JPS59128465A - Microwave radio meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a high sensitive radio meter without imparting influence to the posture of a satellite, by applying shift control to a plurality of phase shifters corresponding to a plurality of fixed element antennas. CONSTITUTION:Receiving waves of which the phases are different at every element antenna 1 are converted to IF by mixer 3. At this time, the phase with high frequency voltage supplied to each mixer 3 through an electric energy distributor 5 is controlled by each phase shifter 6 and synthesized by an electric energy synthesizer 9 so that the phases of noise radio waves arriving from specific directions come to the same phase in IFA8. In this case, the noise radio waves from specific directions are synthesized and the detection signal due to a square detector 10 is proportional to the intensity of the noise electric energy from each specific direction and, when the phases of the phase shifters 6 are successively controlled by a phase controller 7 to change an observation direction, the scanning of an observation region is enabled without imparting influence to the posture of a satellite not at all.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 この発明は人工衛星に搭載して、海面の温度や、大気の
成分を検出するのに用いられるマイクロ波放射計に関す
るものである。従来のマイクロ波放射計はその感度を高
めるため、アンテナの、に電損失を小さくシ、かつ地上
の広範囲を観測するために１機械的にアンテナのビーム
方向を変化させるものがほとんどであった。しかしなが
ら９機械的にアンテナの方向を変化させる方式では１人
工衛星の姿勢に与える影響が大きく、大形のアンテナを
用いる事が難しいという欠点を有していた。一方、わず
かの例ではあるが、いわゆるフェーズドアレイアンテナ
を用いるものが用いられたが、移相器の損失によシ、感
度を充分高くする事が出来ず、観測精度を高くする事が
出来ないという欠点を有していたこの発明は従来のこれ
らの問題点を改善するためになされたもので、衛星の姿
勢に影響を与える事なく感度の高いマイクロ波放射計を
実現する事を目的とする。以下図面により、説明する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a microwave radiometer that is mounted on an artificial satellite and used to detect sea surface temperature and atmospheric components. Most conventional microwave radiometers mechanically change the beam direction of the antenna in order to increase the sensitivity, reduce the electric loss of the antenna, and observe a wide area on the ground. However, the method of mechanically changing the direction of the antenna has the disadvantage that it has a large effect on the attitude of the satellite and makes it difficult to use a large antenna. On the other hand, in a few cases, so-called phased array antennas have been used, but due to the loss of the phase shifter, it is not possible to increase the sensitivity sufficiently, making it impossible to increase the observation accuracy. This invention was made to improve these conventional problems, and aims to realize a highly sensitive microwave radiometer without affecting the attitude of the satellite. . This will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

図において、（１）はマイクロ波放射計の主構成要素で
ある複数の素子アンテナ、（３）はミキサ。In the figure, (1) is a plurality of element antennas that are the main components of the microwave radiometer, and (3) is a mixer.

（４）は局部発振器、（５）は電力分配器、（６）は移
相器。(4) is a local oscillator, (5) is a power divider, and (6) is a phase shifter.

（７）は位相制御器、（８）は中間周波増幅器、（９）
は電力合成器、　ｔｔＵは２乗検波器である。(7) is a phase controller, (8) is an intermediate frequency amplifier, (9)
is a power combiner, and ttU is a square law detector.

以上の構成において、観測対称から放射された雑音電数
は、各素子アンテナによって受信されるが、アンテナか
ら見た観測対称の方向に応じて受信波の位相は各素子ア
ンテナ（１）ごとに異なっている。この受信波をミキサ
（３）により中間周波数に変換するが、その際１局部発
振器（４）から供給され、各ミキサに電力分配器（５）
で分配された高周波電圧の位相を移相器（６）で制御し
て。In the above configuration, the noise electricity radiated from the observation object is received by each element antenna, but the phase of the received wave differs for each element antenna (1) depending on the direction of the observation object as seen from the antenna. ing. This received wave is converted into an intermediate frequency by a mixer (3), but at this time, it is supplied from one local oscillator (4), and a power divider (5) is sent to each mixer.
The phase of the high frequency voltage distributed by the phase shifter (6) is controlled by the phase shifter (6).

