JP2014027375A - Array antenna device and antenna unit of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an array antenna device capable of reducing a flow of heat and air and preventing a freezer from increasing in size, and an antenna unit of the same.SOLUTION: The array antenna device comprises: a vacuum insulated case 4 coupled to a freezer 3 and sealed so as to achieve vacuum insulation; a window 5 provided on a wall surface of the case 4, having permeability to electric waves, and also functioning as a radome; and an antenna module 6 including a stacked structure 10 obtained by stacking an infrared light cut filter 7 housed inside the case 4 and configured to cut off at least infrared light, an antenna element 8a of at least one antenna part 8 forming an array antenna, and a low noise amplifier (LNA) 9.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an array antenna apparatus having a vacuum heat insulating case that houses a filter using superconducting technology and a high-sensitivity antenna using cryogenic technology, and an antenna unit thereof.

  In general, a superconducting state can be realized at an extremely low temperature, and a sealed vacuum heat insulating case that can take vacuum heat insulation for heat insulation from the surroundings is used. In a conventional antenna device, a filter and an LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) are housed in a vacuum heat insulating case that is a cryogenic part. The antenna is disposed outside the vacuum heat insulating case. The vacuum heat insulation case is provided with two high frequency input / output ports (input port and output port). The received signal from the antenna is transmitted to the inside of the vacuum heat insulating case via the input port, and then input to the LNA through the filter. Further, the received signal amplified by the LNA is output to an electrical circuit subsequent to the LNA via the output port.

JP 2004-297151 A

  The inside of the vacuum heat insulating case needs to be cooled to a cryogenic temperature of about 70K, for example. Since the conventional antenna is disposed outside the vacuum heat insulation case, the vacuum heat insulation case requires two high-frequency input / output ports (input port and output port). For this reason, the inflow of heat from the two high-frequency input / output ports increases, and the refrigerator tends to increase in size. Further, there is air leakage from the high frequency input / output port, and the degree of vacuum inside the vacuum heat insulating case is deteriorated.

  The present embodiment has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and is to provide an array antenna device and its antenna unit that can reduce the inflow of heat and air and prevent the refrigerator from becoming large.

  According to the antenna unit of the array antenna device of the present embodiment, the sealed vacuum heat insulating case connected to the refrigerator and capable of taking vacuum heat insulation, and the radio wave transmission functioning as a radome disposed on the wall surface of the case. An antenna module having a laminated structure in which a window having an infrared cut filter which is housed in the case and shields at least infrared rays, one antenna element constituting an array antenna, and a low-noise amplifier for reception are laminated It is characterized by comprising.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The whole schematic block diagram which shows the array antenna apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows one antenna unit of the array antenna apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The whole schematic block diagram which shows the array antenna apparatus of 2nd Embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
(Constitution)
1 and 2 show a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram showing the array antenna device 1, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one antenna unit 2 of the array antenna device 1. In the array antenna device 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of antenna units 2 of FIG. 2 are arranged in parallel in an array.

  One antenna unit 2 is connected to, for example, a refrigerator 3 having a Stirling cycle, and has a sealed vacuum heat insulating case 4 that can take vacuum heat insulation. On the wall surface of the vacuum heat insulating case 4, a window 5 having radio wave transmission functioning also as a radome is disposed. Here, the refrigerator 3 is connected to the lower surface of the vacuum heat insulating case 4 in FIG. The window 5 is disposed on the upper surface of the vacuum heat insulating case 4.

  An antenna module 6 is housed inside the vacuum heat insulating case 4. The antenna module 6 has a laminated structure in which an infrared cut filter 7 that cuts off at least infrared rays, one antenna unit 8 that constitutes an array antenna, and an LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) 9 are laminated. A body 10 is provided. Here, the antenna unit 8 has one antenna element 8a constituting an array antenna. The infrared cut filter 7 includes a first dielectric multilayer filter 7 a fixed to the inner surface of the window 5 and a second dielectric multilayer filter 7 b fixed to the upper surface of the antenna portion 8. Each of the first and second dielectric multilayer filters 7a and 7b is formed by stacking a plurality of dielectric filters that cut infrared rays in a narrow band, for example. The plurality of dielectric filters are used by laminating layers having different bands to cut infrared rays in a wide band. The first dielectric multilayer filter 7a and the second dielectric multilayer filter 7b are set so that the thickness of the dielectric does not affect the transmission and reflection of radio waves used in the antenna. . The infrared cut filter 7 may be at least one of the first dielectric multilayer filter 7a and the second dielectric multilayer filter 7b.

