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.     

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.     

Design and performance analysis of side by side,echelon and H‐shaped multiple printed dipole antennas for wireless local area network application

An array of printed dipole antennas for wireless local area network applications is designed and simulated using ads software. In MIMO system, numbers of antenna elements are used in different configuration. This paper presents the simulated results of printed dipole antennas in side by side 4‐element array, echelon and H‐shaped dipole array configurations. The designed antenna is characterized by measuring return loss, radiation pattern, directivity, and gain and also presented the simulated capacity results of different array configurations. The mutual coupling between the dipoles of different orientations is included to make simulation more realistic. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of a Multiple HAP System Employing Multiple Polarization

In this paper we address the potential gain of using compact MIMO antenna array configurations in conjunction with HAP (High Altitude Platforms) diversity techniques in order to increase the data rates in HAP communication systems. We will also investigate the effects of spatial correlation and mutual coupling between the separate antenna elements on system performance. Simulation results show that although the capacity is degraded by correlation and mutual coupling, we still achieve significant capacity gain compared to the single HAP case. In addition, we evaluate the performance of the system for different separation angles between HAPs, and determine the optimal separation angle that maximizes the total capacity of the system.     

Complete RF system model for analysis of compact MIMO arrays

A framework to analyze compact arrays for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) is presented. Many handheld devices require very compact arrays. Small spacings between the antennas lead to mutual coupling, which decreases the efficiency of the antennas and therefor the signal-to-noise ratio and leads to correlated signals at the antennas. Both effects are completely taken into account in this framework; thus, it allows for a fair comparison of different antenna arrays for MIMO. It is distinguished between MIMO systems for multiplex transmission or pure beamforming, which have different requirements for the antennas. Different compact array configurations, which exploit spatial, polarization, and pattern diversity, are discussed and compared. For practical purposes, it is also shown how to connect this framework to standard path-based channel models.     

Correlation and channel capacity of MIMO systems employing multimode antennas

A novel way of exploiting higher modes of antennas as diversity branches in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems is introduced. Essentially, antennas employing multiple modes offer characteristics similar to an antenna array, through multiple modes and using only a single element. The physical mechanism that yields different received signals is the fact that each mode has a different radiation pattern. Analytical expressions for the correlation between signals received by different modes are presented for a biconical and a circular microstrip antenna that employs higher order modes. It is found that the correlation is low enough to yield a significant diversity gain. Furthermore, the channel capacity of a MIMO system using a multimode antenna, i.e., an antenna employing multiple modes, is found to be comparable to the capacity of an array. Since only one element is needed, the multimode antenna offers several advantages over traditional arrays, and is an interesting antenna solution for future high capacity MIMO systems.     

On the available diversity gain from different dual-polarizedantennas

Dual-polarized antennas are traditionally characterized in terms of port-to-port isolation and co- and cross-polar radiation patterns. For base station antennas in a mobile communications system, the critical parameter is instead the far-field coupling between the two channels. In a mobile communication system, base station antennas with a nominal ±45° to vertical linear polarization are commonly used. Such antennas are difficult to design with constant polarization characteristics in azimuth. We calculate the antenna output power correlation and diversity gain under Rayleigh fading conditions and different values of the environment cross-polar discrimination. Two different antennas are compared: a dual-polarized aperture coupled patch and a slanted dipole configuration, both over an infinite groundplane. We show that the aperture coupled patch provides lower output correlation and higher diversity gain than the slanted dipoles in all investigated cases     

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.     

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。     

Some results and insights on the performance gains of MIMO systems

Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems generally fall into two categories, depending on the kind of gain they provide: spatial multiplexing (SM) methods yield capacity gain and diversity methods yield link quality gain [measured here by the post-processing signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)]. We consider a set of systems from each category, quantify their gains analytically or via simulations, and show how these gains vary with the receiver input SNR and the numbers of antennas. The contribution of this work resides in both the closed-form analytical results and the numerical comparisons. We both highlight the benefits of using additional transmit antennas and provide comparisons among diversity-based and SM-based MIMO schemes. The analytical results are for a diversity-based scheme that combines selection diversity at the transmit side with maximum ratio combining (MRC) at the receive side, which we show to upper bound the SNR performance of other diversity-based schemes. We find that, for practical system parameters, the relevant SNR metric is 6-12 dB higher for the diversity-based schemes than for SM-based schemes. At the same time, SM-based schemes yield capacity metrics which range from 30% higher to double that of diversity-based schemes.     

