase control information from the beam control unit 11, the first identification unit 12 can read out the offset information corresponding to the received phase control information from the memory 15.
[0042] In the above example, the level of the digital signal is corrected, but the signal may also be modified by correcting the phase. Also, the amount of signal deviation may be calculated based on the beam direction setting of the array antenna device 10 and the previous or subsequent signal, and the bit state may be determined by changing the determination criteria.
[0043] <Embodiment 3> The third embodiment is an example in which the other party of the array antenna device 10 is also a phased array. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the array antenna device according to the third embodiment. Note that the same components as those in the above-mentioned example are given the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted. As shown in Fig. 7, the array antenna device 10 of the third embodiment further includes a second identification unit 16 in addition to the configuration in Fig. 3.
[0044] Before transmitting and receiving modulated and demodulated waves, the array antenna device 10 and the array antenna device of the communication partner exchange known signals with each other in advance to confirm each other's angle settings and correct the beam emission direction and beam reception direction. In embodiment 3, the angle setting of the array antenna device of the communication partner is used to suppress the influence of the phase offset of the communication partner contained in the received signal.
[0045] Here, an example of a receiving system will be described in which beams are received by each of antenna elements a1 to a4, and the received beams are combined and demodulated. The second identification unit 16 identifies a phase shifter with a phase offset at the communication partner based on the angle of the direction of the beam transmitted and received by the array antenna device of the communication partner, and outputs communication partner phase offset information to the signal processing unit 13.
[0046] For example, a pilot signal emitted by the communication partner is input to the second identification unit 16. The pilot signal is a direction signal indicating the direction of arrival of a beam output by the communication partner or the direction in which the communication partner is located as seen from the array antenna device 10. The second identification unit 16 can identify the angle of the direction of the beam of the array antenna device of the communication partner based on the pilot signal output from the array antenna device of the communication partner. This allows the second identification unit 16 to identify a phase shifter with a phase offset in the array antenna device of the communication partner.
[0047] The signal processing unit 13 performs modulation or demodulation by further considering the second symbol shift of the signal generated from the phase-offset phase shifter of the communication partner in addition to the first symbol shift of the signal generated from the phase-offset phase shifter identified by the first identification unit 12 described above. Note that the example shown in FIG. 4, for example, can be applied to the signal processing by the signal processing unit 13. As described above, according to the third embodiment, the phase offset value in the array antenna device of the communication partner can be identified based on the angle of the communication partner, and demodulation can be performed taking into account the shift in the composite wave. This makes it possible to further suppress the influence of the signal shift due to the phase offset.
[0048] Note that the known signal exchanged between the array antenna device 10 and the array antenna device of the communication partner is not limited to a pilot signal. If the array antenna device of the communication partner has the same configuration as the array antenna device 10, the communication partner can also transmit its own phase offset information and the amount of signal deviation to the array antenna device 10.
[0049] The array antenna device 10 can also identify the angle of the beam direction of the communication partner from its own angle setting. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a modified example of the array antenna device according to the third embodiment. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of communication between an artificial satellite 1 orbiting the Earth and a terrestrial radio base station (hereinafter referred to as a ground station 2). In Fig. 9, it is assumed that the array antenna device 10 shown in Fig. 8 is mounted on the artificial satellite 1.
[0050] 9, the angles when satellite 1 equipped with array antenna device 10 communicates with the array antenna device of ground station 2 will be described. The angle between the front direction of array antenna device 10 of satellite 1 and the line connecting satellite 1 and ground station 2 is set to θ1, and the altitude of satellite 1 above the ground is set to r0. Furthermore, the angle between the front direction of the array antenna device of ground station 2 and the line connecting satellite 1 and ground station 2 is set to θ2.
[0051] As shown in Fig. 8, the array antenna device 10 of the fourth embodiment further includes a calculation unit 17 in addition to the configuration shown in Fig. 7. The calculation unit 17 uses the altitude r0 of the satellite 1 above the ground and the angle θ1 of the direction of the beam transmitted and received by the array antenna device 10 to determine the angle θ2 of the direction of the array antenna device of the ground station 2, and outputs angle information of the communication partner to the second identification unit 16.
[0052] The second identification unit 16 is given in advance antenna information of the communication partner, such as the number of antennas in the array antenna device of the ground station 2, antenna spacing, etc. The second identification unit 16 can identify the phase shifter of the communication partner that has a phase offset based on the antenna information and angle information of the communication partner, and generate communication partner phase offset information. The signal processing unit 13 can perform demodulation taking into account the shift in the composite wave based on the phase offset information from the first identification unit 12 and the communication partner phase offset information from the second identification unit 16.
[0053] The programs that realize the above-mentioned functions may be stored in a storage device (not shown). The storage device is, for example, a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a flash memory. The storage device stores programs that realize each function of the array antenna device 10. The array antenna device 10 executes these programs to realize each function of the array antenna device 10.
[0054] The storage device may include a memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). When executing the above programs, the array antenna device 10 may read these programs into memory before executing them, or may execute them without reading them into memory. The storage device may also hold information held by the components of the array antenna device 10. That is, this storage device may correspond to the memory 15 in FIG. 3 that stores the phase control information and the phase offset information in association with each other. The storage device may also store information required for the signal correction calculation unit 30 to perform signal correction processing.
