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If I understand correctly, is the application of this to quickly switch the direction of sending/receiving? Are there any other applications?
If I understand correctly, is the application of this to quickly switch the direction of sending/receiving? Are there any other applications?
Usually you'd need to rotate the antenna or else use a large number of controllable phase-shifting elements to send an output beam in the desired direction. But a Rotman lens lets you use a small number of phase shifting elements to merge a small number of source beams (still > 1, though) into a single precisely-steered output beam.
If I understand correctly, is the application of this to quickly switch the direction of sending/receiving? Are there any other applications?
No, this is to concentrate the radio waves into a desired shape. Stronger in this direction, weaker than that. Think of it very vaguely like a parabolic mirror on a flashlight directing the light vs a naked light bulb putting light out in all directions. (this is a bad metaphor for what's going on but it's the basic idea of the goal) To change the direction you have to physically move the antenna OR have an active ph…
> If the output ports are connected to individual antennas in an antenna array, this allows shaping the beam in different directions by switching which input port the signal is sent to.
From TFA.
Presumably the geometrical shape of the lens is dictated by solving for useful phase shifts for different input points. Otherwise you could just use a bunch of delay lines.
I wonder if anybody's ever designed a 3D version of this. You might get a wider range of inputs, or more precise steering, by shaping the delays on a non-Euclidean (curved) surface (like a sphere or a saddle).
If I understand correctly, is the application of this to quickly switch the direction of sending/receiving? Are there any other applications?
Looks deceptively simple. Is there a good source to learn more about how it works?
https://academy.lucedaphotonics.com/modules/awg/guide/compon...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, this is to concentrate the radio waves into a desired shape. Stronger in this direction, weaker than that. Think of it very vaguely like a parabolic mirror on a flashlight directing the light vs a naked light bulb putting light out in all directions. (this is a bad metaphor for what's going on but it's the basic idea of the goal) To change the direction you have to physically move the antenna OR have an active ph…
It does do directional steering. No active array components or physical movement are needed. > If the output ports are connected to individual antennas in an antenna array, this allows shaping the beam in different directions by switching which input port the signal is sent to. From TFA. Presumably the geometrical shape of the lens is dictated by solving for useful phase shifts for different input points. Otherwise y…
By... plugging and unplugging antenna elements?
It makes a fixed directional antenna element array which is configurable to a small degree by choosing which antenna elements to connect and their spatial arrangement.
The radiation pattern can only change by physically plugging or moving antenna elements.
Astonishing nominative determinism there
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It does do directional steering. No active array components or physical movement are needed. > If the output ports are connected to individual antennas in an antenna array, this allows shaping the beam in different directions by switching which input port the signal is sent to. From TFA. Presumably the geometrical shape of the lens is dictated by solving for useful phase shifts for different input points. Otherwise y…
>It does do directional steering. No active array components or physical movement are needed. By... plugging and unplugging antenna elements? It makes a fixed directional antenna element array which is configurable to a small degree by choosing which antenna elements to connect and their spatial arrangement. The radiation pattern can only change by physically plugging or moving antenna elements.