beamform_primer.pdf

1 A Primer on Digital Beamforming Toby Haynes, Spectrum Signal Processing March 26, 1998 Introduction Beamforming is the combination of radio signals from a set of small non-directional antennas to simulate a large directional antenna. The simulated antenna can be pointed electronically, although the antenna does not physically move. In communications, beamforming is used to point an antenna at the signal source to reduce interference and improve communication quality. In direction finding applications, beamforming can be used to steer an antenna to determine the direction of the signal source. This introduction to beamforming covers the basic properties of antennas and antenna arrays, then explains how beamformers are built using digital radio hardware and DSP’s. Super-resolution direction finding is also explained. Antennas and Wavelength An antenna for a radio transmitter converts electrical signals on a cable, from the transmitter, into electromagnetic waves. The antenna consists of electrical conductors (wires, pipes, reflecting surfaces, etc) that create electric and magnetic fields in the space around them. If the fields are changing, they propagate outward through space as an electromagnetic wave at the speed of light. Speed of Light c = 3x10 8 meters/sec Any antenna that transmits can also receive. Passing electromagnetic waves excite currents in the antenna’s conductors. The antenna captures some energy from passing waves and converts it to an electrical signal on the cable. When designing an antenna, its dimensions are specified in terms of the wavelength of the radio signal being transmitted or received. Wavelength is the distance from the beginning of one electromagnetic wave cycle to the next. λ = c / fc λ is wavelength in meters fc is the carrier frequency of the radio signal in Hz c is the speed of light (3x10 8 meters/sec) Wavel