High-frequency oscillation apparatus, radio apparatus, and radar

• US 7,095,366 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Ishii, Toru, Kato, Takatoshi, Nakamura, Fuminori
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US10/757,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20040178946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 342/175, 342 70- 73, 342 89-103
• US Class Current: 342/175
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/34 using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/35 Details of non-pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1864 the frequency-determining element being a dielectric resonator
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 9/04 for angle-modulated oscillations
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 1/02 against variations of temperature only

Abstract

A high-frequency oscillation apparatus wherein an oscillation signal output from a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is transferred through a transfer line to a resonator and the resonator is excited. The resonator is coupled with a second transfer line and an RF signal having a level corresponding to the frequency of the oscillation signal is transferred through the second transfer line. When the resonant frequency of the resonator is set to a frequency higher than the oscillation-frequency modulation range of the VCO, the oscillation frequency and the RF-signal level have one-to-one correspondence. A detector detects the RF signal and outputs to a control section. The control section compensates a control voltage signal applied to the VCO according to the detected-signal level, and outputs the control voltage signal to the VCO to compensate the oscillation signal of the VCO.

Claims

1. A high-frequency oscillation apparatus comprising:

an oscillator for oscillating at a specific frequency determined by a control voltage signal in a predetermined frequency modulation range;

a resonator coupled with a line transferring the oscillation signal of the oscillator, for resonating at a frequency out of the predetermined frequency modulation range;

a level detector coupled with the resonator, for detecting the resonant-energy level of the resonator; and

a control section for generating the control voltage signal according to the resonant-energy level detected by the level detector.

2. The high-frequency oscillation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the line is a dielectric line comprising a dielectric strip sandwiched by electrically conductive planes.

3. The high-frequency oscillation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control section comprises:

an AD converter;

a storage section provided with a reference-voltage table and a reference-control-signal table;

a difference detection section; and

a control-signal compensation section, wherein

the reference-voltage table stores the relationship between a detected-signal level and an oscillation frequency,

the reference-control-signal table stores the relationship among output timing, an intended oscillation frequency, and a control-voltage-signal level for obtaining the intended oscillation frequency.

4. The high-frequency oscillation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a resonant frequency of the resonator is set to a frequency higher than the frequency modulation range of the oscillator.

5. The high-frequency oscillation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a resonant frequency of the resonator is set to a frequency lower than the frequency modulation range of the oscillator.

6. A radar comprising:

a transmitter, the transmitter comprising a high-frequency oscillation apparatus according to claim 1; and

a receiver for receiving a signal emitted by the transmitter and reflected from an object.

7. A high-frequency oscillation apparatus comprising:

an oscillator for oscillating at a specific frequency determined by a control voltage signal in a predetermined frequency modulation range;

a first resonator coupled with a line transferring the oscillation signal of the oscillator, for resonating at a frequency higher than the center of the predetermined frequency modulation range;

a second resonator coupled with the line transferring the oscillation signal of the oscillator, for resonating at a frequency lower than the center of the predetermined frequency modulation range;

a first level detector coupled with the first resonator, for detecting the resonant-energy level of the first resonator;

a second level detector coupled with the second resonator, for detecting the resonant-energy level of the second resonator; and

a control section for generating the control voltage signal according to the difference between the resonant-energy levels detected by the first and second level detection means.

8. The high-frequency oscillation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the line is a dielectric line comprising a dielectric strip sandwiched by electrically conductive planes.

9. The high-frequency oscillation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control section comprises:

a first AD converter coupled to the first level detector;

a second AD converter coupled to the second level detector;

a storage section provided with a reference-potential-difference table and a reference-control-signal table;

a difference detection section; and

a control-signal compensation section, wherein

the reference-potential difference table stores the relationship between an oscillation frequency and the difference between the resonant-energy level of the first resonator and the resonant-energy level of the second resonator,

the reference-control-signal table stores the relationship among output timing, an intended oscillation frequency, and a control-voltage-signal level for obtaining the intended oscillation frequency.

10. The high-frequency oscillation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a resonant frequency of the first resonator is set to a frequency higher than the frequency modulation range of the oscillator, and wherein a resonant frequency of the second resonator is set to a frequency lower than the frequency modulation range of the oscillator.

11. A radar comprising:

a transmitter, the transmitter comprising a high-frequency oscillation apparatus according to claim 7; and

a receiver for receiving a signal emitted by the transmitter and reflected from an object.

12. A high-frequency oscillation method comprising:

outputting an oscillation signal;

transferring the oscillation signal to a resonator so as to excite the resonator;

outputting a predetermined signal from the resonator, the predetermined signal being determined according to a frequency of the oscillation signal;

generating a control voltage signal according to the predetermined signal; and

using the control voltage signal for compensation of the oscillation signal.

13. The high-frequency oscillation method according to claim 12, wherein compensation of the oscillation frequency comprises:

changing the control voltage signal in a rectangular-wave manner within a predetermined frequency range over time so as to change the frequency of the oscillation signal.

14. The high-frequency oscillation method according to claim 12, wherein the frequency of the oscillation signal is modulated from a predetermined center frequency if the difference between a specified amount of frequency modulation and an actual amount of frequency modulation is detected for compensation of the oscillation signal.

15. The high-frequency oscillation method according to claim 12, wherein a resonant frequency of the resonator is set to a frequency higher than a frequency modulation range of the oscillation signal.

16. The high-frequency oscillation method according to claim 12, wherein a resonant frequency of the resonator is set to a frequency lower that a frequency modulation range of the oscillation signal.