Correlation and capacity of MIMO systems and mutual coupling, radiation efficiency, and diversity gain of their antennas: simulations and measurements in a reverberation chamber

MIMO systems are characterized by their maximum available capacity, which is reduced if there is correlation between the signals on different channels. The correlation is primarily caused by mutual coupling between the elements of the antenna arrays on both the receiving and transmitting sides. Similarly, diversity antennas can be characterized by a diversity gain that also is affected by mutual coupling between the antennas. We explain how such MIMO and diversity antennas with mutual coupling can be analyzed by classical embedded element patterns that can be computed by standard computer codes. In the MIMO example under investigation, the mutual coupling reduces both correlation, which increases the capacity, and radiation efficiency, which decreases it, and the combined effect is a net capacity reduction. We also explain how the radiation efficiency, diversity gain, correlation, and channel capacity can be measured in a reverberation chamber. The measurements show good agreement with simulations.     

天线匹配对莱斯信道下紧凑MIMO系统性能的影响

深入研究了存在天线互耦和空间相关时,天线匹配网络对莱斯信道下多输入多输出MIMO系统性能的影响,建立了包含相关莱斯信道、天线互耦和匹配网络的(MIMO)系统模型.通过仿真分析了匹配阻抗、天线互耦、空间相关性以及信道衰落环境对包络相关性和信道容量的影响.实验结果表明:莱斯信道下匹配阻抗对MIMO系统的影响与瑞利信道情况下有所不同,适当地选择天线匹配阻抗可以改善MIMO系统的性能.     

Impact of Antenna Coupling on 2 × 2 MIMO Communications

The impact of mutual coupling induced by two closely spaced minimum scattering antennas at the subscriber unit on 2 times 2 multiple-input multiple-output channels and communications is investigated. Both (de)correlation effects and variations of antenna gain resulting from coupling mechanisms are considered. Relationships between coupling and correlations/channel Frobenius norm are discussed, pointing out the role of the interelement spacing, the array orientation, and the richness of scattering. The analysis also yields useful insight into the influence of mutual coupling on capacity and system performance     

互耦效应对超大规模MIMO天线系统信道容量的影响

超大规模多输入多输出(Multiple-Input Multiple-Output,MIMO)天线系统是6G的关键技术,由于天线单元间距很小,多个天线单元的互耦效应是影响其性能的因素之一。建立了基于石墨烯基贴片天线阵列-子阵列架构的超大规模MIMO天线系统,推导出了互耦效应影响下的信道容量表达式。通过电磁场数值计算仿真了超大规模MIMO天线系统的信道容量,结果表明,在不考虑互耦效应时,超大规模MIMO天线系统的信道容量与子阵列天线单元数、子阵列数以及发射机功率正相关;在互耦效应的影响下,系统的信道容量降低,互耦效应的强弱与子阵列天线单元的间距有关,天线单元间间距越小,相邻天线间的互耦效应越明显,系统的信道容量越小。该仿真结果可以为6G中超大规模MIMO天线系统的设计提供参考。     

Mutual coupling in multi-element array antennas and its influence on MIMO channel capacity

The effects of mutual coupling between receive elements in a multi-element antenna on multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system capacity are reported. The results are based upon analysis of mutual coupling calculated for a measured linear array of five printed dipole elements with 0.56 of a wavelength spacing. It is shown that the presence of mutual coupling at the receive array antenna leads to additional correlation between spatial channels and results in a loss of MIMO system capacity.     

一种小型化的高隔离度UWB-MIMO天线

提出了一种紧凑、高性能、形状新颖的具有高隔离度的超宽带多输入多输出(ultra-wideband multiple-input multiple-output, UWB-MIMO)天线.天线由两个圆形辐射元件组成,享有共同的类F形接地平面,尺寸为30 mm×18 mm.在天线的接地平面中引入类F形短截线,在MIMO天线元件之间产生高度隔离.所设计的UWB-MIMO天线具有极低耦合(S₂₁<-22 dB)、低包络相关系数(ECC<0.003)、高分集增益(DG>9.98 dB),适用于便携式通信设备.     

