Receiver Antenna Separation over Symbol Wavelengths in a MIMO-multiuser UWB System with near LOS Channels

This thesis investigates the performance of an ultra-wideband (UWB) multipleinput multiple-output (MIMO) multiuser system with near line-of-sight (LOS) channels. Receiver antenna-element separation on the scale of a symbol wavelength ([speed of light]/[symbol rate]) is proposed. Two different antenna array configurations, a two-element linear array and a three-element triangular array, are used for the receiver. UWB indoor LOS channel measurements were made in the 3 to 7 GHz band for these configurations and included in the simulation. Results show that the three-element triangular array performance is significantly improved over the two-element linear array. It is observed from the experimental results that an optimum receiver antenna-element separation of more than four symbol wavelengths is required for a two-by-two case, whereas three symbol wavelengths is sufficient for a three-by-three case.