Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless systems use multiple antenna elements at transmit and receive to offer improved capacity over single antenna topologies in multipath channels In such systems, the antenna properties as well as the multipath channel characteristics play a key role in determining communication performance This paper reviews recent research findings concerning antennas and propagation in MIMO systems Issues considered include channel capacity computation, channel measurement and modeling approaches, and the impact of antenna element properties and array configuration on system performance Throughout the discussion, outstanding research questions in these areas are highlighted

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A review of antennas and propagation for MIMO wireless communications

In order to estimate the signal parameters accurately for mobile systems, it is necessary to estimate a system's propagation characteristics through a medium. Propagation analysis provides a good initial estimate of the signal characteristics. The ability to accurately predict radio-propagation behavior for wireless personal communication systems, such as cellular mobile radio, is becoming crucial to system design. Since site measurements are costly, propagation models have been developed as a suitable, low-cost, and convenient alternative. Channel modeling is required to predict path, loss and to characterize the impulse response of the propagating channel. The path loss is associated with the design of base stations, as this tells us how much a transmitter needs to radiate to service a given region. Channel characterization, on the other hand, deals with the fidelity of the received signals, and has to do with the nature of the waveform received at a receiver. The objective here is to design a suitable receiver that will receive the transmitted signal, distorted due to the multipath and dispersion effects of the channel, and that will decode the transmitted signal. An understanding of the various propagation models can actually address both problems. This paper begins with a review of the information available on the various propagation models for both indoor and outdoor environments. The existing models can be classified into two major classes: statistical models and site-specific models. The main characteristics of the radio channel - such as path loss, fading, and time-delay spread - are discussed. Currently, a third alternative, which includes many new numerical methods, is being introduced to propagation prediction. The advantages and disadvantages of some of these methods are summarized. In addition, an impulse-response characterization for the propagation path is also presented, including models for small-scale fading, Finally, it is shown that when two-way communication ports can be defined for a mobile system, it is possible to use reciprocity to focus the energy along the direction of an intended user without any explicit knowledge of the electromagnetic environment in which the system is operating, or knowledge of the spatial locations of the transmitter and the receiver.

A survey of various propagation models for mobile communication

On-body communication channels are of increasing interest for a number of applications, such as medical-sensor networks, emergency-service workers, and personal communications. This paper describes investigations into channel characterization and antenna performance at 2.45 GHz. It is shown that significant channel fading occurs during normal activity, due primarily to the dynamic nature of the human body, but also due to multipath around the body and from scattering by the environment. This fading can be mitigated by the use of antenna diversity, and gains of up to 10 dB are obtained. Separation of the antenna's performance from the channel characteristics is difficult, but results show that for many channels, an antenna polarized normal to the body's surface gives the best path gain. Simulation and modeling present many challenges, particularly in terms of the problem's scale, and the need for accurate modeling of the body and its movement.

Antennas and propagation for on-body communication systems

This paper reviews the basic concepts of rays, ray tracing algorithms, and radio propagation modeling using ray tracing methods We focus on the fundamental concepts and the development of practical ray tracing algorithms The most recent progress and a future perspective of ray tracing are also discussed We envision propagation modeling in the near future as an intelligent, accurate, and real-time system in which ray tracing plays an important role This review is especially useful for experts who are developing new ray tracing algorithms to enhance modeling accuracy and improve computational speed

Ray Tracing for Radio Propagation Modeling: Principles and Applications

In this paper we provide a thorough and up to date survey of path loss prediction methods, spanning more than 60 years of fairly continuous research. These methods take a variety of approaches to modeling the signal attenuation between wireless transceivers: purely theoretical models, empirically fitted (often statistical) models, deterministic ray-optical models, and measurement-directed methods. Our work here extends and updates excellent, but now dated prior surveys of this important field. We provide a new taxonomy for reasoning about the similarities and differences of the many approaches and provide a brief but complete overview of the various methods as well as describing insights into future directions for research in this area.