Dynamics of spatial correlation and implications on MIMO systems

The use of multiple antennas has found various applications in the area of wireless communications. One such application has recently become very popular and is referred to as the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system. The main idea behind MIMO is to establish independent parallel channels between multiple transmit and receive antennas. Each channel uses the same frequency, and the transmissions occur simultaneously. In such a configuration, the amount of data transmitted increases linearly with the number of parallel channels, which is what makes MIMO so popular in the wireless world. The enormous capacity offered by MIMO systems is not realizable when the parallel channels are highly correlated. The goal of this article is to highlight the correlation concept and its impact on MIMO systems. Although correlation can be defined in many dimensions, here we focus on spatial correlation, and specifically consider antenna correlations in mobile units. We provide an overview of spatial correlation and present its underlying parameters in detail. Special attention is given to mutual coupling since it has signal decorrelation and antenna gain reduction effects. We then present how correlation in a MIMO system affects the amount of data that can be transmitted (MIMO capacity) and briefly review how power should be distributed with the knowledge of correlation. Analyses indicate that in real propagation environments, the high capacity gain of MIMO systems can be realized with improved antenna selection algorithms and power allocation strategies.     

Effect of Signal and Noise Mutual Coupling on MIMO Channel Capacity

In this paper we analyze the impact of mutual coupling on MIMO channel capacity, considering its effect on both signal and thermal noise. We calculate noise correlation matrix in the multi-antenna system with closely spaced antenna by applying Nyquist’s thermal noise theorem. Then, we employ the noise correlation matrix in the channel capacity formula, which enables the identification of thermal noise correlation contribution on the MIMO channel capacity. In addition, we examine the variations in the mean branch signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) due to the noise correlation. Our simulation results corroborate the theoretical analysis that mean and outage MIMO channel capacity is underestimated if noise correlation due to mutual coupling effect is not accounted for.     

X型极化分集系统中天线互耦效应分析

极化分集系统的分集增益性能受天线阵元间互耦因素的影响很大。为了探究存在互耦效应时天线分集增益与阵列夹角之间的关系,首先基于天线基本理论,推导出X型极化分集阵列互耦阻抗、空域相关性以及平均功率比等参数的显性数学表达式,并据此详细研究存在阵列耦合时,X型极化分集系统分集增益性能随阵列排布夹角而改变的变化趋势。理论分析与计算机数值仿真结果皆表明:引入阵列互耦效应后,X型极化分集阵列的分集增益性能优于不计互耦效应时的阵元夹角范围,将随着交叉极化鉴别度的增大而增大。鉴于实际通信环境大多处于较高交叉极化鉴别度值的情形,故此研究结果可为多输入多输出(MIMO)系统小型化设计提供重要的理论及数值分析参考。     

Experimental Study on the Capacity of Compact MIMO Antennas for Portable Terminals

This paper presents the relationship between antenna structures and the performance of two kinds of compact MIMO antennas in order to find critical factors that affect the capacity of MIMO systems. The relationship between the channel capacity and some factors (antenna efficiency, mutual coupling, correlation) are analyzed based on experimental data under indoor Rayleigh fading environment. Antenna elements mounted in two different configurations (common and separated ground plane) with antenna spacing varying, were investigated at the frequency of 2.6 GHz band experimentally. The good characteristics in the case of separated ground plane show that the proposed antennas, even with small spacing, can still achieve high capacity to combat multipath fading and deliver higher data rates. It demonstrates that multiple antennas could be mounted onto small terminal devices without much loss of capacity. It is also found that mutual coupling has positive impact which could reduce channel correlation; negative effect which could degrade antenna efficiency. In the indoor multipath-rich environment, the negative effect is dominant.     

Performance analysis of compact MIMO system based on network theory

The impact of mutual coupling on the performance of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with compact antenna arrays is analyzed. This article aims to use the 5-parameter modeling approach to examine the impact of mutual coupling on three system-related performance measures: antenna correlation, efficiency and bandwidth. It is shown that implementing a good matching network can drastically improve the system performance in the presence of strong mutual coupling. Experiment results indicate the superiority of cross-shaped antenna to dipole antenna.     

