Thumbnail Image
Publication

Development of an antenna system for a relay-based wireless network

Petropoulos, Ioannis
Publication Date
2013-12-18
End of Embargo
Supervisor
Abd-Alhameed, Raed
Jones, Steven M.R.
Voudouris, Konstantinos N.
Keywords
Relay station, WiMAX, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Antenna array,, IEEE802.16j, Mutual coupling, Beam forming, Least Mean Square, Radiation pattern, Wireless network, Backhaul link, Access link, Beam forming technology
Rights
Creative Commons License
The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.
Peer-Reviewed
Open Access status
Accepted for publication
Institution
University of Bradford
Department
School of Engineering, Design and Technology
Awarded
2012
Embargo end date
Collections
Theses
Show all metadata
Files
Thumbnail Image
I. Petropoulos_PhD.pdf
Adobe PDF, 6.93 MB
Additional title
Abstract
The proliferation of modern wireless networks increases demand for high capacity and throughput in order to provide faster, more robust, efficient and broadband services to end users. Mobile WiMAX and LTE are examples of such networks in which for some cases they have exposed limited connectivity due to harsh environment. Relay stations are preferred to overcome problems of weak or no access for such network devices, that are placed in specific positions to maintain high quality of data transfer at low cost and provide the required connectivity anywhere anytime. These stations should be equipped with an antenna system capable of establishing communication between base station (backhaul link) and end users (access link). This thesis focuses on the design and development of a new antenna system that is suitable for a relay-based wireless network. Planar geometries of microstrip patch antennas are utilized. The antenna system comprises two antenna modules: a new design of a single antenna for access link and a new design of an antenna array for backhaul link realization. Both antenna specifications are compatible with the IEEE802.16j protocol standard. Hence, relay station should be capable of pointing its radiation pattern to the base station antenna, thus to achieve the desired radiation pattern of the relay station, a new beam-forming module is proposed, designed and developed to generate the proper radiation pattern. The beam-forming module incorporating digital phase shifters and attenuator chips is fabricated and tested. The optimization process using the Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm is considered in this study to assign the proper phase and amplitude that is necessary to each radiation element excitation current, to produce the desired steered radiation pattern. A comprehensive study on the coupling effects for several relative positions between two new backhaul and access link antenna elements is performed. Two new antenna configurations for coupling reduction are tested and the simulated and measured results in terms of antenna radiation performances were compared and commented.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/5770
Version
Citation
Link to publisher’s version
Link to published version
Link to Version of Record
Type
Thesis
Qualification name
PhD
Notes