Optimized WiMAX MIMO Antenna for Base Station Applications With Polarization and Spatial Diversity

This paper presents a new approach in the design of a WiMAX base station antenna compatible with multiple input multiple output (MIMO) capabilities. Usually the antenna is designed taking into account the classic antenna parameters (S-parameters, radiating performances, and gain) and then integrated into the entire communication system. The objective of this paper is to define a new approach in the design of a WiMAX radio link integrating the antenna parameters, the propagation effects, and the demodulation performance. The paper focuses on the MIMO link, especially on polarization diversity using cross-polarized antennas. A vectorial signal model for polarization diversity communication is then defined including the coupling effects. MIMO antenna candidates are analyzed. Following this new approach, a broadband dual-polarized base station antenna network for WiMAX coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (COFDM) waveforms was optimized, realized, and measured for MIMO communications. Results are presented from an antenna point of view. Full communication performances are presented. (C) 2011 Alcatel-Lucent.