Capacity of multiple-antenna fading channels: spatial fading correlation, double scattering, and keyhole

The capacity of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless channels is limited by both the spatial fading correlation and rank deficiency of the channel. While spatial fading correlation reduces the diversity gains, rank deficiency due to double scattering or keyhole effects decreases the spatial multiplexing gains of multiple-antenna channels. In this paper, taking into account realistic propagation environments in the presence of spatial fading correlation, double scattering, and keyhole effects, we analyze the ergodic (or mean) MIMO capacity for an arbitrary finite number of transmit and receive antennas. We assume that the channel is unknown at the transmitter and perfectly known at the receiver so that equal power is allocated to each of the transmit antennas. Using some statistical properties of complex random matrices such as Gaussian matrices, Wishart (1928) matrices, and quadratic forms in the Gaussian matrix, we present a closed-form expression for the ergodic capacity of independent Rayleigh-fading MIMO channels and a tight upper bound for spatially correlated/double scattering MIMO channels. We also derive a closed-form capacity formula for keyhole MIMO channels. This analytic formula explicitly shows that the use of multiple antennas in keyhole channels only offers the diversity advantage, but provides no spatial multiplexing gains. Numerical results demonstrate the accuracy of our analytical expressions and the tightness of upper bounds.     

Radiation patterns and correlation of closely spaced linear antennas

A simple point source analysis is used to prove that, in theory, completely decorrelated reception can be achieved from two linear antennas with an arbitrarily small spacing. The conditions necessary to achieve this are consistent with two high gain (superdirective) beams in opposite directions. It is shown that the horizontal radiation patterns and correlation coefficient of arrays of vertically orientated linear antennas can be found via an exact relation to simple, point-source theory that includes the effects of mutual coupling. This theory leads to practically achievable optimum diversity designs at closer spacings than previously thought possible. The theory is illustrated for a dual antenna configuration and can be extended to multiple antennas.     

Diversity characteristics of four-element ring slot-based MIMO antenna for sub-6-GHz applications

This paper proposes four-ring slot resonator-based MIMO antennas of 75 × 150 mm² without and with CSRR structures in the sub-6-GHz range. These orthogonal-fed antennas have shown diverse characteristics with dual polarization. L-shaped parasitic structures have increased the isolation (i.e., >40 dB) in the single-element antenna over the band of 3.4 GHz–3.8 GHz. A set of three CSRR structures in the MIMO antenna reduced the coupling between antenna ports placed in an inline arrangement and enhanced the isolation from 12 dB to 20 dB and the diversity characteristics. The S-parameters of both MIMO antennas are measured and used to evaluate MIMO parameters like ECC, TARC, MEG, and channel capacity loss. The simulation results show the variations in the gain and directivity on exciting linear and dual polarizations. The diversity performance of the reported MIMO antennas is suitable for 5G applications.     

基于天线互耦影响的大规模MIMO TDD系统信道互易性校准算法

射频器件的非理想性和信道的时变特性影响大规模多输入多输出（multiple-input multiple-output，MIMO）系统时分双工（time division duplex，TDD）模式的信道互易性，天线阵列的耦合效应影响信道矩阵的相关性.文中提出一种基于互耦影响的大规模MIMO互易性联合校准算法，将天线之间的互耦效应引入信道矩阵，采用OTA（over-the-air）校准算法和基于自回归（auto-regression，AR）模型预测信道矩阵相结合的方案实现同时校准射频非理想性和信道时变特性引起的互易性损失.仿真结果表明，该算法能够提高系统容量，降低误码率，有效地补偿互易性损失.本文算法可以为大规模MIMO系统的多因素联合校准提供参考.     

