Patent EP0359238A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0359238A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Array antenna device having IC units with IF conversion circuits for coupling antenna elements and signal combiner
Assignee: NEC Corp
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Filing: 1989-09-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-09-13
Abstract
Abstract An array antenna device comprising an antenna array of a plurality of antenna elements (311...31n) for receiving an radio wave to produce receive signals and a signal combiner (32) for combining the receive signals to produce a combined signal. In order to reduce the combining loss and the transmission loss through the signal combiner, an amplifier and an IF conversion circuit comprising a mixer and a local oscillator are formed in an IC chip (541...54n). The antenna elements are contained in cases together with a plurality of IC chips, respectively, to form a plurality of units. The units are mounted on circuit board (51) with the signal combiner consisting of micro strip lines. In order to synchronize the local oscillators in the units with one another, a reference signal generator (41) is also formed on the circuit board and is coupled to the local oscillators. Variable phase shifters (561...56n) are used for adjust a direction of the main lobe of the antenna array and are also mounted on the circuit board. A similar structure is applicable to an array antenna device for radiating a transmission signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Yuji C/O Nec Corporation Higuchi
- 👤 Kazuhide C/O Nec Engineering Ltd. Shibata
- 👤 Toshio C/O Nec Corporation Imai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/0006; H01Q21/0025; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/30; H01Q3/34; H01Q3/36; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0213; H05K1/0237; H05K1/18; H05K1/181
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An antenna device having a plurality of antenna elements for receiving a radio wave which comprises: a plurality of integrated circuit units each 5 comprising: one of said antenna elements for receiving the radio wave to deliver a receive signal; amplifier means coupled to said antenna element for amplifying said receive signal as an amplified signal; local oscillator means for oscillating a local signal of a predetermined frequency in synchronism with a reference signal; mixer means coupled to said amplifier means and said local oscillator means for mixing said amplified signal and said local signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal; and an output terminal coupled to said mixer means for delivering said intermediate frequency signal as an output signal; combining means coupled to said output terminal of each of said integrated circuit units for combining said output signal from each of said integrated circuit units to produce a combined signal; an output port coupled to said combining means for delivering said combined signal; reference signal generating means for generating said reference signal; and coupling means for coupling said local oscillating means and said reference signal generating means for supplying said reference signal to said local oscillator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
An antenna device having a plurality of antenna elements for receiving a radio wave which comprises: a plurality of integrated circuit units each 5 comprising: one of said antenna elements for receiving the radio wave to deliver a receive signal; amplifier means coupled to said antenna element for amplifying said receive signal as an amplified signal; local oscillator means for oscillating a local signal of a predetermined frequency in synchronism with a reference signal; mixer means coupled to said amplifier means and said local oscillator means for mixing said amplified signal and said local signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal; and an output terminal coupled to said mixer means for delivering said intermediate frequency signal as an output signal; combining means coupled to said output terminal of each of said integrated circuit units for combining said output signal from each of said integrated circuit units to produce a combined signal; an output port coupled to said combining means for delivering said combined signal; reference signal generating means for generating said reference signal; and coupling means for coupling said local oscillating means and said reference signal generating means for supplying said reference signal to said local oscillator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each of said integrated circuit units further comprises an intermediate frequency amplifier means connecting said mixer means and said output terminal for amplifying said intermediate frequency signal to deliver said intermediate frequency signal as amplified to said output terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, which further comprises a plurality of variable phase shifters each coupled between said output terminal and said combining means for shifting a phase of said output signal passing therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An antenna device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said local oscillator means has a reference signal input terminal which is connected to said output terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said combining means comprises a conductive line which is connected in common to each of said integrated circuit units at said output terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said reference signal generating means is connected to said conductive line whereby said combining means serves as said coupling means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 6, which further comprises a filter means connecting said reference signal generating means and said conductive line so as to prevent said combined signal from entering said reference signal generating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 7, which further comprises a plurality of variable phase shifters each coupled between said output terminal and said conductive line for shifting a phase of said output signal passing therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An antenna device as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 8, wherein said coupling means comprises signal distributing means coupled to said reference signal generating means and each of said integrated circuit units at said output terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said coupling means comprises a plurality of filter means each connecting said signal distributing means and each of said integrated circuit units at said output terminal so as to prevent said combined signal from entering said reference signal generating means through said signal distributing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said coupling means comprises a plurality of variable phase shifters each connecting said signal distributing means and each of said filter means for shifting a phase of said reference signal passing therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An antenna device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein each of said integrated circuit units further comprises input terminal connected to said local oscillating means for receiving said reference signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 12, wherein said coupling means comprises signal distributing means connecting said reference signal generating means and each of said integrated circuit units at said input terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 13, which further comprises a plurality of variable phase shifters each connecting said output terminal and said combining means for shifting a phase of said output signal passing therethrough.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 13 or 14, wherein said coupling means further comprises a plurality of variable phase shifters each connecting said signal distributing means and said input terminal for shifting a phase of said reference signal passing therethrough.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
