SRANT Lab.

, Korea Maritime University

A Study on Improved Algorithm for
MIMO Antenna Measurement
Thanh-Ngon Tran


Supervisor: Professor Kyeong-Sik Min
SRANT Laboratory, Korea Maritime University
November, 2006
Master Thesis
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 2
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Algorithm of antenna measurement
software with noise reduction
Chapter 3: Measurement of key parameters of
MIMO antenna
Chapter 4: Design of multi-band MIMO test-bed
Chapter 5: Conclusion

SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 3
Introduction (1)
Cordless phone
Voice
Wireless LAN
High Data rate
Home/office systems
Multi-media
Voice/Data
Mobile phone
Single
Antenna
Single
Antenna
Single/Multiple
Antenna
Multiple
Antenna
Antenna development vs.
Antenna measurement
system
Chapter 1
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 4
Introduction (2) The goal and limitation
The goal: Develop measurement software & system
for MIMO antenna & channel measurement.
Apply the
improved mea.
software for
MIMO ant. mea.
Improve
single antenna
measurement
software
Design 22
MIMO testbed
for MIMO
measurement
Future
works
Diversities,
Correlation,
Mutual Coupling
Gain,
2D/3D pattern,
Polarization,
w/ Filter algorithm
Direct up/down
converters,
Software structure
and algorithm
MIMO
antenna and
channel
characterizat
ion
(1) (2) (3) ()
Steps:
Chapter 1
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 5
Single antenna measurement system
EL-AZ
Positioner
Positioner
Controller
Microwave
Receiver
CW Signal
Generator
Directional
Coupler
Frequency
Converter
Polarization
Positioner
Computer
Linear
Polarization
Antenna
Antenna
Under
Test
GPIB GPIB
Microwave
Amplifier
Chapter 2
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 6
Previous Software vs. New Software
There are two
independent programs
Gain
Radiation Pattern
This program is not
divided in specific
functions
Simple structure
When there are
changes, whole
program have to be
changed
Chapter 2
Ref.: Young-Hwan Park, A study on construction of antenna measurement
environment, Master Thesis, Korea Maritime University, Feb. 2005
The program can be modified easily when equipment is changed.
4 measurement functions: gain, 2D and 3D pattern, polarization.
New algorithm for noise reduction
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 7
Software algorithm
Chapter 2
Layer 4
Graphic user
interface
Layer 3
Data processing
Layer 2
Equipment
interface
Layer 1
GPIB interface of
computer (DLL)
Layer 1
GPIB interface of
Equipment
Equipment
processor
GPIB
Equipment
Commands
Command sets
in text file
Software structure
Enter measurement
parameters (layer 4)
Start measurement
Process input parameters
(layer 3)
Send commands to
equipments and receive
data (layer 2&1)
Process measurement data
(layer 3)
Display data (layer 4)
End
Software flowchart
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 8
TX-RX Antenna in anechoic chamber
TX Ant
AUT
4m
Chapter 2
For experimental
measurement:
TX Ant.: Horn antenna, 1-
18 GHz
RX Ant.: Helical antenna,
~ 3 GHz
Distance: ~4 meter
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 9
Measurement Results with filter algorithm
Original Signal (pattern)
Measured by conventional
measurement system
Filtered Signal (pattern)
Measured and processed real-time
by noise reduction algorithm
Chapter 2
-100
-95
-90
-85
-80
-75
-70
-65
-60
-55
-50
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Angle (degree)
P
o
w
e
r

L
e
v
e
l

(
d
B
)
Time 1
Time 2
-100
-95
-90
-85
-80
-75
-70
-65
-60
-55
-50
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Angle (degree)
P
o
w
e
r

L
e
v
e
l

(
d
B
)
Signal
processing
algorithm
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 10
Noise Reduction Algorithm
Combination of time and space mean filter
Noise in measurement system is Additive White
Gaussian Noise (AWGN)
Mean filter is suitable for removing AWGN
d[j-1]
d[j-W/2]
d[j]
d[j+1]
d[j+W/2]
Angle
[degree]
Power
[dB]
Space Mean Filter
Time Mean Filter

