Performance Evaluation of Spatial Correlation Characteristics for Handset Antennas Using Spatial Fading Emulator Based on Clarke's Model

This paper describes a spatial fading emulator based on Clarke's model that can evaluate spatial correlation characteristics between signals received by handset antennas including human-body effect under emulated multipath propagation environments. The proposed model is composed of scatterers, phase-shifters and attenuators. The scatterers are located at equal intervals on the circumference of a circle. Phase shifters and attenuators in a control circuit are used to control the phase and amplitude of each wave radiated from the scatterers in order to emulate multi-path propagation environments, such as Rayleigh or Nakagami-Rice distribution, to be generated at their center. In this paper, the maximum distance between receiving antennas that could be used to evaluate spatial correlation characteristics between antennas was investigated experimentally. The measurement results show that 15 scatterers with a radius of 1.5m are sufficient to evaluate spatial correlation characteristics within the branch separation of 1.7λ when parallel dipole antennas are used as receiving antennas.

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