  The refrigerator 3 includes a cold head 27. The laminated structure 10 is attached to the cold head 27. The laminated structure 10 is disposed so as to face the window 5. In addition, surface treatment with low emissivity is performed on the inner surface of the vacuum heat insulating case 4 excluding the window 5 and the cryogenic portion other than the antenna surface.

  Further, a sealed RF connector 11 that can take 1 port of vacuum insulation is attached to the side surface of the vacuum insulation case 4. This RF connector 11 has a DC for LNA 9 superimposed thereon. The RF connector 11 is placed at the subsequent stage of the LNA 9. The RF connector 11 is connected to the synthesis circuit 12.

(Action / Effect)
Next, the operation and effect of the antenna unit 2 of the array antenna apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. The array antenna device 1 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of antenna units 2 arranged side by side in an array. In each antenna unit 2, an antenna module 6 is housed in one vacuum heat insulating case 4, respectively. Yes. The antenna module 6 is provided with a laminated structure 10 in which an infrared cut filter 7 that cuts off at least infrared rays, one antenna portion 8 that constitutes an array antenna, and an LNA 9 are laminated. As a result, the antenna element 8 a of the antenna unit 8 is housed inside the vacuum heat insulation case 4 of one antenna unit 2, so that only one port RF connector 11 can be provided in the vacuum heat insulation case 4. Therefore, in comparison with the case where the vacuum heat insulating case 4 is provided with two ports of input / output ports, heat inflow into the vacuum heat insulating case 4 which is a cryogenic part can be suppressed.

  Further, since the 1-port RF connector 11 is placed in the subsequent stage of the LNA 9, the loss requirement is alleviated as compared with the case where the connector is arranged in the preceding stage of the LNA 9. For this reason, the cable length is increased and thermal insulation is facilitated. Therefore, the inflow of heat into the vacuum heat insulating case 4 is reduced, and the refrigerator 3 can be downsized.

  Furthermore, since the laminated structure 10 of the antenna module 6 is formed by laminating at least an infrared cut filter 7 for blocking infrared rays, one antenna unit 8 constituting an array antenna, and an LNA 9, these components are arranged side by side. The surface area can be reduced as compared with the case where they are arranged side by side. Therefore, the amount of heat radiation into the vacuum heat insulating case 4 can be reduced, and there is an effect that the inflow of heat into the vacuum heat insulating case 4 is reduced.

  Further, when an antenna module is installed in an array in a large vacuum heat insulation case, the DC wiring structure for the LNA is complicated, but one antenna module 6 is added to one small vacuum heat insulation case 4. When DC is inserted, DC can be superimposed on the RF connector 11, and the wiring structure of the DC for LNA can be simplified.

  Furthermore, in the array antenna device 1 according to the present embodiment, the antenna module 6 can be replaced for each antenna unit 2, so that maintainability is remarkably improved.

  Therefore, the antenna unit 2 of the array antenna apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment having the above configuration provides the antenna unit 2 of the array antenna apparatus 1 that can reduce the inflow of heat and air and prevent the refrigerator 3 from becoming large. can do.

[Second Embodiment]
(Constitution)
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment. In the array antenna device 21 of the present embodiment, a plurality of antenna units 22 having a configuration different from that of the antenna unit 2 of the first embodiment are arranged in parallel. In the present embodiment, the plurality of antenna units 22 are connected to one common refrigerator main body 23. In addition, the configuration of one antenna unit 22 other than the connection portion with the refrigerator main body 23 is substantially the same as the antenna unit 2 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same parts as those of the antenna unit 2 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The refrigerator main body 23 is used in common by the plurality of antenna units 22, and is connected to each of the plurality of antenna units 22 by a refrigeration cable 24. Each refrigeration cable 24 has one end connected to the refrigerator main body 23 and the other end connected to the antenna unit 22. A cold head 27 is disposed in the vacuum heat insulating case 4 of the antenna unit 22. For example, helium gas is supplied to the cold head 27 from the refrigerator main body 23 via the refrigeration cable 24, and the antenna unit 22 is vacuumed. It has a cooling structure in which the inside of the heat insulating case 4 is cooled.

