WO2019187576A1 - Reception device - Google Patents

Abstract

A reception device provided with: a phased array antenna in which a plurality of antennas are arranged; a phase shift unit that shifts the phases of analog signals corresponding to respective received radio waves respectively received by the plurality of antennas; a first demodulation unit that demodulates, as target radio waves, radio waves arriving from within a beam based on the respective phases of the phase-shifted analog signals; a conversion unit that converts, with respect to the respective received radio waves, the analog signals corresponding to the received radio waves to digital signals; a storage unit in which digital information indicating a plurality of digital signals is stored in such a manner that enables reception time synchronization; and a second demodulation unit that, if the first demodulation unit has failed to demodulate the target radio waves, demodulates the target radio waves on the basis of the digital information stored in the storage unit.

Description

Receiver

The present invention relates to a receiving device.
This application claims priority on March 29, 2018 based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-065226 filed in Japan, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Research and development of technologies related to receivers that receive radio waves with antennas are being conducted.

In this regard, there has been known a receiving apparatus including a phased array antenna in which a plurality of antennas are arranged at intervals (see Patent Document 1).

US Pat. No. 7,778,819

As a method of forming a beam by a receiving apparatus equipped with a phased array antenna, two methods of ABF (Analog Beam Forming) and DBF (Digital Beam Forming) are known.

In ABF, a beam is formed based on an analog signal corresponding to each radio wave received by each of a plurality of antennas included in a phased array antenna. A receiving apparatus that forms a beam by using an ABF may be able to shorten the time from reception of a radio wave arriving from within the beam to demodulation, as compared with a case in which a beam is formed by using a DBF. . This is because DBF requires processing according to the formation of the beam. However, it is known that the receiving device of the ABF needs to include the same number of phased array antennas as the number of artificial satellites in order to receive radio waves transmitted from each of the plurality of artificial satellites at the same time. It has been. In addition, for example, when the reception device fails to receive the radio wave transmitted from the artificial satellite due to low estimation accuracy of the orbit of the artificial satellite to be received, for example, from the time when the reception failed. Information that should have been acquired during the time until reception becomes possible is lost, and it may be difficult to resume demodulation of the radio wave.

On the other hand, in DBF, it memorize | stores as digital information which shows the digital signal according to each of the some antenna with which a phased array antenna is equipped, and a beam is formed based on the memorize | stored digital information. A receiving apparatus that forms a beam by DBF can receive radio waves transmitted from each of a plurality of artificial satellites passing over the receiving apparatus at the same time by one phased array. For this reason, a receiving device capable of forming a beam by each of ABF and DBF, for example, of the radio wave transmitted from the artificial satellite due to the reason that the estimation accuracy of the orbit of the artificial satellite to be received is low. Even if reception fails, a beam capable of receiving the radio wave can be re-formed based on the stored digital information, and as a result, the radio wave can be demodulated without losing the radio wave information. Can be easily resumed. However, in a receiving apparatus that forms a beam by DBF, the time from reception of radio waves coming from within the formed beam to demodulation is longer than when a beam is formed by ABF. As a result, the receiving apparatus may not be able to provide information desired by the user at a timing desired by the user.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and can shorten the time from reception of radio waves arriving from within a beam to demodulation thereof, and also demodulation of the radio waves. Provided is a receiving device capable of resuming demodulation without losing information on the radio wave even if it fails.

In order to solve the above-described problem, one embodiment of the present invention provides a phased array antenna in which a plurality of antennas are spaced apart from each other, and a received radio wave received for each of the plurality of antennas. A phase-shifting unit that phase-shifts the phase of the analog signal, a first demodulating unit that demodulates a radio wave arriving from within the beam based on the phase of each analog signal phase-shifted by the phase-shifting unit as a target radio wave, For each of the received radio waves received by each of the plurality of antennas, a conversion unit that converts the analog signal corresponding to the received radio wave into a digital signal, and the plurality of digital signals converted by the conversion unit A storage unit that stores digital information in a manner that allows reception time synchronization and the first demodulation unit failed to demodulate the target radio wave If, a second demodulator for demodulating the target wave based on the digital information stored in the storage unit, a receiving device comprising a.

According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the time from reception of a radio wave arriving from within a beam to demodulation, and even when demodulation of the radio wave fails, information on the radio wave is lost. It is possible to provide a receiving apparatus that can resume demodulation without performing the above.

2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a receiving device 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a reception control device 20. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a reception control unit 21. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of processing in which the reception control device 20 stores digital information in a storage unit 214. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of a process in which the phase shift control part 215A changes the phase shift amount set to the phase shifter 215B. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of a process in which the phase shifter 215B changes the phase shift amount of an analog signal. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of a process which the reception control apparatus 20 demodulates to an object radio wave. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of the process in which the error information generation part 216 produces | generates error information.

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Outline of receiving device>
First, the outline | summary of the receiver 1 which concerns on embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the receiving device 1.

The receiving device 1 receives radio waves transmitted from one or more transmission sources that transmit radio waves. In FIG. 1, a case where one or more transmission sources are three artificial satellites S will be described as an example.

The three artificial satellites S transmit radio waves modulated according to various types of information to the receiving device 1. The artificial satellite S1, the artificial satellite S2, and the artificial satellite S3 illustrated in FIG. 1 are examples of the three artificial satellites S. Note that some or all of the artificial satellite S1, the artificial satellite S2, and the artificial satellite S3 may have different configurations or may have the same configuration.

The receiving device 1 includes a phased array antenna 10 and a reception control device 20.

The phased array antenna 10 includes a plurality of antennas 11. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the phased array antenna 10 includes antennas 11-1 to 11-N as N antennas 11. Here, N is an integer of 2 or more.

