Performance and capacity analysis of 60 GHz WPAN channel

Abstract

AbstractIn this work, the performance and capacity of both 60 GHz ultrawide‐band (UWB) and multiple‐in multiple‐out (MIMO) channels are analyzed based on experimental channel models and specifications for millimeter‐wave wireless personal area networks (WPANs). In the analysis of 60 GHz UWB channel, the radio link budget is estimated by applying two experimental channel models where blocking effect is considered and fading margin (FM) is modeled as a function of channel bandwidth. Results show that high gain antennas are required in 60 GHz UWB channel. The high gain antenna systems suffer from poor flexibility and the directional signals can be easily blocked in multipath indoor environments. This indicates that gigabit communications is quite difficult in 60 GHz UWB channel. To overcome this problem, adaptive antenna arrays (or MIMO systems) are required as they can search and direct the available signals to improve radio link budget. The 60‐GHz MIMO channel capacity is analyzed by modeling FM as a function of number of antenna elements. The proposed NLOS channel model is employed in rich scattering or multipath environments for achieving high capacity in MIMO channel. Tests were also performed for determining gigabit data rate, operation range and configuration in the 60‐GHz MIMO case. The goal of this study is to provide useful information for the design of future 60 GHz WPAN systems. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 2671–2675, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24698