一种应用于无线通信系统的MIMO天线

MIMO系统是通过不同的分集技术,以实现在相同带宽和发射功率的条件下大幅改善系统容量和可靠性,减小信道失真。作为系统关键模块之一的天线,则要求有着好的分集特性,并接收较多的这波。这里提出的MIMO天线工作在2．4GHz,天线单元是等边三角形贴片天线。三角形天线的宽波瓣可以使MIMO天线接收更丰富的多径这波,与天线单元的高增益相结合能较好改善MIMO系统的SNR和抗干扰能力。通过对天线端口间的互耦和相关性分析,该系统能实现好的极化和方向图分集,获得高的分集增益。     

CLIP antenna for wireless bluetooth applications

In this paper, a novel design for a coplanar waveguide antenna is developed that consists of two U-shaped slots. The antenna is named CLIP. The antenna was designed for a central frequency of 2.4 GHz, with an input impedance of 50 /spl Omega/. The antenna dimensions represent a 72% size reduction compared to a conventional microstrip rectangular-patch antenna. The measured antenna bandwidth was about 11%, while its gain was about 17 dB. These values are fairly acceptable in all wireless communication systems. The antenna configuration has a bidirectional radiation pattern, while a unidirectional radiation pattern was achieved by using a /spl lambda//sub 0//4 reflector with a metal plate. A 2/spl times/2 multi-element sub array was implemented to widen the application area. The mutual coupling between adjacent elements was low. Orthogonal-plane coupling between adjacent elements was introduced to increase the reduction in the mutual coupling. The mutual coupling level was reduced to less than -23 dB in all coupling planes. The CLIP antenna element and arrays were fabricated. Experimental measurements showed very good performance, which agreed well with simulation results.     

三维空间MIMO信道接收天线阵列互耦效应及系统容量分析

针对非频率选择性瑞利衰落MIMO(multiple-input multiple-output)信道,建立了接收天线阵列的三维空间信道模型,将MIMO的一般信道建模推广到三维空间域。在建模过程中利用天线阵列在互耦效应下的等效网络模型,推导出三维空间域模型下的互耦相关性的通用表达式,阐明了互耦效应下相关性与无互耦相关性之间的关系。应用通用表达式分析了当接收端为不同的天线阵列结构时,入射信号的中心到达角和角度扩展分别对于在互耦效应下信道容量的影响。分析结果验证了不同的角度扩展对于互耦相关性的影响,揭示了在互耦效应下影响系统容量的主要因素为入射信号的平均中心到达角。     

几种多天线系统的信道容量比较

分布式天线、智能天线和扇区天线是三种能大大提高无线通信系统容量的技术,本文比较了这三种多天线系统的信道(Shannon)容量.假设每个用户在所有接收天线上的总功率相等,分析表明分布式天线和扇区天线的信道容量远大于智能天线的信道容量,而传统的观点认为智能天线在抑制干扰时要比扇区天线的性能更好,从而获得更大的系统容量.另外我们分析了分布式天线在渐近条件下的信道容量,即用户数K和载波数M都趋近无穷大,而保证α=K/M一定.分析表明在α较大时,分布式天线与比扇区天线的信道容量差趋近常数0.44比特/秒/维,但是如果考虑分布式天线的分集增益,那么分布式天线的信道容量要远大于扇区天线.     

Electromagnetic considerations for communicating on correlated MIMO channels with covariance information

Previous results for correlated block-fading MIMO channels with covariance information indicate guaranteed capacity growth with additional transmit elements and that in rapidly fading channels, vanishing element spacing maximizes capacity. However, because prior analysis neglects antenna electromagnetic coupling, the observations are not necessarily valid for small inter-element spacing. This work applies radiated power considerations to the analysis to demonstrate that additional elements do not always increase capacity and that vanishing element spacing is not optimal. An effective gain metric is introduced that quantifies the performance increase with additional transmitters in the presence of transmit correlation and mutual coupling. Performance simulations using the electromagnetic properties of uniform linear arrays characterized by closed form expressions for Hertzian dipoles and detailed finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations of half-wave dipoles illustrate that capacity gains arc possible when correlation stems from directional bias in the channel but not when it arises due to compact element spacing.     

