WO1997033342A1

WO1997033342A1 - Planar array antenna

Info

Publication number: WO1997033342A1
Application number: PCT/JP1996/000572
Authority: WO
Inventors: Naohisa Goto; Makoto Ando; Motonobu Moriya; Makoto Ochiai
Original assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
Priority date: 1996-03-08
Filing date: 1996-03-08
Publication date: 1997-09-12
Also published as: CA2217730A1

Abstract

A plurality of slots for transmitting or receiving circularly polarized electromagnetic waves are provided at prescribed places in a plurality of waveguides so arranged that their axes are parallel with each other or in a planar line. Two waveguides for feeding or two distribution circuits are connected to both ends of the waveguides. Electromagnetic waves are fed to the two waveguides or two distribution circuits, and counterclockwise- and clockwise-rotating polarized electromagnetic waves are transmitted from each slot. A device using such an antenna is also disclosed.

Description

Description Planar array antenna Technical field

The present invention relates to a planar array antenna and a device including the antenna, and more specifically, to a planar array antenna suitable for receiving satellite broadcasting using both left-handed circularly polarized light and right-handed circularly polarized wave and an antenna thereof. Equipment. Background art

As an example of a conventional planar array antenna, there is known a waveguide planar array antenna in which a plurality of linear waveguides having a large number of circularly polarized radiation ports in the tube axis direction are arranged in parallel to the tube axis. . Transmitted radio waves are supplied to these linear waveguides via a power distribution circuit, and this is referred to as power supply below. The literature “Design of a leaky-wave waveguide cross-slot array antenna”, IEICE Technical Report AP 92-37 (hereinafter referred to as reference 1), described a cross-slot as a circularly polarized radiation slot. An array antenna using one feed waveguide as a distribution circuit is disclosed. FIG. 14 is a top view thereof. In FIG. 14, the power supply waveguide 1 has a power supply opening 2 and a branch opening 3. A plurality of radiating waveguides 1 arranged at right angles to the feeding waveguide 1 and parallel to each other are connected to the feeding waveguide 1 via the branch openings 3. The radiation waveguide 11 is provided with a plurality of circularly polarized cross slots 12. The power fed from the feed aperture 2 passes through the feed waveguide 1, is distributed to the radiating waveguide 11 through the branch aperture 3 in phase, and is circularly polarized through the circular polarization cross slot 12. Radiated as Regarding the rotation direction of the circularly polarized wave, when the cross slot 12 is on the right side of the transmission direction of the radio wave of the radiation waveguide 11, the left-handed circularly polarized wave is obtained. In the example shown in Fig. 14, left-handed circularly polarized light is emitted. In the above description, the transmitting operation of the antenna has been described. However, it is clear that the same antenna is used for reception by the reciprocity principle. The antenna shown in Fig. 14 can receive either left-handed or right-handed polarized light, but in the United States, etc., satellites use both left-handed and right-handed polarized waves. It provides broadcasting services, and it is no longer possible to use an antenna that receives only a single circularly polarized wave.

As an antenna that can respond to such demands, the document “Slot design of dual-polarized radial-radio slot antenna”, 1992 IEICE Spring Conference B-49 (hereinafter referred to as Reference 2) Discloses an antenna capable of transmitting or receiving both left-handed and right-handed polarized waves. In this antenna, it is possible to radiate both left-handed and right-handed circularly polarized waves by transmitting inward and outward cylindrical waves in the radial waveguide, which is a radiation waveguide. I have to. However, the efficiency of the antenna disclosed in Reference 2 is only about 70% even if the slot design is optimized, which is low for practical use. Disclosure of the invention

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an antenna capable of transmitting or receiving both left-handed circular polarization and right-handed circular polarization with higher efficiency, and an apparatus including the antenna.

In order to achieve the above object, a planar array antenna according to a first aspect of the present invention is a plurality of first waveguides arranged side by side so that their tube axes are parallel to each other, each of which is circular. A plurality of first waveguides having a plurality of slots for radiating or receiving polarized waves at predetermined positions; and a plurality of first waveguides each having a right angle to a direction of a tube axis of the plurality of first waveguides. Two second waveguides each having a tube axis oriented in the direction, each of which is connected to both ends of the plurality of first waveguides via a branch opening, each of the second waveguides further including a feed opening. Two second waveguides, and each of the plurality of first waveguide slots has a power, a left-handed circularly polarized wave, and a power supply opening of the two second waveguides. Emit or receive both right-handed circularly polarized radio waves.