Body-Worn Distributed MIMO System

In this paper, we analyze the performance of novel wearable multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems, which consist of multiple electrotextile wearable antennas distributed at different locations on human clothing. For wearable applications, a semidirectional radiation pattern of the wearable patch antenna is preferred over an omnidirectional radiation of conventional dipole antennas to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure to the human body and radiation losses. Additionally, the spatial distribution of the antennas is not constrained as a typical handheld unit. Through theoretical modeling and simulation, the wearable MIMO system is shown to demonstrate a significantly higher channel capacity than a conventional system on a handheld platform (e.g., a compact dipole array or a single dipole), due to enhanced spatial diversity and antenna pattern diversity. The unique effects of antenna directivity and location on the MIMO system capacity are investigated in terms of antenna correlation and effective gain under different wireless channel models. The advantage of a wearable system over a conventional system was further confirmed by detailed physical modeling through the combination of full-wave electromagnetic and ray-tracing simulations. Finally, complex channel response matrices were measured to characterize the performance of a body-worn MIMO system in comparison with a reference full-size dipole antenna. The 319% improvement in 10% outage capacity for the body-worn system over the reference system made of a full-size dipole antenna is consistent with the 288% improvement projected by theoretical modeling and the average 300% improvement found in the physical simulation of two typical indoor scenarios.     

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.     

Adaptive antennas for space-time codes in outdoor channels

Space-time codes have been introduced to improve mobile system performance in a multipath fading environment. We consider a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system with m mobile antennas and n base station antennas, in which there are L multipaths at the base station at distinct angles of arrival. We show that when the channel has no intersymbol interference (ISI), then adaptive antennas in the form of beamforming, can be combined with space-time coding, to achieve a diversity gain of mL and a large signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain whenever n/spl ges/L. When the channel has ISI, beamforming can be used by the MIMO systems to achieve an SNR gain over a single-input multiple-output system, although both systems have the same diversity gain.     

Multiple-antenna channel hardening and its implications for rate feedback and scheduling

Wireless data traffic is expected to grow over the next few years and the technologies that will provide data services are still being debated. One possibility is to use multiple antennas at base stations and terminals to get very high spectral efficiencies in rich scattering environments. Such multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) channels can then be used in conjunction with scheduling and rate-feedback algorithms to further increase channel throughput. This paper provides an analysis of the expected gains due to scheduling and bits needed for rate feedback. Our analysis requires an accurate approximation of the distribution of the MIMO channel mutual information. Because the exact distribution of the mutual information in a Rayleigh-fading environment is difficult to analyze, we prove a central limit theorem for MIMO channels with a large number of antennas. While the growth in average mutual information (capacity) of a MIMO channel with the number of antennas is well understood, it turns out that the variance of the mutual information can grow very slowly or even shrink as the number of antennas grows. We discuss implications of this "channel-hardening" result for data and voice services, scheduling, and rate feedback. We also briefly discuss the implications when shadow fading effects are included.     

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。     

A Novel Numerical Model for Simulating Three Dimensional MIMO Channels With Complex Antenna Arrays

We develop a novel three-dimensional (3D) numerical model for rigorously simulating mutual coupling effects on the channel capacity of the multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems. In this model, the efficient integral equation method mutlilevel Green's function interpolation method (MLGFIM) is for the first time employed to calculate the input admittances and radiation patterns of the transmit and receive antennas of MIMOs. Comparing with the Method of Moments whose complexity is $O(N^{2})$ , MLGFIM has an efficiency of $O(Nlog N)$ and is suitable for efficiently solving antenna arrays problems. To accurately model the EM wave propagation, we 1) use the ray tracing method to obtain the multi-paths and 2) rigorously obtain the dyadic path loss factor model from which a novel stochastic path loss model that is flexible for both the environments with PEC walls and that with infinite thick lossless dielectric walls is devised. Using the proposed model, we successfully analyze mutual coupling effects on the 3D correlation of a 2-by-2 monopole array and the indoor channel capacity of a 20-by-20 planar array and a 20-by-20 icosahedron array. The numerical examples in this paper demonstrate the efficiency of our model for simulating the MIMO system with complex radiators.