Further, in the phased array antenna 10, N antennas 11 are arranged so as to have a predetermined positional relationship with a space therebetween.

Each of the N antennas 11 receives radio waves arriving toward the phased array antenna 10. That is, each of the N antennas 11 is an antenna element of the phased array antenna 10. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the radio waves received by each of the N antennas 11 will be referred to as received radio waves. Each of the N antennas 11 outputs an analog signal corresponding to the received received radio wave to the reception control device 20 every time the received radio wave is received.

The reception control device 20 forms a beam by ABF (Analog Beam Forming), and demodulates a radio wave coming from the formed beam as a target radio wave.

More specifically, the reception control device 20 acquires from the antenna 11 an analog signal corresponding to the received radio wave received by the antenna 11 for each of the plurality of antennas 11 included in the phased array antenna 10. The reception control device 20 shifts the phase of each acquired analog signal to form a beam. The reception control device 20 demodulates radio waves coming from within the formed beam as the above-described target radio waves.

Also, the reception control device 20 forms one or more beams at the same time by DBF (Digital Beam Forming), and demodulates radio waves coming from the formed beams as target radio waves.

More specifically, the reception control device 20 converts an analog signal corresponding to the received radio wave into a digital signal for each received radio wave received for each of the plurality of antennas 11.
The reception control device 20 stores digital information indicating each of the converted digital signals in a manner that allows reception time synchronization. A mode in which reception time synchronization is possible is a mode in which digital information indicating digital signals corresponding to received radio waves having the same reception time is associated with each other. The reception control device 20 virtually forms one or more beams based on the stored digital information. The reception control device 20 identifies a beam from which the target radio wave arrives among the one or more formed beams. Then, the reception control device 20 demodulates the radio wave coming from within the identified beam as the target radio wave.

In addition, when the reception control device 20 fails to demodulate the target radio wave based on the beam formed by the ABF, the reception control device 20 virtually forms one or more beams based on the stored digital information.
The reception control device 20 demodulates radio waves that arrive from one or more formed beams. The reception control device 20 identifies a target radio wave from one or more demodulated radio waves. Even when the demodulation of the radio wave fails by the first demodulator 22 described later, the demodulation of the radio wave can be resumed based on the stored digital information.

Hereinafter, each of the functional configuration of the reception control device 20 and various processes performed by the reception control device 20 will be described in detail.

<Functional configuration of reception control device>
Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the reception control apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the reception control device 20. The reception control device 20 includes a reception control unit 21, a first demodulation unit 22, a first information processing device 23, and a second information processing device 24. In addition, the second information processing device 24 includes a second demodulator 241.

The reception control unit 21 acquires, from the antenna 11, an analog signal corresponding to the received radio wave received by the antenna 11 for each of the plurality of antennas 11 included in the phased array antenna 10. The reception control unit 21 converts the acquired analog signal into a digital signal. The reception control unit 21 stores digital information indicating each converted digital signal in a manner that allows reception time synchronization. The reception control unit 21 shifts the phase of the analog signal for each acquired analog signal. At this time, the reception control unit 21 identifies the position of the artificial satellite S that is transmitting the target radio wave based on the forecast value indicated by the forecast value information stored in advance, and receives the signal from the phased array antenna 10 to the identified position. The direction is calculated as the direction of arrival. The reception control unit 21 shifts the phase of each acquired analog signal to a phase in which the direction of the beam is directed to the calculated arrival direction and a phase in which the shape of the beam is a desired shape.
The reception control unit 21 outputs each of the plurality of phase-shifted analog signals to the first demodulation unit 22. Further, the reception control unit 21 outputs the stored digital information to the second demodulation unit 241 in response to a request from the second demodulation unit 241 included in the second information processing device 24.

Here, the functional configuration of the reception control unit 21 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the reception control unit 21. The reception control unit 21 includes a low noise amplifier 211, a down converter 212, an AD conversion unit 213, and a storage unit 214 as hardware function units connected to the antenna 11 for each of the plurality of antennas 11. In FIG. 3, N antennas 11 are represented by one antenna 11 in order to prevent the drawing from being complicated. Therefore, in FIG. 3, one low noise amplifier 211 represents N low noise amplifiers 211, one down converter 212 represents N down converters 212, and one AD converter 213 represents N One AD conversion unit 213 is represented, and one storage unit 214 represents N storage units 214.

Also, in the following, as an example, in the phased array antenna 10, N antennas 11 include two or more antennas 11 belonging to the first group as two or more first antennas, and 2 in a second group different from the first group. A case where the antenna is divided into two or more antennas 11 belonging to the second antenna will be described. Here, the two or more first antennas are antennas that receive the received radio waves used for demodulating the target radio waves. The two or more second antennas are antennas that receive a received radio wave that is used by an error information generation unit 216 described later to demodulate the error radio wave. In the phased array antenna 10, there may be only one second group or a plurality of second groups. In the following, as an example, in the phased array antenna 10, N antennas 11 are divided into a first group and four second groups of a 21st group, a 22nd group, a 23rd group, and a 24th group. The case will be described. In this case, two or more antennas 11 belong to the twenty-first group as two or more twenty-first antennas. In this case, two or more antennas 11 belong to the twenty-second group as two or more twenty-second antennas. In this case, two or more antennas 11 belong to the twenty-third group as two or more twenty-third antennas. In this case, two or more antennas 11 belong to the twenty-fourth group as two or more twenty-fourth antennas. Here, for convenience of explanation, the 21st group, the 22nd group, the 23rd group, and the 24th group will be collectively referred to as the second group unless it is necessary to distinguish them. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the first antenna and the second antenna are collectively referred to as the antenna 11 unless it is necessary to distinguish between the first antenna and the second antenna. Further, the phased array antenna 10 may be configured such that part or all of the two or more antennas 11 belonging to the first group behave as the antennas 11 belonging to the second group. That is, the plurality of antennas 11 included in the phased array antenna 10 may be configured to belong to one or both of the first group and the second group.