In the planar array antenna according to the first aspect of the present invention as described above, the slot for radiating or receiving the circularly polarized wave is provided at each tube axis of the first waveguide. If they are arranged with a predetermined offset from each other, power is supplied to both sides of the first waveguide via the two second waveguides, so that the left-handed circularly polarized wave and the right-handed circular It is possible to emit both polarizations. Conversely, it is also possible to receive both left-handed and right-handed polarized waves from the same slot.

Further, the planar array antenna according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of planar lines arranged in parallel with each other, and the plurality of planar lines arranged at a predetermined interval from the plurality of planar lines. A conductor plate having a plurality of slots at predetermined positions for radiating or receiving circularly polarized waves; and two power distribution circuits connected to both ends of the plurality of planar lines, respectively. The radio wave of both left-handed circular polarization and right-handed circular polarization is radiated or received from each of the slots of the conductor plate via two power distribution circuits.

In the planar array antenna according to the second aspect of the present invention as described above, a planar line such as a strip line or a microstrip line and a slot provided in a conductor case covering the planar line are used without using a waveguide. The same operation is made possible by using a mouse.

The planar array antenna according to the present invention has a high efficiency of 80% or more by optimizing the electrical coupling between the waveguide or the planar line and the slot, unlike the antenna disclosed in Reference 2. .

Furthermore, the antenna device for receiving satellite broadcasts using the planar array antenna according to the present invention is a plurality of first waveguides arranged side by side so that the tube axes are parallel to each other. The plurality of first waveguides each having a plurality of slots at predetermined positions for receiving both the first circularly polarized wave and the second circularly polarized wave; and A second waveguide having a plurality of guide portions for combining the first circular polarization received by the first waveguide of the second waveguide and transmitting the combined first circular polarization; A third waveguide having a plurality of guide portions for combining the second circularly polarized waves received by the first waveguide of the third waveguide and transmitting the combined second circularly polarized waves; and Convert at least one of the combined first and second circularly polarized waves transmitted from the second and third waveguides into an IF (intermedate frequency) signal, respectively. Lymph Isseki and means. In the antenna device according to the present invention as described above, it is possible to select one of the left-handed circularly polarized wave and the right-handed circularly polarized wave received by the planar array antenna and supply the selected one to the tuner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a planar array antenna according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a planar array antenna according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a planar array antenna according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between transmitted energy and antenna efficiency in the planar array antenna of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a plan view of a planar array antenna according to a third embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the planar array antenna according to the third embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an antenna device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an antenna device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an antenna device S according to a sixth embodiment, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an antenna device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is an eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11A is a schematic view of an antenna device according to the present invention. FIG. 11A is a plan view showing the entire antenna device according to the present invention. FIG. 11B is a side view showing the entire antenna device according to the present invention. FIG. 12A is a plan view of an antenna device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the antenna device according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. FIGS.A and 13B are plan views of a planar array antenna according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a conventional planar array antenna for single circular polarization. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, The transmission operation of the antenna is described, but it is clear that the same antenna is used for reception by the reciprocity theorem.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a planar array antenna according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the planar array antenna shown in FIG. The power supply waveguide 1A has a power supply opening 2A and a branch opening 3A serving as guide means, and the power supply waveguide 1B has a power supply opening 2B and a branch opening 3B serving as guide means. Having. Connection terminals 4A and 4B for connecting to an external circuit via a cable are provided near the lined electrical openings 2A and 2B. The connection terminals 4A and 4B are composed of a connector part for connecting a cable and a power supply pin part for supplying power to the antenna. The cold side of the connector part of the connection terminals 4A and 4B is connected to the housing of the planar array antenna, and the hot side is connected to the feed pin part. Therefore, when the cable is connected, the cold side of the cable is connected to the housing of the flat array antenna, and the hot side is connected to the feed pin.