+
=
= '
2
2
] [
1
] [
W
i
W
i j
j d
W
i D

=
= '
N
j
j
t i d
N
i D
1
] , [
1
] [
d[i-1]
d[i, tj]
d[i+1]
Angle
[degree]
Power
[dB]
d[i, tj+1]
Time
[ms]
d[i, tj+1]
d[i, tj+N]
] , [ ] , [ ] , [
j j j
t i n t i D t i d + =
Measured
Power
Expected
Power
Noise
Chapter 2
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 11
MIMO antenna measurement
Metal box, PDA-size with 4 IFA antennas
(PDA: Personal Data Assistant)
(a) Front view (b) Inside view
Measure and
evaluate:
Diversities: pattern,
polarization.
Pattern correlation.
Mutual coupling.
Chapter 3
#1
#2
#3
#4
z
y
x
This EUT is chosen
because it is:
One of MIMO appli-
cation.
Elements have differ-
ent polarization, pattern,
gain, coupling
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 12
Pattern (gain) diversity
Chapter 3
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
Element #1
Element #2
Element #3
Element #4
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
Element #1
Element #2
Element #3
Element #4
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
Element #1
Element #2
Element #3
Element #4
Gain of antenna elements
on x-y plane

Gain of antenna elements
on x-z plane

Gain of antenna elements
on y-z plane

x
y
z
x
z
y
#4 is the best choice #3 is the best choice #1 is the best choice
#2 is the
best choice
Maximum gain of EUT antenna elements on three planes is about 6 dBi (y-z plane).
In any direction, there is at least one element with high gain. Difference between the
highest and lowest gain is higher than 3 dB at any direction.
Conclusion: This difference of gain pattern shows good gain diversity.
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 13
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
E-theta
E-phi
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
E-theta
E-phi
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
E-theta
E-phi
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
E-theta
E-phi
Polarization diversity
Chapter 3
Element #1 and #4: linear horizontal polarization.
Element #2 and #3: linear vertical polarization.
Conclusion: Good the polarization diversity.
Element #1, x-z plane
XPD = 22dB @ 178
o
Element #4, x-z plane
XPD = 20dB @ 183
o
Element #2, x-y plane
XPD = 20dB @ 89
o
Element #3, x-y plane
XPD = 20dB @ 268
o
| | | | dB cross dB co
cross
co
E E
E
E
XPD = = log 20 E
co
and E
cross
are
co-polarization and
cross-polarization
components of E-
field, respectively.
x
y z
x
x
y
z
x
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 14
Pattern Correlation
Elements
x-y plane x-z plane y-z plane x-y plane x-z plane y-z plane
#1 and #2 0.103 0.426 0.022 0.331 0.222 0.175
#1 and #3 0.152 0.481 0.260 0.071 0.131 0.269
#1 and #4 0.100 0.616 0.352 0.382 0.607 0.073
#2 and #3 0.486 0.822 0.198 0.107 0.847 0.027
#2 and #4 0.196 0.616 0.085 0.186 0.118 0.244
#3 and #4 0.147 0.543 0.270 0.110 0.343 0.139
u
E
|
E
Chapter 3

= =
=


=
359
0
359
0
2
2 2
2
1 1
359
0
2 2 1 1
) ] [ ( ) ] [ (
) ] [ )( ] [ (
i i
i
c
E i E E i E
E i E E i E