The low noise amplifier 211 amplifies the analog signal acquired from the antenna 11 to which the low noise amplifier 211 is connected. The low noise amplifier 211 outputs the amplified analog signal to the down converter 212.

The down converter 212 acquires from the low noise amplifier 211 the analog signal amplified by the low noise amplifier 211 to which the down converter 212 is connected. Here, the down converter 212 includes a frequency conversion unit 212A and a branching unit 212B.

The frequency conversion unit 212A converts the frequency of the analog signal acquired by the down converter 212 from the low noise amplifier 211 into a predetermined frequency. The frequency conversion unit 212A outputs an analog signal whose frequency has been converted to the branching unit 212B.
The branching unit 212B acquires the analog signal obtained by converting the frequency by the frequency converting unit 212A from the frequency converting unit 212A. The branching unit 212B outputs the acquired analog signal to the AD conversion unit 213 and also outputs it to the phase shift unit 215.

The AD conversion unit 213 acquires an analog signal from the branch unit 212B of the down converter 212 to which the AD conversion unit 213 is connected. The AD conversion unit 213 converts the acquired analog signal into a digital signal. The AD conversion unit 213 outputs the converted digital signal to the storage unit 214 as digital information indicating the digital signal, and causes the storage unit 214 to store the digital signal.

The storage unit 214 includes an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), flash memory, and the like. The storage unit 214 stores the digital information output from the AD conversion unit 213 to which the storage unit 214 is connected.

The phase shift unit 215 includes a phase shift control unit 215A. In addition, the phase shift unit 215 includes a phase shifter 215B as a hardware function unit connected to the branch unit 212B for each of the plurality of branch units 212B. In FIG. 3, N phase shifters 215 </ b> B are represented by one phase shifter 215 </ b> B in order to prevent the diagram from becoming complicated.

The phase shift control unit 215A controls, for each of the N phase shifters 215B, the phase shift amount by which the phase of the analog signal acquired by the phase shifter 215B from the branch unit 212B is shifted. Specifically, the phase shift control unit 215A identifies the position of the artificial satellite S that is transmitting the target radio wave based on the forecast value indicated by the forecast value information stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown), and identifies the identified position. The direction from the phased array antenna 10 is calculated as the aforementioned arrival direction. In addition, the phase shift control unit 215A acquires error information from an error information generation unit 216 described later. The phase shift control unit 215A corrects the calculated arrival direction based on the error information. Details of the process in which the phase shift control unit 215A corrects the arrival direction based on the error information will be described later.

The phase shift control unit 215A controls the first phase shifter so that the phase of the analog signal acquired by the first phase shifter is shifted to the desired first phase. The first phase is a phase in which the beam direction is directed to the corrected arrival direction, and the beam has a desired shape. The first phase shifter is a phase shifter 215B connected to each of the two or more first antennas. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the beam directed in the arrival direction will be referred to as a first beam.

The phase shift control unit 215A controls the 21st phase shifter so that the phase of the analog signal acquired by the 21st phase shifter is shifted to the desired 21st phase. The 21st phase is a phase in which the direction of the beam is directed in a direction shifted by an angle θ that is a predetermined angle in the positive direction of the azimuth direction from the calculated arrival direction, and the beam has a desired shape. It is a phase. The twenty-first phase shifter is a phase shifter 215B connected to each of two or more twenty-first antennas.

Further, the phase shift control unit 215A controls the 22nd phase shifter so that the phase of the analog signal acquired by the 22nd phase shifter is shifted to the desired 22nd phase. The twenty-second phase is a phase in which the direction of the beam is directed in a direction shifted by an angle θ in the negative direction of the azimuth direction from the calculated arrival direction, and the beam has a desired shape. The twenty-second phase shifter is a phase shifter 215B connected to each of two or more twenty-second antennas.

Further, the phase shift control unit 215A controls the 23rd phase shifter so that the phase of the analog signal acquired by the 23rd phase shifter is shifted to the desired 23rd phase. The 23rd phase is a phase in which the direction of the beam is shifted from the calculated arrival direction in a direction shifted by an angle θ in the positive direction of the elevation direction, and the beam has a desired shape. The 23rd phase shifter is a phase shifter 215B connected to each of two or more 23rd antennas.

Further, the phase shift control unit 215A controls the 24th phase shifter so that the phase of the analog signal acquired by the 24th phase shifter is shifted to the desired 24th phase. The twenty-fourth phase is a phase in which the direction of the beam is directed in a direction shifted by an angle θ in the negative direction of the elevation direction from the calculated arrival direction, and the beam has a desired shape. The 24th phase shifter is a phase shifter 215B connected to each of two or more 24th antennas.

The phase shifter 215B acquires an analog signal from the branching unit 212B to which the phase shifter 215B is connected. The phase shifter 215B shifts the phase of the acquired analog signal by the phase amount specified by the phase shift control unit 215A. Then, the phase shifter 215 </ b> B outputs the phase-shifted analog signal to the first demodulation unit 22 and outputs the analog signal to the error information generation unit 216.