The plurality of radiation waveguides 11 arranged in parallel to each other are connected at right angles to the feed waveguides 1A and 1B via branch openings 3A and 3B, respectively. These radiation waveguides 11 are provided with a plurality of cross slots 12 for radiating circularly polarized waves. The radio wave fed from the feed aperture 2A propagates through the feed waveguide 1A, is distributed in phase to the multiple radiating waveguides 11 through the branch aperture 3A, and is distributed from the cross slot I2. Radiated as right-handed circularly polarized light. On the other hand, the radio wave fed from the feed aperture 2B propagates through the feed waveguide 1B, is distributed in the same phase to a plurality of radiation waveguides 11 via the branch aperture 3B, and has the same cross slot. It is emitted as left-handed circularly polarized light from G12.

When power is supplied to each of the radiation waveguides 1I in the same phase from both ends as in the present embodiment, slots are provided at intervals of the waveguide wavelength of the waveguide to radiate radio waves to the front surface of the antenna. Using a broadsided array antenna greatly reduces efficiency. This occurs because the waveguide wavelength of the waveguide is larger than the free space wavelength, that is, if the slot spacing is larger than the free space wavelength; Wide angle constant This is because a phenomenon called a grating lobe appearing in the pattern occurs. In order to achieve practical efficiency, it is necessary to use a leaky-wave array antenna with slots arranged at close intervals. In a leaky wave array antenna, the radiation direction of the radio wave is tilted not in front of the antenna, but in a direction that is greatly inclined in the direction of the tube axis of the feeding waveguide. Therefore, it is impossible to receive both right-handed and left-handed polarized waves with the antenna fixed because the beam directions of right-handed and left-handed polarized waves are tilted in opposite directions. It is. However, as disclosed in Reference 1, when the antenna is mounted on the roof of a car and rotated in a specific plane to track a broadcasting satellite, the elevation angles of these beams are the same, so the right When switching the received radio wave from one of the circularly polarized wave and the left circularly polarized wave to the other, it is only necessary to rotate the antenna in the specific plane by 180 °, which is convenient. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a planar antenna according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the position of the slot is shifted between the adjacent radiation waveguides 11 and the adjacent radiation waveguides 11 are fed in opposite phases. The advantage when adjacent radiation waveguides are fed out of phase with each other is the groove as disclosed in the document “Waveguide-fed Printed Antenna” and IEICE Technical Report AP 89-3. A radiation waveguide can be constructed by laminating a plate-like structure and a flat plate with an open slot, and the close contact between the two is not always required.

As shown in FIG. 3, when adjacent radiation waveguides 11 are fed in opposite phases to each other, a leaky wave array antenna may be used, as opposed to the case of FIG. Since the radio waves radiated from the waveguide are out of phase and weaken each other, no radiation beam is formed and the device does not operate. Therefore, we consider a broadsided array antenna. For this purpose, the radiation cross-slots 12 are arranged along the waveguide axis of the radiation waveguide 11 at intervals of the guide wavelength, and the radiation cross-slots are arranged between adjacent radiation waveguides 11. Arrange the positions of 1 and 2 in the direction of the tube axis; At this time, if the dielectric waveguide 11 is filled with a dielectric material having a relative permittivity ε and a force greater than <1, unlike the case of FIG. If no gloves occur, There is. The reason will be described below. The maximum spacing between adjacent slots in the grating lobe is the free-space wavelength λ. Occurs when larger than In the antenna shown in Fig. 3, the maximum distance is the distance "h" shown. Here, assuming that the width of the radiation waveguide 11 1 is negligible and the width is “a”, the distance “h” is expressed by the following equation (1). G: h (1)

On the other hand, it is known that the wavelength in the waveguide of the radiation waveguide 11 1 is expressed by the following equation (2) when transmitted in the TE 10 mode, which is the fundamental mode.

λε

λε-(2)

1 -I

2a /

Where ε is the wavelength in the dielectric and is given by the following equation (3) ₍ λο

λε =-^ (3) Rearranging equations (1) and (2), after all, the distance "h" is equal to; I ε, so if the relative permittivity ε, is slightly larger than 1, h <; i. No grating lobes are generated. Further, in consideration of the temperature change of the relative dielectric constant, it is desirable that the relative dielectric constant is about 1.1 or more.

