Phased array / beam-steering antenna
Specialty
What is it?
Phased array antennas contain multiple antenna elements whose phase relationships are electronically controlled to steer the beam direction without physically moving the antenna. This allows a single antenna to sequentially scan different areas of a room, focus its beam on a specific zone, or sweep across a space to locate individual tags. They are the technology behind item-level location systems that can tell you not just which tags are present, but where each tag is within the read zone.
How it works
The antenna contains an array of patch elements (typically 4×4 to 8×8). By adjusting the phase of the signal fed to each element, the combined beam can be steered electronically - pointed left, right, up, down, or narrowed to focus on a specific area. The reader or a dedicated controller manages the beam-steering pattern, cycling through a scan sequence that covers the desired area. By correlating tag responses with beam direction, the system can estimate tag position. More advanced systems use multiple phased arrays with triangulation algorithms to achieve sub-metre location accuracy.
Industries
Use cases
- Store-wide inventory with item-level location
- Hospital equipment real-time location
- Automated search-and-find for specific tagged items
- Aerospace parts tracking on assembly fixtures
- Selective read-zone coverage without physical antenna movement
- Dense tag environments where focused beam improves singulation
Pros
- Electronically steerable beam - no moving parts
- Single antenna replaces multiple fixed antennas
- Can focus on specific zones dynamically
- Enables tag location estimation, not just presence detection
- Reduces total antenna count in large deployments
Cons
- Significantly more expensive than passive panel antennas
- Requires more sophisticated reader or controller hardware
- Location accuracy depends on environment (reflections degrade performance)
- Higher power consumption than passive antennas
- Fewer vendors and less mature ecosystem than standard panels
Specifications
| Form factor | Specialty |
|---|---|
| Polarization | Circular |
| Frequency | UHF (860–960 MHz) |
| Gain | 6–10 dBic (electronically steered) |
| Beamwidth | Dynamically adjustable (15°–90°) |
| Read range | 3–12 m (steerable) |
| Connector | Integrated (connects directly to reader or via Ethernet) |
| IP rating | IP52–IP54 |
| Dimensions | 350 × 350 mm to 500 × 500 mm |
| Price range | $1,500–$5,000 |