The error information generation unit 216 acquires an analog signal from the two or more 21st phase shifters as the two or more 21st analog signals. Further, the error information generation unit 216 acquires an analog signal from the two or more twenty-second phase shifters as the two or more twenty-second analog signals. Further, the error information generation unit 216 acquires an analog signal from two or more 23rd phase shifters as the two or more 23rd analog signals. Further, the error information generation unit 216 acquires an analog signal from the two or more 24th phase shifters as the two or more 24th analog signals. The error information generation unit 216 demodulates radio waves arriving from the 21st beam based on the phases of the two or more acquired 21st analog signals as 21st error radio waves. In addition, the error information generation unit 216 demodulates radio waves arriving from within the 22nd beam based on the phases of the two or more acquired 22nd analog signals as 22nd error radio waves. In addition, the error information generation unit 216 demodulates radio waves arriving from the 23rd beam based on the phases of the two or more acquired 23rd analog signals as 23rd error radio waves. In addition, the error information generation unit 216 demodulates radio waves arriving from within the 24th beam based on the phases of the two or more acquired 24th analog signals as 24th error radio waves. The error information generation unit 216 includes the intensities of the demodulated 21st error radio wave, 22nd error radio wave, 23rd error radio wave, and 24th error radio wave, and the 21st beam, 22nd beam, 23rd beam, and 24th beam. Information indicating the direction is generated as the error information described above, and the generated error information is output to the phase shift control unit 215A.

Note that, at a timing before the phase shift control unit 215A controls each phase shifter 215B for the first time, the error information generation unit 216 outputs error information indicating that there is no error to the phase shift control unit 215A. Alternatively, the error information may not be output. When the error information is not output at the timing, the phase shift control unit 215A determines that there is no error.
The reception control unit 21 may be configured not to include the error information generation unit 216. In this case, the N antennas 11 are all the first antennas belonging to the first group.

The first demodulator 22 acquires an analog signal from the two or more first phase shifters 215B as the two or more first analog signals. The first demodulator 22 arrives from the first beam based on the phase of each of the acquired two or more first analog signals, that is, from the first beam formed by combining the two or more first analog signals. Demodulate the target radio wave as the target radio wave. The first demodulator 22 outputs target radio wave information indicating the demodulated target radio wave to the first information processing device 23. Note that the multiplexing of the first analog signal may be performed by a known method or may be performed by a method that will be developed in the future, and thus further description is omitted. The function of multiplexing the first analog signal may be configured separately from the first demodulator 22.

The first information processing apparatus 23 includes a processor (not shown) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the processor executes various programs, thereby realizing various functional units.

The first information processing device 23 acquires target radio wave information from the first demodulator 22. In addition, the first information processing device 23 receives an operation from the user. The first information processing device 23 performs processing based on the acquired target radio wave information in accordance with an operation received from the user. For example, the process is a process of storing the target radio wave information.

The second information processing device 24 includes a second demodulator 241.

The second information processing device 24 includes a processor (not shown) such as a CPU, and implements various functional units such as the second demodulator 241 when the processor executes various programs.

The second demodulation unit 241 reads the digital information stored in the storage unit 214 from the storage unit 214 in response to an operation received by the second information processing device 24 from the user. The second demodulator 241 virtually forms one or more beams based on the read digital information. The second demodulator 241 identifies a target radio wave from one or more demodulated radio waves. The second demodulator 241 may be configured to further include the error information generator 216 described above.

<Processing in which reception control device stores digital information in storage unit>
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, processing in which the reception control device 20 stores the digital information in the storage unit 214 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow in which the reception control device 20 stores digital information in the storage unit 214. Here, the combination of the frequency conversion unit 212A, the branching unit 212B, the AD conversion unit 213, and the storage unit 214 connected to an antenna 11 among the N antennas 11 is a frequency conversion unit connected to another antenna 11. Processing similar to the combination of 212A, branching unit 212B, AD conversion unit 213, and storage unit 214 is performed. Therefore, hereinafter, the frequency conversion unit 212A, the branching unit 212B, the AD conversion unit 213, and the storage unit 214 connected to the target antenna that is one antenna 11 are respectively set as the target frequency conversion unit, the target branching unit, and the target AD conversion. Processing in which the reception control device 20 stores digital information in the storage unit 214, taking as an example processing performed by the target frequency conversion unit, target branching unit, target AD conversion unit, and target storage unit. explain. That is, the process of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 4 is a process performed by each of the target frequency conversion unit, the target branch unit, the target AD conversion unit, and the target storage unit. The target frequency conversion unit, the target branching unit, the target AD conversion unit, and the target storage unit repeatedly perform the processing from step S110 to step S160 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 every time the target antenna receives a received radio wave.

The target low noise amplifier acquires an analog signal corresponding to the received radio wave received by the target antenna (step S110).

Next, the target low noise amplifier amplifies the acquired analog signal (step S120). Then, the target low noise amplifier outputs the amplified analog signal to the target frequency conversion unit.

Next, the target frequency converter acquires the amplified analog signal. The target frequency conversion unit converts the frequency of the acquired analog signal into a predetermined frequency (step S130). Then, the target frequency conversion unit outputs the analog signal whose frequency has been converted to the target branching unit.

Next, the target branching unit outputs the acquired analog signal to the phase shifter 215B connected to the target branching unit, and outputs the analog signal to the target AD conversion unit (step S140). The processing performed by the phase shifter 215B that has acquired the analog signal output from the target branching unit in step S140 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Next, the target AD converter converts the acquired analog signal into a digital signal (step S150).

Next, the target AD conversion unit generates digital information indicating the converted digital signal, stores the generated digital information in the target storage unit (step S160), and ends the process.

Here, each of the frequency conversion unit 212A, the branching unit 212B, the AD conversion unit 213, and the storage unit 214 connected to each of the plurality of antennas 11 performs the processing of step S110 to step S160. That is, the reception control unit 21 repeatedly performs the processing of step S110 to step S160 every time each of the N antennas 11 included in the phased array antenna 10 receives a received radio wave. As a result, the reception control unit 21 can cause the storage unit 214 to store digital information indicating that each of the N antennas 11 included in the phased array antenna 10 indicates a digital signal corresponding to the received radio wave.

