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IWR6843AOPEVM: TX beamforming questions

Part Number: IWR6843AOPEVM
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: IWR1843, IWR6843AOP, IWR1443, IWR1443BOOST

IWR6843AOPEVM:

The antenna array shown in the figure is as follows:

Based on the research, beamforming can be achieved by using phase shifters to adjust the phase of the transmit antennas. The modifications of mmWave studio are illustrated in the figure.For numerical calculations, the following code can be used to compute the phase shift values. The values to be filled in are the ones corresponding to "phaseTX_deg_wrap," Is my understanding correct?

theta_desired = -33.75;

m_ind = [0 1 2]; % antenna distance in units of lambda

phaseInc = 5.625; % step size for the phase shifter

phaseTX_rad = 2*pi*(m_ind*sind(theta_desired));

phaseTX_deg = (phaseTX_rad)*180/pi;

phaseTX_deg_wrap = wrapTo360(phaseTX_deg);

 

I have the following questions,

1."For two antennas, why is d2 twice the wavelength? For three antennas, it seems strange how d2 and d3 are calculated. When I referred to other antenna array layouts, like the IWR1843, they seem to implement TX beamforming as shown in the figure, where d2 and d3 become twice and four times the wavelength, respectively. I am confused about how to determine d2 and d3 for my device, IWR6843AOPEVM."

"Regarding configure1, how is it implemented?"

To summarize,

1.How to determine the phase shifter values (d) for the IWR6843AOPEVM in MATLAB to ensure the beam is directed to the desired angle.
2.How to implement beamforming for multiple target angles in mmWave Studio.
3.Whether the calculation of the phase shifter values for receive antenna beamforming is similar to the code provided earlier.

Thank you, and I hope to receive your reply soon!

  • 1.How to determine the phase shifter values (d) for the IWR6843AOPEVM in MATLAB to ensure the beam is directed to the desired angle.

    Please don't attempt to use TX Beamsteering on the IWR6843AOP. It only has 2 TX antennas in the vertical and horizontal dimensions, which are not enough to adequately create a steered beam.

    2.How to implement beamforming for multiple target angles in mmWave Studio.

    This is shown in the screenshots you've provided. Use the formula 2*pi*d/lambda *sin(theta).

    3.Whether the calculation of the phase shifter values for receive antenna beamforming is similar to the code provided earlier.

    Receive antenna beamforming is a completely different process. It does not require you to change the phase of your signal. Rather, you compare the received phase across the different antennas with candidate signals of known frequencies to estimate the angle of arrival.

    Best,

    Nate

  • Dear Nate,

    Thank you very much for your response. Your answer has resolved most of my confusion, but I still have a few more questions.

    1. Regarding the 1843 beamforming, the distance between TX1 and TX3 is 2*\lambda, as shown in the screenshot. However, when calculating the vlue of phase shifters below, why is d2=2*\lambda and d3=4*\lambda?

    2. I also have an IWR1443 device. Can it perform transmit antenna beamforming? How to determine the vlue of phase shifters? If so, I would like to perform scanning at multiple angles. How can I do that using mmWave studio?

    Looking forward to your reply!

    Best,

    Yulong

  • Hello, Nate. I would like to seek your help again. My IWR1443BOOST is transmitting data in a time-domain manner. How can I set up beamforming in mmWave Studio to achieve this? Also, could you spare some time to help me with my previous question?

  • Hi Yulong,

    1. Regarding the 1843 beamforming, the distance between TX1 and TX3 is 2*\lambda, as shown in the screenshot. However, when calculating the vlue of phase shifters below, why is d2=2*\lambda and d3=4*\lambda?

    This appears to me to just be a sample calculation. On the IWR1843ISK EVM, the distance between the transmitters should be 1 wavelength each.

    2. I also have an IWR1443 device. Can it perform transmit antenna beamforming? How to determine the vlue of phase shifters? If so, I would like to perform scanning at multiple angles. How can I do that using mmWave studio?

    According to the datasheet the 1443 does not support TX Beamsteering.

    Hello, Nate. I would like to seek your help again. My IWR1443BOOST is transmitting data in a time-domain manner. How can I set up beamforming in mmWave Studio to achieve this?

    I am working on this now and I will respond to you about it by EOD.

    Best,

    Nate

  • Hello, Nate. I would like to seek your help again. My IWR1443BOOST is transmitting data in a time-domain manner. How can I set up beamforming in mmWave Studio to achieve this?

    See the panel options here.

    Best,

    Nate