Since the planar array antenna according to the present embodiment is a broad-sided array antenna, its radiation direction can be made to match for right-handed circular polarization and left-handed circular polarization. Therefore, it is not necessary to rotate the antenna when switching the received signal from one of the right-handed circular polarization and the left-handed circular polarization to the other.

Next, it is shown that the planar array antenna according to the first or second embodiment has a sufficiently high efficiency for practical use.

In general, the efficiency of a planar array antenna is maximized when all radiation slots radiate radio waves with the same amplitude. In this case, this is achieved by adjusting the length and position of the slot along the pipe axis direction. Therefore, the theoretical efficiency is 100%.

On the other hand, in the planar array antenna according to the present invention, the radiation waveguide

Since 1 is fed from both sides, if slot radiation is designed to be uniform with respect to power supply from one side, slot radiation will have a large slope distribution with respect to power supply from the other side, and efficiency will increase. Is significantly reduced. As the simplest model, when slots with the same shape are all lined up, radio waves are radiated from each slot at a fixed rate, and the remaining energy passes through the radiation waveguide 11 It is absorbed by the lined electric waveguide on the other side that is not.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the result of calculating the antenna efficiency by changing the ratio of the transmitted energy. This transmitted energy is lost, but when this loss is about 8%, the maximum efficiency of the antenna is about 81%. This efficiency is higher than the radial line slot antenna shown in Reference 2 and the parabolic antenna currently in practical use, and is a value that can withstand practical use. The reason that the planar array antenna according to the present invention can achieve higher efficiency than the antenna shown in Reference 2 is as follows.

Radial lineslot antennas emit right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized waves using waves that behave differently: inward and outward cylindrical waves transmitted in the radial waveguide for radiation. As a result, there is no condition that simultaneously increases the efficiency for both right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized waves. On the other hand, in the antenna according to the present invention, since a radiation waveguide having a uniform cross section such as a rectangular waveguide is used, the waves propagating in either direction in this waveguide are exactly the same. Indicates behavior. Therefore, by arranging the slots almost symmetrically about the midpoint of the radiation waveguide, the conditions for the maximum efficiency for each of right-handed circular polarization and left-handed circular polarization are almost the same, which is high. Efficiency is obtained.

Next, a planar array antenna according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the embodiments described so far, an array antenna is configured using a waveguide. The present invention is not limited to this. Instead of a waveguide, a microstrip line, a strip Track, coplanar track, slot track, parallel plate A line or a planar line such as a dielectric surface wave line may be used. FIGS. 5A and 5B show a planar array antenna using a strip line as a third embodiment. FIG. 5A is a plan view, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 5A. Inside the conductor plate 33 and the conductor case 34, two dielectric substrates 35 and 36 having a strip line formed therebetween are provided. This structure is called a triple-plate structure because three conductors overlap via two dielectrics. The strip line includes a plurality of radiating lines 31 parallel to each other, and distribution circuits 21A and 21B for supplying signals to the radiating lines 31 from both sides. Further, connection terminals 24A and 24B for connecting these distribution circuits 21A and 21B to an external circuit are provided. A plurality of circularly polarized radiation slots 32 each having a non-parallel linear slot aperture are formed in a conductor plate 33 opposed to the radiation line 31.

The signal applied to the connection terminal 24 A passes through the distribution circuit 21 A and is supplied to the radiation lines 31 in phase with the same phase. Radiated as On the other hand, the signal applied to the connection terminal 24 B is radiated from the same circularly polarized radiation slot 32 as left circularly polarized light.

In the first to third embodiments described above, the cross slot and the non-parallel slot are shown as examples of the circularly polarized radiation slot. However, the present invention can be implemented with slots of other shapes. it is obvious. In addition, the shape of the feeding waveguide or the distribution circuit is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as the feeding of the radiation waveguide or the radiation line can be performed in parallel. Furthermore, when using a planar line path, a planar array antenna that can radiate both right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized waves even if a strip dipole that is electromagnetically complementary to the slot is used. Can be realized.