<Processing in which the phase shift control unit changes the phase shift amount set in the phase shifter>
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 5, a process in which the phase shift control unit 215A changes the amount of phase shift set in the phase shifter 215B will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process flow in which the phase shift control unit 215A changes the phase shift amount set in the phase shifter 215B. The phase shift control unit 215A performs the processing from step S210 to step S230 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 at a timing before the phase shifter 215B acquires the analog signal from the branching unit 212B, and sets the phase shifter 215B. The amount of phase shift is changed. In addition, the phase shift control unit 215A repeatedly performs the processing from step S210 to step S230 every time a predetermined period elapses.

The phase shift control unit 215A reads forecast value information stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown) from the storage unit. The phase shift control unit 215A acquires error information from the error information generation unit 216 (step S210).

Next, the phase shift control unit 215A identifies the position of the artificial satellite S that is transmitting the target radio wave based on the forecast value indicated by the read forecast value information, and outputs the target position from the phased array antenna 10 to the identified position. The direction is calculated as the arrival direction (step S220).

Next, the phase shift control unit 215A changes the amount of phase shift set in each phase shifter 215B based on the calculated arrival direction (step S230), and ends the process.

Here, the process of step S230 will be described. The phase shift control unit 215A corrects the arrival direction calculated in step S230 based on the error information acquired in step S210. For example, the phase shift control unit 215A determines the intensity of each of the 21st error radio wave, the 22nd error radio wave, the 23rd error radio wave, and the 24th error radio wave indicated by the error information, the 21st beam, the 22nd beam, the 23rd beam, the The direction of each of the 24 beams is specified. The phase shift control unit 215A calculates the average value of the intensities of the identified 21st error radio wave, 22nd error radio wave, 23rd error radio wave, and 24th error radio wave as the average intensity. Then, the phase shift control unit 215A determines that radio waves of average intensity have arrived based on the calculated average intensity and the identified directions of the 21st beam, 22nd beam, 23rd beam, and 24th beam. Calculate the estimated direction. When the phase shift control unit 215A determines that the difference between the calculated direction and the calculated arrival direction is less than a predetermined allowable value, the phase shift control unit 215A does not correct the arrival direction. On the other hand, when the phase shift control unit 215A determines that the difference is greater than or equal to the allowable value, the phase shift control unit 215A corrects the arrival direction and calculates a direction between the direction and the arrival direction as a new arrival direction. The phase shift control unit 215A is set to the two or more first phase shifters so that the phases of the analog signals acquired by the two or more first phase shifters are shifted to the first phase. Change the amount of phase shift. In addition, the phase shift control unit 215A calculates the directions of the 21st beam, the 22nd beam, the 23rd beam, and the 24th beam based on the corrected arrival directions. The phase shift control unit 215A shifts the phases set to the two or more 21st phase shifters so that the phases of the analog signals acquired by the two or more 21st phase shifters are shifted to the 21st phase. Change the phase amount. In addition, the phase shift control unit 215A is set to the two or more 22nd phase shifters so that the phases of the analog signals acquired by the two or more 22nd phase shifters are shifted to the 22nd phase. Change the amount of phase shift.
In addition, the phase shift control unit 215A is set to the two or more 23rd phase shifters so that the phases of the analog signals acquired by the two or more 23rd phase shifters are shifted to the 23rd phase. Change the amount of phase shift. In addition, the phase shift control unit 215A is set to the two or more 24th phase shifters so that the phases of the analog signals acquired by the two or more 24th phase shifters are shifted to the 24th phase. Change the amount of phase shift.

As described above, the phase shift control unit 215A determines the phase shift amount set for each of the N phase shifters 215B based on the forecast value information read in step S210 and the error information acquired in step S210. Change. Thereby, the receiving apparatus 1 can form the first beam in a direction in which the intensity of the target radio wave demodulated by the reception control apparatus 20 is increased. That is, the receiving device 1 can follow the temporal position change of the incoming target radio wave.

<Processing in which the phase shifter changes the phase shift amount of the analog signal>
Hereinafter, a process in which the phase shifter 215B changes the phase shift amount of the analog signal will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow in which the phase shifter 215B changes the phase shift amount of the analog signal. Each phase shifter 215B repeats the processing from step S250 to step S260 every time an analog signal is output from each branch section 212B. In addition, since the N phase shifters 215B perform the same processing, in the following, the processing performed by one phase shifter 215B is taken as an example, and the phase shifter 215B connected to the antenna 11-1 is used as an example. A process in which a certain phase shifter 215B-1 changes the phase shift amount of the analog signal will be described.

The phase shifter 215B-1 acquires an analog signal from the branching unit 212B to which the phase shifter 215B-1 is connected (step S250). Here, the analog signal acquired from the branching unit 212B by the phase shifter 215B-1 is the analog signal output from the branching unit 212B to the phase shifter 215B-1 in step S140 of the flowchart shown in FIG. It is.

Next, phase shifter 215B-1 shifts the phase of the analog signal acquired in step S250 based on the phase shift amount set in phase shifter 215B-1 (step S260). Here, the phase shift amount is a phase shift amount changed (that is, set) by the phase shift control unit 215A in step S230 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
After the phase is shifted, when the phase shifter 215B-1 is the first antenna, the phase shifter 215B-1 outputs the phase-shifted analog signal to the first demodulator 22 and ends the process. On the other hand, after the phase is shifted, when the phase shifter 215B-1 is the second antenna, the phase shifter 215B-1 outputs the phase-shifted analog signal to the error information generation unit 216 and ends the process. To do.

