Pointer to data wanted please -- looking for a primer on phased array radar

[JeffEvarts]

Fair warning: I can handle basic physics stuff, but probably nothing post-collegiate. :)

Specifically, I'm looking for a primer on phased array radar that will tell me two things: 1) what are the practical physical (antenna) requirements for running a PAR system in the 800MHz/5GHz bands, and 2) What kind of circuit is used to do the phase-adjustment work for the various transmitter antennae?

I know this sounds outlandish, but with the recent explosion of cheap DIY/Arduino radar sensor boards, it seems like this RF territory must have been pretty thoroughly thrashed out - somewhere there is a textbook or batch of papers that will talk about this with some authority, right?

Alternatively, are there any colleges in southern California with RF labs/departments that specialize in this kind of stuff?

-Jeff Evarts, armchair polymath

 

[Nidum]

Skolnik - Introduction to Radar Systems - Irwin . Most excellent book .

 

[berkeman]

1) what are the practical physical (antenna) requirements for running a PAR system in the 800MHz/5GHz bands, and 2) What kind of circuit is used to do the phase-adjustment work for the various transmitter antennae?

I know this sounds outlandish, but with the recent explosion of cheap DIY/Arduino radar sensor boards, it seems like this RF territory must have been pretty thoroughly thrashed out

Are you looking to do both TX and RX with the PAR, or just RX with angular sensing of the source direction?

 

[JeffEvarts]

ideally I would do both tx and rx from either one or two relatively small surfaces (2cm radius-ish) but if that's mechanically prohibited due to wavelength, other solutions (like a separate transmitting antenna) can be used. This would be test/prototype gear, lovingly produced. :)

-Jeff

 

[berkeman]

Would this be in the ISM band? You need to be careful where you to transmitting radar signals...

 

[JeffEvarts]

I really don't know what band would be used... there was some speculation in the reviews of the arduino radar sensors that they operated in the shorter wavelengths, so that's what I was basing my questions on. I have NO intention of producing, using, or proselytizing illegal radio transmissions! My life is complicated enough without legal issues. :)

-Jeff