  In addition, a sealed RF connector 25 that can take vacuum insulation of one port is attached to the vacuum insulation case 4 of the antenna unit 22. The RF connector 25 has a DC for LNA 9 superimposed thereon. The RF connector 25 is placed at the rear stage of the LNA 9. The RF connector 25 is connected to the synthesis circuit 26.

(Action / Effect)
Next, operations and effects of the antenna unit 22 of the array antenna device 21 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described. As in the first embodiment, the array antenna device 21 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of antenna units 22 arranged in an array, and each antenna unit 22 includes one vacuum heat insulating case 4. The antenna module 6 including the laminated structure 10 in which the infrared cut filter 7, the one antenna unit 8 constituting the array antenna, and the LNA 9 are laminated is housed therein. As a result, the antenna element 8 a of the antenna unit 8 is housed inside the vacuum heat insulation case 4 of one antenna unit 22, so that only one port RF connector 11 can be provided in the vacuum heat insulation case 4. Therefore, the vacuum heat insulating case 4 having a high sealing reliability with only one port for heat inflow and less leakage is obtained.

  Further, in the present embodiment, for example, helium gas is supplied from the refrigerator main body 23 to the cold head 27 via the refrigeration cable 24, and the inside of the vacuum heat insulating case 4 of the antenna unit 22 is cooled. Therefore, since the refrigerator main body itself is not directly attached to the vacuum heat insulating case 4 of each antenna unit 22, a small vacuum heat insulating case 4 can be realized as the antenna unit 22 incorporating the antenna module 6. it can. As a result, the vacuum heat insulating case 4 of one antenna unit 22 can be reduced in size, so that the distortion of the vacuum heat insulating case 4 due to the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure and the vacuum can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, by removing the refrigeration cable 24 from the case 4 of the antenna unit 22, each antenna module 6 can be replaced, so that maintainability is significantly improved.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, there is an effect that the inflow of heat and air can be further reduced and the refrigerator main body 23 can be prevented from being enlarged.

  According to these embodiments, it is possible to provide an antenna unit of an array antenna apparatus that can reduce inflow of heat and air and prevent the refrigerator from becoming large.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

    DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,21 ... Array antenna apparatus, 2,22 ... Antenna unit, 3 ... Refrigerator, 4 ... Vacuum insulation case, 5 ... Window, 6 ... Antenna module, 7 ... Infrared cut filter, 8 ... Antenna part, 8a ... Antenna element , 9... LNA (Receiving Low Noise Amplifier), 10... Laminated Structure, 11, 25... RF Connector, 12, 26, Synthesis Circuit, 23 Refrigerator Body, 24 Refrigeration Cable, 27.

Claims (5)

A sealed vacuum insulation case that is connected to a refrigerator and can take vacuum insulation;
A window having radio wave transmission functioning as a radome disposed on the wall of the case;
And an antenna module having a laminated structure in which an infrared cut filter for blocking at least infrared rays, one antenna element constituting an array antenna, and a low-noise amplifier for reception are laminated. An antenna unit of an array antenna apparatus characterized by the above. The refrigerator includes a cold head,
The antenna unit of the array antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laminated structure is disposed so as to face the window in a state of being mounted on the cold head. The refrigerator includes a refrigeration cable connected to the case,
The antenna unit of the array antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the case has a cooling structure cooled by a cold head connected from the refrigerator through the refrigeration cable. A sealed vacuum insulation case that is connected to a refrigerator and can take vacuum insulation;
A window having radio wave transmission functioning as a radome disposed on the wall of the case;
And an antenna module having a laminated structure in which an infrared cut filter for blocking at least infrared rays, one antenna element constituting an array antenna, and a low-noise amplifier for reception are laminated. Equipped with an antenna unit
An array antenna apparatus comprising a plurality of the antenna units arranged in an array. The refrigerator is
A refrigerator main body commonly used in the antenna unit;
A plurality of refrigeration cables respectively connected to the case of the refrigerator unit and the plurality of antenna units;
Comprising a cold head disposed within each of the cases;
The array antenna device according to claim 4, wherein the case has a cooling structure that is cooled by the cold head connected from the refrigerator main body via the refrigeration cable.

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