SBAA help

[Zolar V]

No this is not homework, i am reposting it here so it is more visible and it gets answered.

This pertains to my job, and its more just Gee-Wiz stuff that will help me do my job better.

 

Steerable Beem Antenna Array

 

Hey, Could anyone explain to me just how a SBAA(Steerable Beem Antenna Array) works? I'm not quite sure how it works on the physics side or the physical side.

I know that an Antenna Array is just a array of antennas aranged in a perticular patter and have length properties proportionall to thier frequency ranges. Such as the smallest antenna in the array has to be less than 1/2 the smallest frequency in size, and the largest being greater than 1/2 the largest frequency in the array. IE 2-4ghz.

 

I'm not to worried about the Transmitt side of the stuff, i would just like to figure out how it recieves stuff. but if you would like to explain both..or all.. in detail that would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you

[ewmon]

Right, you can understand how it electronically steer the outgoing beams with delays, but how does it receive?

 

I'm pretty sure that the antenna's elements receive signals "at will" between transmissions, and that computers do A LOT of number crunching ... sort of like solving simultaneous equations (if you think of each element's reception as an equation), except much more complicated. This involves various pieces of data: time, frequency and location of the element. Then the variables solved for are each object's direction, distance, radial speed, tangential speed and size -- and perhaps other information.

[Zolar V]

Right, you can understand how it electronically steer the outgoing beams with delays, but how does it receive?

 

I'm pretty sure that the antenna's elements receive signals "at will" between transmissions, and that computers do A LOT of number crunching ... sort of like solving simultaneous equations (if you think of each element's reception as an equation), except much more complicated. This involves various pieces of data: time, frequency and location of the element. Then the variables solved for are each object's direction, distance, radial speed, tangential speed and size -- and perhaps other information.

 

What? The elements don't physically change from what i understand. They change their polarization, and such. also some are activated with a an amount of electricity and such to steer it. There really isn't much computing involved.

"Then the variables solved for are each object's direction, distance, radial speed, tangential speed and size -- and perhaps other information."

all those seem irrelevant considering were talking about an electromagnetic frequencies.

[ewmon]

I get only 4 hits when I google "steerable beam antenna array". By SBAA, do you mean "phased array" radar?

[Zolar V]

no, this is not radar. this is exactly what the name implies. An array of antennas polarized and stuff to be used to "steer" the focal point

[ewmon]

Oh. I was describing phased array.

 

Wouldn't SBAA be the same as a phased array in that each SBAA antenna acts like an element in a phased array?

[Zolar V]

Oh. I was describing phased array.

 

Wouldn't SBAA be the same as a phased array in that each SBAA antenna acts like an element in a phased array?

 

This is what i don't know.

i am not sure if the antenna arrays act in accordance to a phased array or if there is more going on. If it was just a phased array how would they steer it?

im seems like there is more going on than just changing the phase of the antenna array to steer the beam.

[ewmon]

Have you read about TOGA beamforming or about this 60GHz Design?

[Zolar V]

ok i read both of them, and neither are what i am questioning.

The TOGA is about how using beam forming you can reduce the noise by using high gain antenna. the 60ghz design has nothing to do with the topic unfortunately.

they were both good articles, But I am looking for HOW beam forming is done.

 

thanks tho, they were both really great articles.