volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

In this paper, the architecture of a smart antenna prototype is described and its functionality assessed. The system prototype is composed by an 8-elements linear array of dipoles with a finite reflecting plane and the adaptive behavior is obtained modifying a set of array weights with electronically-driven vector modulators. In order to real-time react to complex interference scenarios, the system is controlled by a software control module based on a Particle Swarm Optimizer. To demonstrate the feasibility and the effectiveness of the proposed implementation, a set of representative results concerned with different interference scenarios is reported and discussed.

1. Alexiou, A. and M. Haardt, "Smart antenna technologies for future wireless systems: Trends and challenges," IEEE Comm. Mag., Vol. 42, 90-97, Sep. 2004.
doi:10.1109/MCOM.2004.1336725 Google Scholar

2. Bellofiore, S., C. A. Balanis, J. Foutz, and A. S. Spanias, "Smart antennas systems for mobile communication networks. Part 1: Overview and antenna design," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., Vol. 44, 145-154, May 2002. Google Scholar

3. Bellofiore, S., J. Foutz, C. A. Balanis, and A. S. Spanias, "Smart antennas systems for mobile communication networks. Part 2: Beamforming and network throughput," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., Vol. 44, 106-114, May 2002. Google Scholar

4. Chryssomallis, M., "Smart antennas," IEEE Antennas Propagat. Mag., Vol. 42, 129-136, Jun. 2000.
doi:10.1109/74.848965 Google Scholar

5. Godara, L. C., "Applications of antenna arrays to mobile communications, Part I: Performance improvement, feasibility, and system considerations," Proc. IEEE, Vol. 85, 1031-1060, Jul. 1997.
doi:10.1109/5.611108 Google Scholar

6. Murch, R. D. and K. B. Letaief, "Antenna systems for broandband wireless access," IEEE Commun. Mag., Vol. 40, 76-83, Apr. 2002.
doi:10.1109/35.995854 Google Scholar

7. Piazza, D., N. J. Kirsh, A. Forenza, R. W. Heath, and K. R. Dandekar, "Design and evaluation of a reconfigurable antenna array for MIMO systems," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., Vol. 56, 869-881, Mar. 2008.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2008.916908 Google Scholar

8. Applebaum, S. P., "Adaptive arrays," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., Vol. 24, 585-598, Sep. 1976.
doi:10.1109/TAP.1976.1141417 Google Scholar

9. Song, C. T. P., A. Mak, B. Wong, D. George, and R. D. Murch, "Compact low cost dual polarized adaptive planar phased array for WLAN," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., Vol. 53, 2406-2416, Aug. 2005.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2005.852294 Google Scholar

10. Migliore, M. D., D. Pinchera, and F. Schettino, "A simple and robust adaptive parasitic antenna," IEEE Antennas Propagat. Mag., Vol. 53, 3262-3272, Oct. 2005. Google Scholar

11. Donelli, M., R. Azaro, L. Fimognari, and A. Massa, "A planar electronically reconfigurable Wi-Fi band antenna based on a parasitic microstrip structure," IEEE Antenna Wireless Propagat. Lett., Vol. 6, 623-626, 2007.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2007.913274 Google Scholar

12. Celik, N., W. Kim, M. F. Demirkol, M. F. Iskander, and R. Emrick, "Implementation and experimental verification of hybrid smart-antenna beamforming algorithm," IEEE Antenna Wireless Propagat. Lett., Vol. 5, 280-283, 2006.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2006.875894 Google Scholar

13. Diop, M., J. F. Diouris, and J. Saillard, "A low-cost experimental adaptive array built in the UHF band (900 MHz) for a minimum response time in interference cancellation," Proc. IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference, 25-28, 1992. Google Scholar

14. Widrow, B., P. E. Mantey, L. J. Griffiths, and B. B. Goode, "Adaptive antenna systems," Proc. IEEE, Vol., Vol. 55, 2143-2159, Dec. 1967.
doi:10.1109/PROC.1967.6092 Google Scholar

15. Haupt, R. L. and H. Southall, "Experimental adaptive cylindrical array," Proc. IEEE Aerospace Conference, 291-296, 1999. Google Scholar

16. Azaro, R., L. Ioriatti, M. Martinelli, M. Benedetti, and A. Massa, "An experimental realization of a fully-adaptive smart antenna," Microw. Opt. Tech. Lett., Vol. 50, No. 6, 1715-1716, Jun. 2008.
doi:10.1002/mop.23459 Google Scholar

17. Benedetti, M., R. Azaro, and A. Massa, "Experimental validation of a fully-adaptive smart antenna prototype," Elect. Lett., Vol. 44, No. 11, 661-662, May 2008.
doi:10.1049/el:20083689 Google Scholar

18. Benedetti, M., R. Azaro, and A. Massa, "Memory enhanced PSO-based optimization approach for smart antennas control in complex interference scenarios," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 56, 1939-1947, Jul. 2008. Google Scholar

19. Weile, D. S. and E. Michielssen, "The control of adaptive antenna arrays with genetic algorithms using dominance and diploidy," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., Vol. 49, 1424-1433, Oct. 2001. Google Scholar

20. Compton, Jr. R. T. and , Adaptive Antennas, Prentice Hall, 1988.

21. Godara, L. C., Smart Antennas, CRC Press, 2004.

22. Donelli, M., R. Azaro, F. De Natale, and A. Massa, "An innovative computational approach based on a particle swarm strategy for adaptive phased-arrays control," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., Vol. 54, 888-898, Mar. 2006.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2006.869912 Google Scholar

23. Chuang, H.-R and L.-C. Kuo, "3-D FDTD design analysis of a 2.4-GHz polarization-diversity printed dipole antenna with integrated balun and polarization switching circuit for WLAN and wireless communication applications," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., Vol. 51, 374-381, Feb. 2003.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2002.807838 Google Scholar

24., Analog Devices, 1.5 GHz to 2.4 GHz RF vector modulator. One Technology Way, MA, 2004. [Online]. Available: www.analog.com/UploadedFiles/Data Sheets/AD8341.pdf.

25. Pozar, D. M., Microwave Engineering, John Wiley, 2005.

26. Benedetti, M., P. Rocca, R. Azaro, and A. Massa, "A fully-adaptive smart antenna prototype: Numerical modeling and experimental validation," Proc. 2008 IEEE AP-S International Symposium, San Diego, CA, USA, Jul. 5-11, 2008. Google Scholar

27. Benedetti, M., G. Oliveri, M. Donelli, P. Rocca, and A. Massa, "Experimental validation of smart antenna system model," Proc. 2009 IEEE AP-S International Symposium, Charleston, SC, USA, Jun. 1-5, 2009. Google Scholar

Dr. Manuel Benedetti

Prof. Giacomo Oliveri

Dr. Paolo Rocca

Prof. Andrea Massa