Next, an antenna device using the planar array antenna described in the above embodiment will be described. A plan view showing the entire antenna device is shown in FIG. 11A, and a side view is shown in FIG. 11B. However, to make it easier to see the inside, the radome serving as the cover is removed in Fig. 11A, and the cut is centered on the rhomb in Fig. 11B. As a means to rotate the antenna, The motor drive circuit in the rotating part 7 belt 72, reduction gear 73, motor 74, and fixed-side circuit unit 75 below the ray antenna 41 is incorporated. Reference numeral 76 denotes a rotation-side circuit unit. The elevation angle of the planar array antenna 41 is adjusted by an EL driving section 77 and an EL motor 78. Further, the rotating section 71 has a slip ring for transmitting a power supply and a control signal to the rotating circuit unit 76, the EL motor 78, and the converters 42A and 42B. These elements are mounted on a base plate 79 and covered by a radome 80.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an antenna device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This device is connected to a planar array antenna 41 similar to that shown in the first embodiment, which is rotatably mounted on the roof of a car or the like, and connected to the antenna via connection terminals 4A and 4B, respectively. Converters 42 A and 42 B, and DC cut capacitors 43 A and 43 B respectively connected to the converters, and a rotary coupling that is electrically equivalent to the capacity. And a tuner 45. In addition, a DC power supply 49 power, two switch circuits 48 A and 48 B, one of which is turned on by the control circuit 46, resistances 47 A and 47 B for preventing interference, and a first 1 B Slip rings and the like provided on rotating section 71 shown in the figure are connected to converters 42A and 42B via the respective slip rings. When DC voltage is supplied to the signal output line, the converters 4 2 A and 4 2 B convert the RF (rad iof requency) signal of the satellite broadcast from the antenna 41 1 to the IF (intermidiate frequency) signal. Downconvert to The control circuit 46 turns on one of the switch circuits 47 A and 47 B on the desired circular polarization side based on the given polarization information representing the desired circular polarization. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, only the IF signal output from one of the converters 42 A and 42 B to which the DC voltage is supplied is input to the tuner 45, so that the desired circular polarization is obtained. Can be selected. It is to be noted that the number of capacitors can be reduced by forming the capacitors 43A and 43B with a rotary coupler instead of the rotary coupler 44. Also, as in the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a desired circularly polarized wave can be selected by providing a switch circuit in the signal line instead of the power supply line. In FIG. 7, two IF signals output from converters 42A and 42B are connected to each other by a switch 52 via DC cut capacitors 51A and 51B, respectively. Selected and input to tuner 45. On the other hand, DC voltage is supplied to both converters 42A and 42B. Although a rotary coupler is not shown in this embodiment, the rotary coupler can be shared with the DC cut capacities 51A and 51B. Alternatively, a rotary coupler may be provided between the switch 52 and the tuner 45.

In the antenna device shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the signal line of the converter 42A or 42B doubles as the power supply line, but it is also possible to use a converter in which these lines are separate. It is.

In the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 8, IF signals output from the two converters 42 A and 42 B are combined and input to the tuner 45 via the rotary coupler 53. Only the IF signal output from one of the converters 42 A and 42 B to which the DC voltage is supplied is input to the tuner 45. In this way, a desired circularly polarized wave can be selected.

In the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the IF signals output from the two converters 42A and 42B are taken out through the DC cut capacitors 51A and 51B, respectively. One of them is selected by the switch circuit 52 and input to the tuner 45. On the other hand, DC voltage is supplied to both converters 42A and 42B. Although a rotary coupler is not shown in this embodiment, it can be shared with the DC cut capacitors 51A and 51B. Alternatively, a rotary coupler may be provided between the switch 52 and the tuner 45. In this way, it is possible to select a desired circularly polarized wave.

In the antenna devices shown in Figs. 6 to 9, one of right-handed circular polarization and left-handed circular polarization was selected by electrical switching, but it could also be selected by changing the direction of the antenna. Is possible.

The antenna device according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10 includes an antenna rotating means 63 for rotating a planar array antenna 41 attached to a roof of an automobile or the like. The antenna rotating means 63 is a rotating part shown in FIG. 11B. 1, belt 72, reducer 73, motor 74, and motor drive circuit in fixed-side circuit unit 75.

