Smart Antenna Basics: Types, Applications, and Advantages

Smart antennas have gained popularity due to their potential to enhance the performance of next-generation wireless communication systems like Mobile WiMAX, LTE, LTE-Advanced, and WLAN.

This page covers smart antenna basics, types, applications, and advantages.

Types of Smart Antennas

There are two primary types of smart antennas:

1. Phased Array: This type uses multiple fixed beams, with one beam switched on towards the desired signal, or a single beam steered toward the desired signal. It’s also known as a multibeam antenna.
2. Adaptive Antenna Array: This consists of multiple antenna elements where received signals are weighted and combined to maximize the desired Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR). It places the main beam in the direction of the desired signal and creates nulls in the direction of interference. This type adapts to the environment, steering the beam and changing the beam pattern as required.

Future wireless systems are being developed for higher data rates and wider coverage limits. This is achieved using MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) and beamforming techniques. Smart antennas help achieve better coverage by enhancing signal strength in the desired direction.

Smart Antenna Advantages

• Higher Gain: Provides higher gain for the desired signal in the direction of interest.
• Interference Reduction: Phased array smart antennas reduce the probability of interference with narrower beams, while adaptive arrays adjust the beam pattern to suppress interference.
• Multipath Mitigation: Supports three types of antenna diversity: spatial, polarization, and angle diversity.

Smart Antenna Applications

• Phased Array Antennas: Mainly used for point-to-point wireless systems, such as wireless local loops, and for macrocellular Base Stations.
• Adaptive Antenna Arrays: Used for indoor systems where received signals arrive via widely separated paths. They are used where phased array smart antennas don’t provide enough gain.

Beamforming smart antenna design using FPGA

The following pdf covers beamforming smart antenna design using FPGA. It covers smart antenna design, adaptive beam forming, adaptive algorithm, QRD RLS algorithm and more.