Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff

Microwave Proximity Sensor RCWL-0516 radiation pattern

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beduino:
Hello,
I've found this RCWL-0516 microwave proximity sensor very interesting, since I'd like to use it to detect movements in house rooms and controll lights as well to create standalone map to log activity in rooms when at work outside house to connect with custom security alarm system.



It is said that movement detection range is about up to 7 meters, but what about radiation pattern of this 3.1GHz radar?

I've watched this very interesting video with attempt to reverse engineering PCB, but not too much about radiation patterns and what happends when for example we will try run eg. two of such modules not far away a few meters distance in a few rooms with open doors?



The same question is in open space maybe I'd like to make something like rotating radar with this thing, than try to detect something and send back movement data with angle, but is it directional sensing.

Maybe someone already made such experiment with this module to find out  radiation pattern ?  ::)


rhodges:
I have played with this some. I think it is more sensitive than optical PIR.

What I read is that it sends out a microwave signal, and if there is a change in the return signal, it calls that "motion". It is NOT RADAR. So I would expect two or more in the same room to be fine. They would receive each others' signals and that would be the normal pattern. Any motion would disturb that pattern, so the network might be even more sensitive to motion. I have not tried this, I am just going logically from what I read.

Rotating a sensor would be futile. It would trigger continuously.

beduino:

--- Quote from: rhodges on November 17, 2019, 12:48:01 am ---Rotating a sensor would be futile. It would trigger continuously.

--- End quote ---
Yep, If we knew its radiation pattern one could put few such sensors rotated by given angle to cover 360 deg.

Another story is, trigering of this sensor is caused by any moving object or maybe when focused somehow we can make detection at larger distance?
I mean, for example mirror at some distance and sensor put in the focus of parabolic mirror to try make its detection more directional?
As I heard it works at 3.1GHz microwave range, so its wave length is ~10mm  ::)
I believe in that maybe by using mirrors we could somehow guide this microwave signal and by mirror make something like invisible line where when crossed by someone it will disturb reflected microwaves?

It is quite cheap and much more compact design than many PIR sensors and probably transaparent to glass?


BTW, rotation could work this way that we turn at some step or to predefined angles and stop rotation for lets say a few seconds, than scan other location.

beduino:
OK, I've a few such sensors to play with mirrors and electromagnetic wave guides 8)

Can anyone confirm is it fine power this thing from 12VDC ?

bingo600:
AFAIK they radiate ~ equal power on both sides.

Depending on your (wall) mount , it might "look" through the wall to the next room.
Someone mentioned they need several (like 5) layers of tinfoil to shield the backside , and there must be some distance to the "shield".

Andreas Spiess made a youtube video playing w. those.

/Bingo

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