Array Phasing

When we randomly dither the position of the emitters in a 3 dimensional phased array, it smears out the grating lobes. I am looking for a better function.

A position dither function to try:

D = L/2

k = 2 \pi / N * L

\Delta x = D * ( \sin( k z ) + \cos( k y ) )

\Delta y = D * ( \sin( k x ) + \cos( k z ) )

\Delta z = D * ( \sin( k y ) + \cos( k x ) )

... or some variation of that ( I originally tried D = \lambda/2 , with little effect). This assumes the spacing L >> \lambda , a sparse array, so that the antennas do not couple (much). Try scaling D and k, and also modifying amplitudes across the array like a Hamming window, and see how that changes the sidelobes.

This happens on top of the array of perhaps hundreds of emitters on the thinsat itself, which beamforms to a few degrees of angle, reducing power splattered far from the target.

The signal is broadband, so there is not a well defined \lambda . We may end up making k a function of x, y, and z as well.

5x5x5 skewed, dithered array

a4d21.png

Annotated version with explanation coming soon.

16x16x16 skewed, dithered array

a4d21-16.png

Annotated version with explanation coming soon.

MoreLater

ArrayPhasing (last edited 2022-03-15 01:37:15 by KeithLofstrom)