Referring to FIG. 10, two IF signals output from converters 42 A and 42 B to which a DC voltage is supplied are added by an adding means 61, and a tuner is provided via a rotary coupler 53. 4 Entered in 5. Here, the adding means 61 may be a simple connection of the outputs of the two converters 42A and 42B, if the circuit form permits. The control circuit 62 in the fixed-side circuit unit 75 receives the polarization information indicating the desired circular polarization and the polarization information of the reception channel from the tuner 45, and determines whether or not they match. Is determined. If a result of the determination that these pieces of polarization information do not match is obtained, the control circuit 62 outputs a control signal to the antenna rotating means 63, and the antenna rotating means 63 determines the antenna 4 based on the control signal. Rotate 1 approximately 180 °. As a result, a desired circularly polarized wave can be selected from the right circularly polarized wave and the left circularly polarized wave.

Next, an antenna device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B. FIG. 12A is a plan view, but the upper surface of the antenna having a plurality of slots (81 in FIG. 12B) is omitted for easy viewing. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 12A. In the present embodiment, the transmission section 83 is mounted below the antenna body 82, so that operation can be performed using only a single converter 85. That is, the power supply opening of the power supply waveguide as seen in the first embodiment is provided on the lower side, and the transmission section 83 acting as the waveguide is integrally formed or connected thereto. As a result, since the feed openings on both sides of the antenna are connected, it is possible to transfer energy between the right-handed circularly polarized wave and the left-handed circularly polarized wave to the single converter 85 via the connection terminal 84. Become.

Next, a planar array antenna according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B. FIGS. 13A and 13B are plan views, and the upper surface of the antenna having a plurality of slots is omitted for simplicity and clarity. In this embodiment, the inductive bosses 93 A and 93 B shown in FIG. 13A or the first The inductive walls 94 A and 94 B shown in FIG. 3B are provided to reduce reflection. For the effect of reducing the reflection of an inductive post or inductive wall, see “Analysis of 7-branch waveguide with inductive wall for in-phase feed waveguide slot array antenna”, 1994 Spring of IEICE Spring Competition B-54, and the document “Characteristics of one-layer structure with inductive wall loading 7Γ and T-branch”, IEICE General Conference B-83, 1995. The inductive bosses 93A and 93B can be installed after the antenna body 92 is made. In addition, if the inductive walls 94A and 94B are formed at the same time when the antenna main body 92 is formed, no post-processing is required.

In the above embodiment, the connection terminals 4A and 4B are provided near the power supply openings 2A and 2B, respectively, and the exchange of radio waves between the antenna body and the converter is performed by a cable. The present invention is not limited to this, and can be configured as follows.

First, the feed opening itself is set to the standard opening of the waveguide, for example, the standard WR-75. In this configuration, it is necessary to adjust the input side of the converter to the standard aperture of the waveguide, and the role of the power supply aperture is to act as an aperture through which radio waves pass.

In some cases, only the power supply pins of the connection terminals 4A and 4B are provided in the power supply section of the converter. Also in this case, no cable is required, and the role of the power supply opening is the same as when using the connection terminals 4A and 4B in the embodiment.

It acts as a hole for the 4A and 4B connector parts.

In the embodiment, the planar array antenna and the converter are connected to the connection terminal 4.

Forces connected via A and 4B or connection terminal 84 \ As described above, connection may be made without passing through these connection terminals. Industrial applicability

As described above, the planar array antenna according to the present invention is useful for transmitting or receiving both left-handed and right-handed polarized waves with high efficiency.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. a planar array antenna,

A plurality of first waveguides arranged side by side so that their tube axes are parallel to each other, each having a plurality of slots at predetermined positions for emitting or receiving circularly polarized waves. Said plurality of first waveguides,

The plurality of first waveguides have tube axes perpendicular to the tube axes, and are respectively connected to both ends of the plurality of first waveguides through branch openings. Two second waveguides, each further comprising a feed aperture; and

Through the feed openings of the two second waveguides, both left-handed and right-handed polarized waves are radiated or received from each of the plurality of first waveguide slots. The planar array antenna.

2. a planar array antenna,

A plurality of planar lines arranged side by side in parallel with each other;

A conductor plate arranged at a predetermined position with the plurality of planar lines, wherein the plurality of planar lines have a plurality of slots at predetermined positions for emitting or receiving circularly polarized waves;

Two power distribution circuits respectively connected to both ends of the plurality of planar lines,

The planar array antenna radiates or receives both left-handed and right-handed polarized waves from each of the slots of the conductor plate via the two power distribution circuits.