Dual‐polarized MIMO antenna system for WiFi and LTE wireless access point applications

In this paper, a dual‐polarized multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna system suitable for indoor wireless access point is proposed. The presented MIMO antenna system consists of two coplanar‐waveguide‐fed monopole antennas with orthogonally polarized modes. According to the closely spaced structure of the MIMO antenna system, the mutual coupling between the ports is a big challenge. Therefore, a new structure of parasitic element is introduced in order to improve the mutual coupling between the ports. For the purpose of validating the simulated results, the antenna prototype has been fabricated and measured; the comparison of the results shows that there is an acceptable agreement between the measurement and simulation results. The proposed design covers the frequency bands of WiFi (2.4 GHz), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (2.3 and 2.5 GHz), and Long‐Term Evolution (LTE; 1.5 and 2.6 GHz) applications with a reflection coefficient less than −10 dB and a mutual coupling coefficient better than −15 dB. The MIMO antenna system provides an envelope correlation coefficient less than 0.15, polarization diversity gain more than 9.985 dB, and quasi‐omnidirectional pattern within the expected frequency band. In addition, LTE downlink throughput measurements show that the proposed antenna system delivers data rates close to the theoretical maximum for quadrature phase shift keying, 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and 64‐QAM modulations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Genetic Algorithm Based MIMO Capacity Enhancement in Spatially Correlated Channels Including Mutual Coupling

Higher system capacities can be achieved if multiple antennas are used on both sides of the wireless link, thus creating a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system. In this work, the maximization of MIMO system capacity in Rayleigh fading, spatially correlated channels involving practical antenna arrays is challenged through inter-element spacing optimization. The system capacity is evaluated using a proposed formula that takes into account both antenna mutual coupling and signal correlation. Capacity values turn out to outperform the ones obtained considering the conventional antenna array geometries.     

Receive antenna selection for closely-spaced antennas with mutual coupling

We investigate the achievable rate of receive antenna selection MIMO systems in the presence of mutual coupling and spatial correlation. For that, we assume the antenna array to consist of dipole antennas placed side-by-side in a linear pattern and in a very limited physical space. In a first step, we will assume perfect channel state information at the receiver side only and a negligible training overhead compared with the payload. We will demonstrate that in contrast to what might be expected based on results for cases without mutual coupling, MIMO receive antenna selection can achieve higher data rates than the system using all antennas provided that the total number of receive antennas is larger than a critical value that we will further discuss. We then propose an optimal antenna selection processing that ensures rate maximization regardless of the number of antennas used. In a later step, we will address the impact of training overhead on the system achievable rate when the training overhead is considerable. We will show that such a rate is reduced dramatically due to the large amount of training overhead arising from the presence of mutual coupling. To overcome this problem, we will thus propose a novel channel estimation method, which reduces the training overhead greatly and improves the system achievable rate performance.     

Triangular quad-port multi-polarized UWB MIMO antenna with enhanced isolation using neutralization ring

In this study, a quad-port multi-polarized ultra-wideband (UWB) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna system with a new isolation technique is designed for wireless devices. The antenna structure consists of four triangular monopole elements and neutralization ring (NR) structures. The monopoles are back-to-back positioned in symmetrical and orthogonal arrangement. Therefore, they radiate towards four directions without interference, and thus the diversity performance is improved. A novel NR is formed by combining a rectangular ring and a straight line to reduce the mutual coupling due to interoperation of the elements. Each triangular monopole is fed by 50 Ohm microstrip transmission line (MTL) with a thin strip line for ensuring impedance matching. Antenna performance in terms of impedance bandwidth, current distribution, radiation pattern, peak gain and envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) is also investigated. The MIMO antenna system has 3.1–17.3 GHz impedance bandwidth, 1–5 dBi peak gain variation, less than 0.1 ECC. The results indicate that the proposed antenna has the characteristics of larger UWB bandwidth, high isolation by the NR structure, multi-polarization, uniform gain and quasi-omnidirectional pattern.