<Processing in which reception control device changes phase shift amount of analog signal>
Hereinafter, the process in which the reception control device 20 demodulates the target radio wave will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process flow in which the reception control device 20 demodulates the target radio wave. The reception control device 20 repeats the processes of steps S310 to S340 every time an analog signal is output from two or more first phase shifters.

The first demodulator 22 acquires an analog signal from two or more first phase shifters as the two or more first analog signals. The first demodulator 22 demodulates, as a target radio wave, a radio wave arriving from within the first beam based on the phase of each of the two or more acquired first analog signals (step S310). The process of step S310 performed by the first demodulator 22 may be a process based on a known method or a process based on a method to be developed in the future.

Next, the first demodulator 22 determines whether or not demodulation of the target radio wave has failed in step S310 (step S320). Here, for example, when the intensity of the target radio wave demodulated in step S310 is less than the above-described predetermined threshold, the first demodulation unit 22 determines that the demodulation of the target radio wave has failed. On the other hand, when the intensity of the target radio wave is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold, the first demodulator 22 determines that the target radio wave has been successfully demodulated. When it is determined that the target radio wave has been successfully demodulated (step S320—NO), the first demodulator 22 generates target radio wave information indicating the target radio wave, and uses the generated target radio wave information as the first information processing device 23. Output to. The first information processing device 23 acquires target radio wave information and performs processing based on the acquired target radio wave information. The process is, for example, a process of outputting the target radio wave information to another device, a process of storing the target radio wave information, or the like. Then, the first demodulator 22 ends the process. On the other hand, when it is determined that the demodulation of the target radio wave has failed (step S320—YES), the first demodulation unit 22 outputs information indicating the demodulation failure of the target radio wave to the second information processing device 24. When the second information processing device 24 acquires the information, the second demodulation unit 241 included in the second information processing device 24 includes, for example, the latest time after the demodulation failure in the digital information stored in the storage unit 214. The digital information associated with is read from the storage unit 214 (step S330).

Next, the second demodulator 241 demodulates radio waves coming from one or more formed beams based on the phase of the digital signal indicated by each of the read digital information. The second demodulator 241 identifies a target radio wave from one or more demodulated radio waves (step S340). Then, the second demodulator 241 generates target radio wave information indicating the specified target radio wave, and performs processing based on the generated target radio wave information. The process is, for example, a process of outputting the target radio wave information to another device, a process of storing the target radio wave information, or the like. Further, the second demodulator 241 outputs beam direction information indicating the beam direction including the arrival direction of the target radio wave specified in step S340 to the phase shift controller 215A. Then, the second demodulator 241 ends the process. In addition, when acquiring the beam direction information, the phase shift control unit 215A performs step S220 based on the beam direction information when the target radio wave is successfully demodulated in the process of step S220 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. The direction of arrival calculated in step 1 is corrected. For example, the phase shift control unit 215A replaces the arrival direction with the direction indicated by the beam direction information. As a result, the reception control device 20 can resume the demodulation of the target radio wave by the first demodulation unit 22 even when the demodulation of the target radio wave by the first demodulation unit 22 fails. For example, when tracking of the artificial satellite S is continued by DBF, the second information processing device 24 may be configured to perform the same processing as the processing performed by the error information generation unit 216.

<Process in which error information generation unit generates error information>
Hereinafter, a process in which the error information generation unit 216 generates error information will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of processing in which the error information generation unit 216 generates error information. The error information generator 216 outputs an analog signal from each of the two or more 21st phase shifters, the two or more twenty-second phase shifters, the two or more twenty-third phase shifters, and the two or more twenty-fourth phase shifters. Each time, the processing of step S410 to step S430 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is repeated.

The error information generation unit 216 acquires an analog signal from each phase shifter 215B connected to the second antenna (step S410). Specifically, the error information generation unit 216 acquires two or more 21st analog signals from two or more 21st phase shifters. In addition, the error information generation unit 216 acquires two or more 22nd analog signals from two or more 22nd phase shifters. Further, the error information generation unit 216 acquires two or more 23rd analog signals from two or more 23rd phase shifters. Further, the error information generation unit 216 acquires two or more 24th analog signals from two or more 24th phase shifters.

Next, the error information generation unit 216, based on the acquired two or more 21st analog signals, two or more twenty-second analog signals, two or more twenty-third analog signals, and two or more twenty-fourth analog signals, respectively. Each of the 21st error radio wave to the 24th error radio wave is demodulated (step S420).

Next, the error information generation unit 216 calculates the intensities of the demodulated 21st error radio wave, 22nd error radio wave, 23rd error radio wave, and 24th error radio wave, and the 21st beam, 22nd beam, 23rd beam, Information indicating the direction of each of the 24th beams is generated as error information, and the generated error information is output to the phase shift control unit 215A (step S430). Then, the error information generation unit 216 ends the process.

As described above, the error information generation unit 216 generates error information. Thereby, the reception control device 20 can form the first beam in a direction in which the intensity of the target radio wave demodulated by the reception control device 20 is increased.

The phase shift control unit 215A described above associates the shape of the beam based on the phase of each analog signal phase-shifted by the phase shifter 215B, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam. The phase of the analog signal corresponding to each received radio wave received for each of the plurality of antennas 11 may be shifted based on a machine learning algorithm in which information including the received information is learned. Here, the algorithm may be, for example, a deep learning algorithm or another algorithm in machine learning. Thereby, the receiving device 1 can perform demodulation of the target radio wave by the first demodulator more reliably and accurately.