An antenna device as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 15, wherein said combining means comprises a conductive line which is connected in common to each of said integrated circuit units at said output terminal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 16, wherein said conductive line is connected in common to each of said integrated circuit units at said input terminal, said reference signal generating means being connected to said conductive line whereby said combining means serves as said coupling means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 17, which further comprises a filter means connecting said reference signal generating means and said conductive line so as to prevent said combined signal from entering said reference signal generating means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 18, which further comprises a plurality of variable phase shifters each connecting said output terminal and said conductive line for shifting a phase of said output signal passing therethrough.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 18 or 19, which further comprises a plurality of variable phase shifters each connecting said input terminal and said conductive line for shifting a phase of said reference signal passing therethrough.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
An antenna device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 20, which further comprises a housing, a circuit board mounted in said housing and having said plurality of integrated circuit units mounted thereon, said circuit board further having said combining means, said output port, said reference signal generating means, and coupling means formed thereon, and an electric connector mounted on said housing and connected to said output port.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
An antenna device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 21 wherein each of said integrated circuit units comprises a reference signal receiving antenna, said reference signal generating means having a reference signal transmitting antenna so that the coupling means is consisted by antenna coupling between said reference signal receiving antenna and said reference signal transmitting antenna.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
67 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 22, which further comprises a housing, a circuit board mounted in said housing and having said plurality of integrated circuit units mounted thereon and an electric connector mounted on said housing, said circuit board further having said combining means, said output port connected to said electric connector, said reference signal generating means, and said reference signal transmitting antenna formed thereon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 23, wherein said reference signal receiving antenna is formed in each of said integrated circuit units.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 23, wherein said reference signal receiving antenna is formed on said circuit board.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
190 words
An antenna device having a plurality of antenna elements for radiating a radio wave which comprises: an input port for receiving an intermediate frequency signal; first distributing means coupled to said input port for distributing said intermediate frequency signal to a plurality of integrated circuit units; said plurality of integrated circuit units each comprising: an input terminal coupled to said distributing means for receiving said intermediate frequency signal: local oscillator means for oscillating a local signal of a predetermined frequency in synchronism with a reference signal; mixer means coupled to said input terminal and said local oscillator means for mixing said intermediate frequency signal and said local signal to produce a transmission signal; power amplifier means coupled to said mixer means for power amplifying said transmission signal as an amplified transmission signal; and at least one of said antenna elements coupled to said power amplifier means for radiating said amplified transmission signal as said radio wave; reference signal generating means for generating said reference signal; and coupling means for coupling said local oscillating means and said reference signal generating means for supplying said reference signal to said local oscillator means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
190 words
An antenna device having a plurality of antenna elements for radiating a radio wave which comprises: an input port for receiving an intermediate frequency signal; first distributing means coupled to said input port for distributing said intermediate frequency signal to a plurality of integrated circuit units; said plurality of integrated circuit units each comprising: an input terminal coupled to said distributing means for receiving said intermediate frequency signal: local oscillator means for oscillating a local signal of a predetermined frequency in synchronism with a reference signal; mixer means coupled to said input terminal and said local oscillator means for mixing said intermediate frequency signal and said local signal to produce a transmission signal; power amplifier means coupled to said mixer means for power amplifying said transmission signal as an amplified transmission signal; and at least one of said antenna elements coupled to said power amplifier means for radiating said amplified transmission signal as said radio wave; reference signal generating means for generating said reference signal; and coupling means for coupling said local oscillating means and said reference signal generating means for supplying said reference signal to said local oscillator means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 26, which further comprises a plurality of variable phase shifters each coupled between said input terminal and said first distributing means for shifting a phase of said intermediate frequency signal passing therethrough.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 26 or 27, wherein said coupling means comprises second distributing means coupled to said reference signal generating means and each of said integrated circuit units.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
An antenna device as claimed in Claim 28, wherein said coupling means comprises a plurality of variable phase shifters each connecting said second distributing means and each of said integrated circuits for shifting a phase of said reference signal passing therethrough.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
An antenna device as claimed in any one of Claims 26 to 29, wherein each of said integrated circuit units comprises a reference signal receiving antenna, said reference signal generating means having a reference signal transmitting antenna so that the coupling means is consisted by antenna coupling between said reference signal receiving antenna and said reference signal transmitting antenna.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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