A Survey of Wireless Path Loss Prediction and Coverage Mapping Methods

A comprehensive review of the propagation prediction models for terrestrial wireless communication systems is presented in this paper. The classic empirical models are briefly described and the focus is placed on the application of ray-tracing techniques to the development of deterministic propagation models. Schemes to increase the computational efficiency and accuracy are discussed. Traditional statistical models are also briefly reviewed for completeness. New challenges to the propagation prediction are described and some new approaches for meeting these challenges are presented.

Propagation prediction models for wireless communication systems

The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique has become increasingly popular and is being used to model extremely complex and electrically large structures. These simulations are computationally demanding and often exceed available limits on computer resources. In this paper, we present an FDTD sub-gridding technique that allows for increased resolution in regions of interest without increasing the overall computational requirements beyond the available resources. Furthermore, the formulation presented here allows for traversing dielectric boundaries using any integer refinement factor and the maximum Courant number. By allowing the coarse-/fine-grid boundary to traverse dielectric boundaries, numerical simulations that were previously either extremely difficult or impossible to perform are now possible. The technique presented here uses a weighted current value from the coarse region at the boundary between the fine- and coarse-grid regions to update the fine-region tangential fields on that boundary. The weighting function depends on the material properties and the relative position of the fine-region electric field within the current contour at the boundary. The complete formulation of this new technique is described and some results of simulation cases are presented to validate the accuracy and stability of the newly developed FDTD code. Simulations include simple cases where the analytical solution exists and more complex cases, which were impossible to model using a uniform-grid FDTD code. In some simulation examples, computer memory savings as high as 70 times what would have been necessary with a uniform-grid code were achieved. It is shown that errors of less than 2% are achievable with ratios of coarse-to-fine grid sizes exceeding ten. The new technique is expected to be used in simulating many electrically large and complex structures in the biomedical microwave processing of materials and the wireless communications areas.

A new 3D FDTD multigrid technique with dielectric traverse capabilities

A multigrid finite-difference time-domain code was used to calculate specific absorption rate (SAR) distribution in a human head exposed to microwave radiation from handheld antennas. The effect of the human body was taken into account and different antennas and polarization conditions were considered, The distance between the antenna and human head were varied to examine the effect of the human body on the SAR distribution, From the numerical results, it is shown that the human body plays a significant role on the SAR value and its distribution in the head [as high as 53% monopole, 41% planar inverted F antenna (PIFA)]. It is also shown that the effect of the body is more dominant at lower frequencies (monopole 900 MHz versus 1.9 GHz). For the monopole case, effect of body is particularly important at larger separation distances from the head, e.g., at d=4 cm versus d=0.5 cm. Effect of body is particularly important for the vertical orientation cases for both the monopole and PIFA.

Polarization and human body effects on the microwave absorption in a human head exposed to radiation from handheld devices

The design of a new low-cost antenna array with two-dimensional beam-scanning capability is presented in this paper. The design procedure is based on the continuous transverse stub (CTS) technology and the use of ferroelectric material. With the application of a low-loss ferroelectric material barium strontium titanium oxide with 40% oxide III, beam-scan capability from -60/spl deg/ to 60/spl deg/ was achieved. The tradeoffs in selecting the ferroelectric material and between losses and bias voltage in the CTS design were also examined. Furthermore, it was found necessary to adjust the dimensions of the radiating stubs, as well as the connecting sections of the feed waveguide so as to eliminate reflections between the stubs and, hence, maintain the desirable radiation pattern. It is shown that the use of an average height for the feed waveguide will result in deterioration in the radiation pattern.

Zhengqing Yun

Papers

Propagation prediction models for wireless communication systems

A new 3D FDTD multigrid technique with dielectric traverse capabilities

Polarization and human body effects on the microwave absorption in a human head exposed to radiation from handheld devices

Design of a low-cost 2-D beam-steering antenna using ferroelectric material and CTS technology