MICRO Final report Project 02-019 Performance evaluation of phased array versus multi-element antenna for use in portable devices utilizing diversity combining communication architecture

In this paper we introduce a wideband threeelement diversity antenna for compact wireless communication systems operating at the 4-6 GHz band. A series of experiments to characterize the diversity performance of the antenna for non-line-of-sight (NLOS) indoor multipath environments have been conducted. From these experiments, we calculate e n v e l o p e correlation, power imbalance, and diversity g a i n . We also use this structure as a basis for another diversity antenna, with RF MEM switches providing different reception/transmit characteristics for switched diversity signals. A novel printed circuit board (PCB)compatible RF MEMS process technology employed to construct the system on RT/Duroid5880 is discussed. R adiation characteristics of the MEM swi tched antenna are also provided.