Further, the second demodulator 241 described above has information including information in which the shape of the beam formed by the second demodulator 241, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam are associated with each other. One or more beams are formed based on the learned machine learning algorithm and the digital information stored in the storage unit 214. Here, the algorithm may be, for example, a deep learning algorithm or another algorithm in machine learning. Thereby, the receiving device 1 can perform demodulation of the target radio wave by the second demodulator 241 more reliably and accurately.

Further, the second information processing device 24 described above receives, from the storage unit 214, digital information indicating a digital signal corresponding to the received radio wave received at the time corresponding to the operation based on the operation received from the user. The configuration may be such that the second demodulator 241 reads the data. In this case, the second demodulator 241 performs the processes of step S330 and step S340 based on the read digital information. Accordingly, the user can demodulate the target radio wave received by the phased array antenna 10 at a desired time by the reception control device 20 by operating the reception control device 20 at a timing desired by the user. Thereby, the reception control device 20 can demodulate each of the target radio waves received from the plurality of artificial satellites S at the same time by the phased array antenna 10. This indicates that, for example, even if the reception control device 20 cannot acquire forecast value information in advance, the reception control device 20 can demodulate the target radio wave. Further, the reception control device 20 can cause the reception control device 20 to demodulate the target radio wave received by the phased array antenna 10 at a desired time, so that the operation of the plurality of artificial satellites S can be performed. This can be done using one phased array antenna 10. That is, the reception control device 20 can also be suitably applied to a constellation in which observation is performed when a plurality of artificial satellites S form a formation in the same time zone. In addition, the reception control device 20 can be suitably applied to high-frequency reception of the target radio wave transmitted from the artificial satellite S in the high latitude earth station. Further, the reception control device 20 uses the digital information by demodulating the target radio wave by the first demodulator 22 when only one artificial satellite S transmits the target radio wave to the reception device 1 at a certain time. In comparison, the time from reception of the target radio wave to demodulation can be shortened. In addition, since the reception device 1 can cause the reception control device 20 to demodulate the target radio wave received by the phased array antenna 10 at a desired time, for example, in an antenna such as a parabolic antenna. There is no tracking singularity associated with the mechanical drive that occurs, and there is no need to secure time for directing the antenna in the initial capture direction of the target radio wave, ie, the initial capture direction of the artificial satellite S. From the above, the receiving device 1 can reduce the operation cost in the satellite operation, improve the operation capability with limited resources, and optimize the beam shape according to the elevation angle, The artificial satellite S can be reliably captured, the reception gain can be stabilized, and the like.

In addition, a part or all of the first beam, the 21st beam, the 22nd beam, the 23rd beam, and the 24th beam described above may be changed for each of the plurality of artificial satellites S. . In this case, the reception control device 20 sets the shape received from the user in the phase shift control unit 215A.

Further, at least one of the AD conversion unit 213 and the storage unit 214 described above may be configured to be included in the second information processing device 24.

Note that the AD conversion unit 213 described above is an example of a conversion unit.

As described above, the receiving apparatus 1 includes a phased array antenna (in this example, the phased array antenna 10) in which a plurality of antennas (in this example, the antenna 11) are arranged at intervals, and each of the plurality of antennas. A phase shift unit (in this example, phase shift unit 215) that shifts the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each received radio wave received every time, and a beam based on the phase of each analog signal phase shifted by the phase shift unit For each of the received radio waves received by each of the first demodulator (in this example, the first demodulator 22) that demodulates radio waves coming from within the target radio wave, an analog signal corresponding to the received radio wave is obtained. A conversion unit (AD conversion unit 213 in this example) for converting into a digital signal, and a plurality of units converted by the conversion unit When the storage unit (in this example, the storage unit 214) that stores digital information indicating a digital signal in a manner that can synchronize the reception time and the first demodulator fails to demodulate the target radio wave, it is stored in the storage unit And a second demodulator (in this example, a second demodulator 241) that demodulates the target radio wave based on the digital information. As a result, the receiving apparatus 1 can shorten the time from reception of radio waves arriving from within the beam to demodulation, and even if demodulation of the radio waves fails, The demodulation of the radio wave can be resumed without losing information.

Further, the receiving device 1 includes a branching unit (in this example, a branching unit 212B) that outputs each of the plurality of analog signals to the conversion unit and also outputs to the phase shift unit. In the receiving device 1, the conversion unit converts each of the plurality of analog signals acquired from the branch unit into a digital signal, and the phase shift unit shifts the phase of each of the plurality of analog signals acquired from the branch unit. . Thereby, the receiving device 1 can efficiently perform demodulation of the target radio wave by ABF and demodulation of the target radio wave by DBF.

In the receiving apparatus 1, the plurality of antennas included in the phased array antenna belong to one or both of the first group and the second group, and the first demodulator is phase-shifted by the phase shifter. Radio waves coming from within the first beam, which is a beam based on the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each of the received radio waves received by the antenna belonging to the first group (in this example, the first antenna) among the plurality of received radio waves. Analogs corresponding to the received radio waves received by the antennas belonging to the second group (in this example, the 21st to 24th antennas) among the plurality of received radio waves demodulated as the target radio waves and phase-shifted by the phase shift unit Arrival from within the second beam (in this example, the 21st beam to the 24th beam), which is a beam based on the phase of the signal The error radio wave is demodulated as an error radio wave (in this example, each of the 21st error radio wave to the 24th error radio wave), and error information indicating the intensity of the demodulated error radio wave and the direction of the second beam is generated and generated. The error information generation unit (in this example, the error information generation unit 216) that outputs the error information that has been processed to the phase shift unit is provided, and the phase shift unit is assigned to the first group based on the error information acquired from the error information generation unit. The phase of the analog signal corresponding to each received radio wave is shifted for each of the antennas to which it belongs. Thereby, the receiving device 1 can form the first beam in a direction in which the intensity of the target radio wave to be demodulated is increased.