特定の方向から到来する雑音電波の位相が中間周波増幅
器（８）内で同位相となるようにして、電力合成器（９
）で合成すれば、上述の特定方向の雑音電圧は合成され
、２乗検波器（１１で検波された信号は、上述の特定方
向の雑音電力の強さに比例したものとなる。そして移相
器（６）の位相を位相制御器（７）で順次制御して、観
測方向を変化させてやれば機械的、可動部分が無いので
９人工衛星の姿勢に全く影響を与えずに観測域を走査す
る事が可能となる。The power combiner (9) is configured so that the phases of the noise radio waves arriving from a specific direction are in the same phase within the intermediate frequency amplifier (8).
), the noise voltage in the specific direction mentioned above is synthesized, and the signal detected by the square law detector (11) becomes proportional to the strength of the noise power in the specific direction mentioned above.Then, the phase shift By sequentially controlling the phase of the satellite (6) with the phase controller (7) and changing the observation direction, it is possible to change the observation area without affecting the attitude of the 9 satellite at all since there are no mechanical or moving parts. It becomes possible to scan.

また９以上の構成において９通常のフェーズドアレーの
ように素子アンテナ側に移相器が入っていないので、ア
ンテナ給電損失を小さくする事が可能で、感度の高いマ
イクロ波放射計を得る事が出来る。In addition, in a configuration of 9 or more, unlike a normal phased array, there is no phase shifter on the element antenna side, so it is possible to reduce antenna feeding loss and obtain a highly sensitive microwave radiometer. .

以上述べたように、この発明のマイクロ波放射計は９人
工衛星に搭載しても、姿勢制御系に影響を与える事が無
いので、大型のアンテナを搭載して距離分解能の高いセ
ンサを得る事が出来るなど大きな効果が得られる。As mentioned above, the microwave radiometer of this invention can be mounted on nine artificial satellites without affecting the attitude control system, so it is possible to obtain a sensor with high distance resolution by mounting a large antenna. Great effects can be obtained, such as the ability to

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

図は、この発明によるマイクロ波放射計のブロック構成
図であり９図において（１１はアンテナ、（３）はミキ
サ、（４）は局部発振器、（５）は電力分配器、（６）
は移相器、（７）は位相制御器、（８）は中間周波増幅
器、（９）は電力合成器、ａωは２乗検波器である。 代理人　　葛　野　信　−The figure is a block diagram of the microwave radiometer according to the present invention.
is a phase shifter, (7) is a phase controller, (8) is an intermediate frequency amplifier, (9) is a power combiner, and aω is a square law detector. Agent Shin Kuzuno −

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 人工衛星に搭載される複数の固定素子アンテナと、各ア
ンテナにそれぞれ対応して設けたミキサと、上記ミキサ
と対応する複数の中間周波増幅器を介してつながる電力
合成器と、上記電力合成器の出力端につながる２乗検波
器と、上記ミキサにつながシ、かつ素子アンテナと対応
する複数の移相器と、上記複数の移相器を制御する位相
制御器と、上記複数の移相器につながる電力分配器と、
上記電力分配器に局部発振信号を与える局部発振器とか
らなるマイクロ波放射計。A plurality of fixed element antennas mounted on a satellite, a mixer provided corresponding to each antenna, a power combiner connected to the mixer through a plurality of corresponding intermediate frequency amplifiers, and an output of the power combiner. a square law detector connected to the end, a plurality of phase shifters connected to the mixer and corresponding to the element antennas, a phase controller for controlling the plurality of phase shifters, and a phase shifter connected to the plurality of phase shifters. a power divider;
A microwave radiometer comprising a local oscillator that provides a local oscillation signal to the power divider.