UHF Angle Scanning Antenna Diversity

A literature study has been carried out to gain insight in the problems related to applying digital wireless indoor links at frequencies around one GHz. Methods to improve the reliability of a wireless communication link include spread spectrum, adaptive equalisation and diversity techniques. In this work diversity techniques will be considered. The use of modem IC techniques makes it possible to implement relatively complex diversity techniques without an unacceptable increase in cost and/or power consumption. A technique will be presented which can alter electrically the reception pattern of an antenna array. This technique makes it possible to construct a system which scans its surroundings for the best angle of reception. A simple implementation of this angle scanning diversity technique has been built with discrete components. Finally an IC implementation of a zero IF angle scanning diversity receiver will be discussed. This work was carried out by Jan van Sinderen as part of his study at the University of Twente for his “ír” degree, and was supervised by Roe1 Wassenaar (UT) and Peter Baltus (PRLE).