3. A planar array antenna connected to at least one convertible,

A plurality of first waveguides arranged side by side so that their tube axes are parallel to each other, each of the plurality of first waveguides for receiving both a first circularly polarized wave and a second circularly polarized wave; Said plurality of first waveguides having said slot at a predetermined position;

A plurality of guides for combining the first circularly polarized waves received by the plurality of first waveguides A second waveguide for transmitting the combined first circularly polarized wave to the at least one converter; and

The plurality of first waveguides includes a plurality of guides for combining the second circularly polarized waves received by the plurality of first waveguides, and transmits the combined second circularly polarized waves to the at least one converter. A third waveguide,

The planar array antenna comprising:

4. The planar array antenna according to claim 3, wherein the first and second feed waveguides are on the same plane as the plurality of waveguides.

5. The planar array antenna according to claim 3, wherein

The planar array antenna is connected to one converter located apart from the plurality of first waveguides,

The second waveguide further includes first transmission means for transmitting the combined first circularly polarized wave to the converter.

The planar array antenna, wherein the third waveguide further includes second transmission means for transmitting the combined second circularly polarized wave to the converter.

6. The planar array antenna according to claim 3, wherein

The first circularly polarized wave is a left-handed circularly polarized wave,

The planar array antenna, wherein the second circularly polarized wave is a right-handed circularly polarized wave.

7. The planar array antenna according to claim 3, wherein

The planar array antenna, wherein the plurality of slots are cross slots.

8. The planar array antenna according to claim 3, wherein

The planar array antenna, wherein the plurality of slots are arranged on one side of each of the plurality of first waveguides.

9. The planar array antenna according to claim 3, wherein

The planar array antenna as described above, wherein the plurality of slots have the same offset from the tube axis.

10. The planar array antenna according to claim 3, wherein

The plurality of slots are provided in the first and second circularly polarized pipes in the pipe axis direction. The planar array antenna, which is substantially aligned at a wavelength interval.

1 1. An antenna device for receiving satellite broadcasts using a planar array antenna,

A second waveguide that transmits a plurality of first circularly polarized waves received by the plurality of first waveguides and that transmits the synthesized first circularly polarized wave; ,

A third waveguide for transmitting the combined second circularly polarized light, the plurality of guides including a plurality of guide portions for combining the second circularly polarized waves received by the plurality of first waveguides; and ,

Converter means for converting at least one of the combined first and second circularly polarized waves transmitted from the second and third waveguides into a 〖F (in termed iate f requency) signal, ,

The antenna device comprising:

1 2. The antenna device according to claim 11, wherein

The antenna device, further comprising control means for controlling the converter means so that the planar array antenna device receives only one of the first and second circularly polarized waves.

1 3. The antenna device according to claim 12, wherein

The converter means includes: a first circuit that converts the combined first circularly polarized wave transmitted from the second waveguide into a first IF signal; and a converter that is transmitted from the third waveguide. A second circuit for converting the combined second circularly polarized wave into a second IF signal.

The antenna device, wherein the control means includes means for supplying power to a selected one of the first and second circuits.

1 4. The antenna device according to claim 12, wherein

The converter means includes: a first circuit that converts the combined first circularly polarized wave transmitted from the second waveguide into a first IF signal; and a converter that is transmitted from the third waveguide. Second circuit for converting the combined second circularly polarized wave into a second IF signal And

The antenna device, wherein the control unit includes a unit that selects one of output signals of the first and second circuits.

1 5. The antenna device according to claim 11, wherein

Antenna rotating means for rotating at least the first to third waveguides so that the first waveguide can receive one of the first and second circularly polarized waves; and

Determine whether the circularly polarized wave received by the first waveguide is a desired circularly polarized wave, if the circularly polarized wave received by the first waveguide is not the desired circularly polarized wave Control means for controlling the antenna rotating means so that the first waveguide receives a desired circularly polarized wave;

The antenna device, further comprising:

1 6. The antenna device according to claim 11, wherein

The antenna device, further comprising a housing to be mounted on a moving object.

1 7. The antenna device according to claim 11, wherein:

The antenna device, wherein the guide unit is an opening.

1 8. The planar array antenna according to claim 3, wherein

The planar array antenna, wherein the guide portion is an opening.