-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
E-theta
E-phi
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
E-theta
E-phi
x
y
x
y
Element #2, x-y plane Element #3, x-y plane
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 15
Mutual Coupling Measurement
Frequency (GHz)
5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5
M
u
t
u
a
l

c
o
u
p
l
i
n
g

(
d
B
)
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
C12
C13
C14
C23
Chapter 3
MW Receiver &
Freq. converter
EUT
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 16
MIMO Testbed
Chapter 4
Block diagram of
22 MIMO testbed FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Output
CPU: SH-4
(SH7750)
OS:
NetSBD
Analog
(RF)
DAC
I/O
DAC:
DAC904
FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Input
Direct Up-
converter
1
Direct Up-
converter
2
TX Ant. 1
TX Ant. 2
I
1
I
2
Q
1
Q
2
TCP/IP
Network
FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Output
CPU: SH-4
(SH7750)
OS:
NetSBD
Analog
(RF)
ADC
I/O
ADC:
SPT7938
FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Input
Direct
Down
converter 1
Direct
Down
converter 2
RX Ant. 1
RX Ant. 2
I
1
I
2
Q
1
Q
2
Windows PC
Brains Co. - DA System
Brains Co. - AD System
Freq.: 1.8 5.8 GHz
Use direct-conversion
technique for analog RF
circuits
RF analog circuits are
coupled with DSP algorithm
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 17
RX - Design of Down-converter
FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Output
CPU: SH-4
(SH7750)
OS:
NetSBD
Analog
(RF)
DAC
I/O
DAC:
DAC904
FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Input
Direct Up-
converter
1
Direct Up-
converter
2
TX Ant. 1
TX Ant. 2
I
1
I
2
Q
1
Q
2
TCP/IP
Network
FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Output
CPU: SH-4
(SH7750)
OS:
NetSBD
Analog
(RF)
ADC
I/O
ADC:
SPT7938
FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Input
Direct
Down
converter 1
Direct
Down
converter 2
RX Ant. 1
RX Ant. 2
I
1
I
2
Q
1
Q
2
Windows PC
Brains Co. - DA System
Brains Co. - AD System
Design the wide bandwidth direct
down-conversion receivers by:
Combine the analog front-end
circuit with base-band DSP
Freq.: 1.8 5.8 GHz
Analog
front-end
Baseband
DSP
Bandwidth is
Wider
RF LNA
I
Q
Quadrature
down-converter
90 LO
A
B
LPF
LPF
A/D
A/D
DSP
x
LO,I
(t) = cos(2t f
C
t)
x
LO,Q
(t) = gsin(2t f
C
t + |)
x
I
(t)
x
Q
(t)
Analog
front end
circuit is
simpler
LO
RF
Q
1
2
3
Phase shifter Mixer
Baseband Amp.
Power div.
I
Chapter 4
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 18
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 4.0 4.4 4.8 5.2 5.6 6.0
Frequency (GHz)
A
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e

I
m
b
a
l
a
n
c
e
Simulation
Measurement
5%
amplitude
imbalance
Imbalance parameters
-90.00
-70.00
-50.00
-30.00
-10.00
10.00
30.00
50.00
70.00
90.00
1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 4.0 4.4 4.8 5.2 5.6 6.0
Frequency (GHz)
P
h
a
s
e

I
m
b
a
l
a
n
c
e

(
d
e
g
r
e
e
) Simulation
Measurement
Conventional
bandwidth: 0.25 GHz
(5
o
imbalance)
Chapter 4
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 19
RX - I/Q signals
Chapter 4
Lissajuos graph of the I and Q signal at 1.8 GHz
V_Q (Volts)
Measured sig.
Processed sig.
Reference sig.
V
_
I

(
V
o
l
t
s
)

Frequency: 1.8 GHz
Amp. imbalance: 0.898
Phase imbalance: -75.74
degree
Lissajuos graph of the I and Q signal at 4.0 GHz
V_Q (Volts)
Measured sig.
Processed sig.
Reference sig.
V
_
I

(
V
o
l
t
s
)

Frequency: 4.0 GHz
Amp. imbalance: 1.118
Phase imbalance: -13.25
degree
Lissajuos graph of the I and Q signal at 5.6 GHz
V_Q (Volts)
Measured sig.
Processed sig.
Reference sig.
V
_
I

(
V
o
l
t
s
)

