Reduced Overhead Training for Multi Reconfigurable Antennas with Beam-Tilting Capability

Abstract

This paper proposes low overhead training techniques for a wireless communication system equipped with a Multifunctional Reconfigurable Antenna (MRA) capable of dynamically changing beamwidth and beam directions. A novel microelectromechanical system (MEMS) MRA antenna is presented with radiation patterns (generated using complete electromagnetic full-wave analysis) which are used to quantify the communication link performance gains. In particular, it is shown that using the proposed Exhaustive Training at Reduced Frequency (ETRF) consistently results in a reduction in training overhead. It is also demonstrated that further reduction in training overhead is possible using statistical or MUSIC-based training schemes. Bit Error Rate (BER) and capacity simulations are carried out using an MRA, which can tilt its radiation beam into one of = 4 or 8 directions with variable beamwidth (≈ 2 / ). The performance of each training scheme is quantified for OFDM systems operating in frequency selective channels with and without Line of Sight (LoS). We observe 6 dB of gain at BER = 10 −4 and 6 dB improvement in capacity (at capacity = 6 bits/sec/subcarrier) are achievable for an MRA with = 8 as compared to omni directional antennas using ETRF scheme in a LoS environment.Index Terms-MIMO, MUSIC, training, beam forming, reconfigurable antenna, antenna array, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).

Overview on Multipattern and Multipolarization Antennas for Aerospace and Terrestrial Applications

“…Antennas which alter between omni-directional and directional radiation patterns [3][4][5][6][7][8] or vary the direction from one side to another side [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] are called the beam direction reconfigurable antennas. Beam shape reconfigurable antennas can be achieved by changing the number of beams (multiple beams) [18][19][20][21]. Finally, the gain reconfigurable antennas are able to be realized by changing the shape of beam's main lobe and side lobe [22][23][24].…”

A Parasitic Layer-Based Reconfigurable Antenna Design by Multi-Objective Optimization

“…With no voltage applied the pixels are disconnected. The DC control voltages are applied to the switches via highly-resistive bias lines made out of Tantalum Nitrite (TaN) with a sheet resistance of approximately 10 and a typical absolute resistance of 600 . The highly resistive property of the TaN bias lines is advantageous in avoiding any deleterious coupling effect of the EM energy on the pixels.…”

“…11(c). For circular polarization, function is given in (10), whereas, for the linear polarization the complement of (10) is used (11) Corresponding to three directions of arrival and two polarization types , six optimization problems are defined. These optimization problems are solved with GA parameters listed in Table I.…”

Design of Frequency- and Pattern-Reconfigurable Wideband Slot Antenna

“…Frequency-reconfigurable antennas allow frequency hopping and dynamic spectrum allocation [1], while patternreconfigurable antennas can filter in-band interference and increase the channel capacity [2,3]. A number of reconfigurable antennas have been reported.…”