Measurements and Evaluations of Multi-Element Antennas Based on Limited Channel Samples in a Reverberation Chamber

In this paper, evaluations of diversity gains and capacities of multi-element antenna based on limited channel samples in a reverberation chamber (RC) are studied. It is shown that, for a large antenna array, the classical sample estimation based on finite channel samples tends to underestimate its diversity gain and capacity. An improved (yet slightly more complicated) eigenvalue estimation method is applied in both diversity gain and capacity calculations, which effectively alleviates the estimation bias. The findings of the present paper are applicable for measurements where the maximum independent channel samples per antenna element are limited. Apart from simulations, we also evaluate the performances of the classical and improved eigenvalue estimators based on measurements in a RC. Based on the results of this paper, the performance of the RC measurement (with limited samples) for multi-element antennas can be readily enhanced.

[1]  Catherine A. Remley,et al.  Simulation of a MIMO System in a Reverberation Chamber | NIST , 2011 .

[2]  Aliou Diallo,et al.  Diversity Performance of Multiantenna Systems for UMTS Cellular Phones in Different Propagation Environments , 2008 .

[3]  Per-Simon Kildal,et al.  Correlation and capacity of MIMO systems and mutual coupling, radiation efficiency, and diversity gain of their antennas: simulations and measurements in a reverberation chamber , 2004, IEEE Communications Magazine.

[4]  M. J. Gans,et al.  On Limits of Wireless Communications in a Fading Environment when Using Multiple Antennas , 1998, Wirel. Pers. Commun..

[5]  Qiong Wu,et al.  Reverberation-Chamber Test Environment for Outdoor Urban Wireless Propagation Studies , 2010, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[6]  D. Hill,et al.  On the Use of Reverberation Chambers to Simulate a Rician Radio Environment for the Testing of Wireless Devices , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[7]  Xiaoming Chen.  Robust calculations of maximum ratio combining diversity gains based on stochastic measurements , 2012 .

[8]  Anthony Centeno,et al.  Measurement of Zigbee Wireless Communications in Mode-Stirred and Mode-Tuned Reverberation Chamber , 2011 .

[9]  J. Takada,et al.  Effectiveness of a fading emulator in evaluating the performance of MIMO systems by comparison with a propagation test , 2010, Proceedings of the Fourth European Conference on Antennas and Propagation.

[10]  Xavier Mestre,et al.  Improved Estimation of Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors of Covariance Matrices Using Their Sample Estimates , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory.

[11]  Holger Boche,et al.  Majorization and Matrix-Monotone Functions in Wireless Communications , 2007, Found. Trends Commun. Inf. Theory.

[12]  Kamil Staniec,et al.  ON SIMULATING THE RADIO SIGNAL PROPAGATION IN THE REVERBERATION CHAMBER WITH THE RAY LAUNCHING METHOD , 2011 .

[13]  Juan Francisco Valenzuela Valdés,et al.  Emulation of MIMO rician-fading environments with mode-stirred reverberation chambers , 2011 .

[14]  Theodore S. Rappaport,et al.  Wireless communications - principles and practice , 1996 .

[15]  M. Schwartz,et al.  Communication Systems and Techniques , 1996, IEEE Communications Magazine.

[16]  Theodore S. Rappaport,et al.  Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice (2nd Edition) by , 2012 .

[17]  G. Ferrara,et al.  Characterization of GSM Non-Line-of-Sight Propagation Channels Generated in a Reverberating Chamber by Using Bit Error Rates , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility.

[18]  Zhinong Ying,et al.  Multipath simulator for mobile terminal antenna characterisation , 2010 .

[19]  H. Boche,et al.  On the ergodic capacity as a function of the correlation properties in systems with multiple transmit antennas without CSI at the transmitter , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Communications.

[20]  Charlie Orlenius,et al.  MIMO capacity of antenna arrays evaluated using radio channel measurements, reverberation chamber and radiation patterns , 2007 .

[21]  W. Lee.  Mutual Coupling Effect on Maximum-Ratio Diversity Combiners and Application to Mobile Radio , 1970 .

[22]  Xiaoming Chen,et al.  Estimation of Average Rician K-Factor and Average Mode Bandwidth in Loaded Reverberation Chamber , 2011, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[23]  J. Kostas,et al.  Statistical model for a mode-stirred chamber , 1991 .

[24]  Sergey Loyka,et al.  From Multi-Keyholes to Measure of Correlation and Power Imbalance in MIMO Channels: Outage Capacity Analysis , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory.

[25]  Antonia Maria Tulino,et al.  Random Matrix Theory and Wireless Communications , 2004, Found. Trends Commun. Inf. Theory.

[26]  Jan Carlsson,et al.  Fast Converging Measurement of MRC Diversity Gain in Reverberation Chamber Using Covariance-Eigenvalue Approach , 2011, IEICE Trans. Electron..

[27]  Cyril Decroze,et al.  3GPP Channel Model Emulation with Analysis of MIMO-LTE Performances in Reverberation Chamber , 2012 .

[28]  P. Besnier,et al.  On the $K$ -Factor Estimation for Rician Channel Simulated in Reverberation Chamber , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[29]  D. Lawley.  TESTS OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE LATENT ROOTS OF COVARIANCE AND CORRELATION MATRICES , 1956 .

[30]  Buon Kiong Lau,et al.  Actual Diversity Performance of a Multiband Diversity Antenna With Hand and Head Effects , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.