Moreover, in the receiving device 1, the second demodulator further includes an error information generator. Thereby, the receiving apparatus 1 can hold | maintain the intensity | strength of the object radio wave demodulated by DBF.

In the receiving device 1, when the first demodulator fails to demodulate the target radio wave, the second demodulator outputs beam direction information indicating the direction of the formed beam to the phase shifter, and the phase shifter The phase of the received radio wave is shifted to the phase forming the beam in the direction indicated by the beam direction information acquired from the second demodulator. Thereby, the receiving device 1 can easily resume the demodulation of the target radio wave by the first demodulation unit even when the first demodulation unit 22 fails to demodulate the target radio wave.

Further, in the receiving apparatus 1, the phase shift unit associates the shape of the beam based on the phase of each analog signal phase-shifted by the phase shift unit, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam. Based on a machine learning algorithm in which information including information is learned, the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each of the received radio waves received for each of the plurality of antennas is shifted. Thereby, the receiving device 1 can perform demodulation of the target radio wave by the first demodulator more reliably and accurately.

In the receiving apparatus 1, the second demodulator learns information including information in which the shape of the beam formed by the second demodulator, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam are associated with each other. One or more beams are formed based on the machine learning algorithm and the digital information stored in the storage unit. Thereby, the receiving device 1 can perform demodulation of the target radio wave by the second demodulator more reliably and accurately.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and changes, substitutions, deletions, and the like are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. May be.

Further, a program for realizing the function of an arbitrary component in the above-described device (for example, reception control device 20) is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program is read into a computer system and executed. You may make it do. Here, the “computer system” includes hardware such as an OS (Operating System) and peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” means a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD (Compact Disk) -ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system. . Furthermore, “computer-readable recording medium” means a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system that becomes a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

In addition, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.
Further, the above program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Further, the program may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-described functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

According to the above-described receiving device, it is possible to shorten the time from reception of radio waves arriving from within the beam to demodulation, and even when demodulation of the radio waves fails, information on the radio waves Demodulation can be resumed without loss of.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reception apparatus 10 Phased array antenna 11, 11-1-11-N antenna 20 Reception control apparatus 21 Reception control part 22 1st demodulation part 23 1st information processing apparatus 24 2nd information processing apparatus 211 Low noise amplifier 212 Down converter 212A Frequency conversion unit 212B Branch unit 213 Conversion unit 214 Storage unit 215 Phase shift unit 215A Phase shift control unit 215B, 215B-1 Phase shifter 216 Error information generation unit 241 Second demodulation unit S, S1, S2, S3 Artificial satellite

Claims (7)

1. A phased array antenna in which a plurality of antennas are spaced apart from each other;
   A phase shift unit that shifts the phase of an analog signal corresponding to each received radio wave received for each of the plurality of antennas;
   A first demodulator that demodulates a radio wave coming from within a beam based on the phase of each analog signal phase-shifted by the phase shift unit as a target radio wave;
   For each of the received radio waves received by each of the plurality of antennas, a conversion unit that converts the analog signal corresponding to the received radio waves into a digital signal;
   A storage unit that stores digital information indicating the plurality of digital signals converted by the conversion unit in a manner in which reception time synchronization is possible;
   A second demodulator that demodulates the target radio wave based on the digital information stored in the storage unit when the first demodulator fails to demodulate the target radio wave;
   A receiving device.
2. A branching unit that outputs each of the plurality of analog signals to the conversion unit and outputs to the phase shift unit,
   The conversion unit converts each of the plurality of analog signals acquired from the branch unit into the digital signal,
   The phase shift unit shifts the phase of each of the plurality of analog signals acquired from the branch unit.
   The receiving device according to claim 1.
3. Each of the plurality of antennas included in the phased array antenna belongs to one or both of the first group and the second group,
   The first demodulator is based on a phase of the analog signal corresponding to each of the received radio waves received by the antenna belonging to the first group among the plurality of received radio waves phase-shifted by the phase shift unit. A radio wave coming from within the first beam, which is a beam, is demodulated as the target radio wave,
   In a second beam that is a beam based on the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each of the received radio waves received by the antenna belonging to the second group among the plurality of received radio waves phase-shifted by the phase shift unit An error that demodulates the radio wave that has arrived from as an error radio wave, generates error information indicating the intensity of the demodulated error radio wave and the direction of the second beam, and outputs the generated error information to the phase shift unit With an information generator,
   The phase shift unit shifts the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each of the received radio waves received for each of the antennas belonging to the first group based on the error information acquired from the error information generation unit. Match
   The receiving device according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The second demodulator further includes the error information generator.
   The receiving device according to claim 3.
5. When the first demodulator fails to demodulate the target radio wave,
   The second demodulator outputs beam direction information indicating the direction of the formed beam to the phase shift unit,
   The phase shift unit shifts the phase of the received radio wave to a phase that forms a beam in the direction indicated by the beam direction information acquired from the second demodulation unit.
   The receiving device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
6. The phase shift unit includes information in which the shape of the beam based on the phase of each analog signal phase-shifted by the phase shift unit, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam are associated with each other. Based on a machine learning algorithm in which information is learned, the phase of the analog signal corresponding to each of the received radio waves received for each of the plurality of the antennas is shifted.
   The receiving device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
7. The second demodulator is machine learning in which information including information in which the shape of the beam formed by the second demodulator, the success or failure of demodulation of the target radio wave, and the change in the direction of the beam are associated is learned Forming one or more beams based on the algorithm and the digital information stored in the storage unit,
   The receiving device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images