[0055] In the above examples, the program includes instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable medium or tangible storage medium includes random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray® disc or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The program may also be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium includes electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.
[0056] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the present disclosure may be implemented by appropriately combining the respective embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]
[0057] 1 satellite 2. Ground Station 10 Array antenna device 11 Beam control section 12 1st Specific Part 13 Signal Processing Section 14 RF processing section 15 memory 16 Second Specific Part 17 Arithmetic section 30 Signal correction calculation unit 31 ADC 32 Variable Amplifier 33 Demodulation section 34 Modulator 35 Variable Amplifier 36 DAC a1~a4 antenna elements p1~p4 phase shifter
Claims
1. An array antenna device having an adjustable direction of direction, the array antenna device comprising a plurality of array units each including an antenna element and a phase shifter capable of delaying the phase of an individual beam transmitted and received by the antenna element in a range of 0 to 2π, a beam control unit that outputs phase control information for controlling the amount of phase delay of the individual beam transmitted and received by each antenna element based on the direction of the overall beam transmitted and received by the array antenna device to a phase shifter corresponding to each antenna; a first specifying unit that, when a delay amount of the phase of the individual beam is equal to or greater than 2π×n and less than 2π×(n+1), specifies a phase shifter that offsets the delay amount by 2π×n (n is a positive integer) based on the phase control information, and outputs phase offset information; a signal processing unit that calculates a first symbol shift of the received signal or the transmitted signal using one or more previous received signals obtained by combining and demodulating the individual beams received by each antenna element, or one or more subsequent transmitted signals before modulation that are distributed as individual beams to each antenna element and transmitted, and the phase offset information, and that transforms the demodulated received signal or the modulated transmitted signal based on the first symbol shift; Equipped with Array antenna device.
2. A communication partner of the array antenna device, the communication partner comprising a plurality of second array sections each including a second antenna element and a second phase shifter capable of delaying the phase of an individual beam transmitted and received by the second antenna element in a range of 0 to 2π, and further comprising a second identification section which, based on the angle of the direction of a beam transmitted and received by the second array antenna device having an adjustable direction, identifies a second phase shifter that offsets the delay amount by 2π×n (n is a positive integer) when the delay amount of the phase of an individual beam transmitted and received by each second antenna element is 2π×n or more and less than 2π×(n+1), and outputs second phase offset information; the signal processing unit further uses the second phase offset information to modify the demodulated received signal or the modulated transmitted signal; 2. The array antenna device according to claim 1.
3. the second identification unit identifies an angle of a direction of a beam of the second array antenna device based on a pilot signal output from the second array antenna device, and identifies an offset second phase shifter in the second array antenna device.
3. The array antenna device according to claim 2.
4. a calculation unit that calculates an angle of a direction of a beam of the second array antenna device using an angle of a direction of a whole beam transmitted and received by the second array antenna device; the second identification unit identifies an offset second phase shifter in the second array antenna apparatus based on angle information of a communication partner calculated by the calculation unit.
3. The array antenna device according to claim 2.
5. a storage unit for storing phase offset information corresponding to the phase control information; the first identification unit identifies the offset phase shifter by referring to the storage unit; 2. The array antenna device according to claim 1.
6. A method for controlling an array antenna device having an adjustable direction of direction, the array antenna device comprising a plurality of array units each including antenna elements and phase shifters capable of delaying the phase of individual beams transmitted and received by the antenna elements in a range of 0 to 2π, the method comprising: outputting, to a phase shifter corresponding to each antenna, phase control information for controlling the amount of phase delay of an individual beam transmitted and received by each antenna element based on the direction of an overall beam transmitted and received by the array antenna device; When the amount of delay of the phase of the individual beam is equal to or greater than 2π×n and less than 2π×(n+1), a phase shifter that offsets the amount of delay by 2π×n (n is a positive integer) is specified based on the phase control information, and phase offset information is output; Using one or more previous received signals after combining and demodulating the individual beams received by each antenna element, or one or more subsequent transmitted signals before modulation that are distributed as individual beams to each antenna element and transmitted, and the phase offset information, a first symbol shift of the received signals or the transmitted signals is calculated, and the demodulated received signals or modulated transmitted signals are transformed based on the first symbol shift. A method for controlling an array antenna device.
7. A program for controlling an array antenna device having an adjustable direction of direction, the array antenna device comprising a plurality of array units each including an antenna element and a phase shifter capable of delaying the phase of an individual beam transmitted and received by the antenna element in a range of 0 to 2π, a process of outputting phase control information for controlling the amount of phase delay of an individual beam transmitted and received by each antenna element to a phase shifter corresponding to each antenna, based on the direction of an overall beam transmitted and received by the array antenna device; a process of specifying a phase shifter that offsets the phase delay amount by 2π×n (n is a positive integer) based on the phase control information when the phase delay amount of the individual beam is equal to or greater than 2π×n and less than 2π×(n+1), and outputting phase offset information; a process of calculating a first symbol shift of the received signal or the transmitted signal using one or more previous received signals after combining and demodulating the individual beams received by each antenna element, or one or more subsequent transmitted signals before modulation that are distributed as individual beams to each antenna element and transmitted, and the phase offset information, and transforming the received signal to be demodulated or the modulated transmitted signal based on the first symbol shift; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.
Citation Information
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