Frequency: 5.6 GHz
Amp. imbalance: 1.125
Phase imbalance: 44.50
degree
I
Q
A/D
A/D
x
I
(t)
x
Q
(t)
+
( ) | cos
1
g
( )
( ) |
|
cos
sin
DSP
'
I
z
'
Q
z
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 20
TX - Design of Up-converter
FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Output
CPU: SH-4
(SH7750)
OS:
NetSBD
Analog
(RF)
DAC
I/O
DAC:
DAC904
FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Input
Direct Up-
converter
1
Direct Up-
converter
2
TX Ant. 1
TX Ant. 2
I
1
I
2
Q
1
Q
2
TCP/IP
Network
FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Output
CPU: SH-4
(SH7750)
OS:
NetSBD
Analog
(RF)
ADC
I/O
ADC:
SPT7938
FPGA:
APEX-
20K600
Input
Direct
Down
converter 1
Direct
Down
converter 2
RX Ant. 1
RX Ant. 2
I
1
I
2
Q
1
Q
2
Windows PC
Brains Co. - DA System
Brains Co. - AD System
RF AMP
I
Q
Quadrature
up-converter
90 LO
A
B
LPF
LPF
D/A
D/A
DSP
x
LO,I
(t) = cos(2t f
LO
t)
x
LO,Q
(t) = gsin(2t f
LO
t + |)
x
I
(t)
x
Q
(t)
LPF
Analog front-end circuit is coupled with DSP algorithm to
compensate the imbalance characteristics of analog circuit (as in
down converter).
LO leaky is controlled by bias voltage on MIXER chips.
Measurement setup
Up converter circuit
LO
RF
Q
Phase shifter Mixer
Power
combiner
I
Chapter 4
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 21
Leaky signal suppression
RF AMP
I
Q
Quadrature
up-converter
90 LO
A
B
LPF
LPF
D/A
D/A
DSP
xLO,I (t) = cos(2t fLO t)
xLO,Q (t) = gsin(2t fLO t + |)
xI (t)
xQ (t)
LPF
f
LO
+ f
0
f
LO
f
0
f
LO
f
LO
+ f
0
f
LO
f
0
f
LO
Desired
signal
Desired
signal
Sideband
leakage
Carieer
leakage
Carieer
leakage
Sideband
leakage
Spectrum of output signal before and after imbalance compensation
Suppressed
by
controlling
amplitude
and phase
coefficient
Suppressed
by
controlling
bias voltage
on MIXER
chips
Chapter 4
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 22
Measurement results of output spectrum
RF AMP
I
Q
Quadrature
up-converter
90 LO
A
B
LPF
LPF
D/A
D/A
DSP
xLO,I (t) = cos(2t fLO t)
xLO,Q (t) = gsin(2t fLO t + |)
xI (t)
xQ (t)
LPF
Spectrum of
output signal
without I/Q
imbalance
compensation
at 3.0 GHz
Spectrum of
output signal
with I/Q
imbalance
compensation
at 3.0 GHz
I-Channel: 0.402VDC + 0.142Vac, phase = 0
o

Q-Channel: 0.308VDC + 0.150Vac, phase = 112.3
o
Spectrum of
output signal
without I/Q
imbalance
compensation
at 5.0 GHz
Spectrum of
output signal
with I/Q
imbalance
compensation
at 5.0 GHz
I-Channel: 0.239VDC + 0.120Vac, phase = 0
o

Q-Channel: 0.638VDC + 0.122Vac, phase = 73.9
o
Chapter 4
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 23
Conclusion and future study
Development of measurement software & system for
MIMO antenna & channel measurement is divided
into 3 steps with the good experiments results:
Improve single antenna measurement software:
Gain, 2D/3D pattern, polarization with noise reduction.
Apply the improved measurement software for MIMO
antenna measurement:
Diversities, Correlation, Mutual Coupling.
Design 22 MIMO testbed for MIMO measurement.
Direct up/down converter, system design.
Future study: Develop algorithm for MIMO
antenna and channel characterization.
SRANT Lab., Korea Maritime University 24
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!