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Figure1
Multi-Path Signals
Reflection Point 2
+
+
Path 2
The Signals of the Two
Paths Cancel Each Other
Receiving
Antenna
+
+
Transmitting
Antenna
Path 1
Reflection Point 1
Transmitting/ReceivingAntennaPhaseRelationships
In-Phase Antennas
+
Good
Signal
Vertical
Vertical
Signal
Transmitting
Antenna
or
Receiving
Antenna
Good
Signal
Horizontal
Horizontal
Out-of-Phase Antennas
+
Vertical
Horizontal
or
Receiving
Antenna
Poor
Signal
Vertical
Horizontal
+
Poor
Signal
Signal
Transmitting
Antenna
Figure3
Relative Signal Strength One Antenna
Peak
Null
Peak
Relative
Signal
Strength
Null
Antenna Location
Antenna
When randomly polarized waves undergo whole or partial cancellation, the
receiving antenna will see peaks or hot spots and nulls in signal strength
and produce dropouts in communications. A singularly (vertically) polarized
whip-style antenna, for example, will experience a degrading signal and
lose communication for one or both of these reasons. In addition, antennas
with narrow radiation patterns can ignore signals arriving from a variety of
directions.
Figure4
Relative Signal Strength Multiple Antennas
Peak
Null
Peak
Null
Peak
Multiple Antenna
Null
Peak
Relative
Signal
Strength
Location
Antenna 1
Antenna 2
When a system employs a technique called receive diversity, that is, when the radio transmitter switches
between two antennas, the chances that one of the two antennas will be in a hot spot are more likely than
if only one antenna is used.
Desirable characteristics
Single-feed antennas that have built-in spatial diversity (detects signals from different directions), built-in polarization
diversity (handles multi-polarized waves), and broad azimuth and elevation (radiation) patterns are most desirable.
The Multi-Polarized antenna also considers spatial diversity, broad signal patterning, enhanced magnetic field energy
transfer, and UWB (Ultra Wide Band) performance. In addition, the Multi-Polarized antenna performance exceeds the
singularly polarized (including advanced types), circularly polarized, EH, and fractal antennas (figure 5).
Figure5
Advantage Of Multi-Polarized Antennas
HOT Spot
(Multi-path Signals In-phase)
Null Spot
(Multi-path
Signals In-phase)
+
cte
fle
Re
d-z
ve
Wa
Transmitting
Antenna
Built-in Spatial
Diversity
Elliptical-x,y Wave
Elliptical-x,y Wave
Elliptical-x,y Wave
E-fields (x, y, z)
Standard Style
Singularly Polarized Antenna
Multi-Polarized Antennas
VS.
H
H-fields Polarization
Diverse
The MP antenna has a lot more to offer than traditional antenna designs: polarization diversity, spatial
diversity, broad signal patterning, improved magnetic-field energy transfer capability, and ultra-wide band
(UWB) performance.
Supporting data
Moreover, recent studies support these findings. For
example, Bell Laboratories (1) discussed the reflected-z
wave and six total electric (E-field) and magnetic (H-field)
wave axes (figure 6). Others have demonstrated multiple
(typically 3-4) resultant waves of various polarizations
coming from different directions in urban and suburban
wireless environments .
With the Multi-Polarized antenna, these various (partially
out-of-phase and effectively additive) E and H field waves
are used to improve real-world wireless connectivity. In
fact, obstructed environmental testing of polarization
and spatially diverse antennas at a number of poor signal
(dead or null-spot) locations shows more connections in
average throughputs.
Figure6
Reflected-Z Wave
Reflected Z-Wave
a
a
bc
Time
Multi-Polarized Antenna
In a relatively static, obstructed environment, fewer reduced signal strength readings are observed with standard
signal strength utility software. In a dynamic obstructed environment, special Real Signal Strength Indication (RSSI)
signal software reveals near-instantaneous dropouts caused by fluctuating obstructions such as of moving leaves,
people, cars, and so forth. When the signal is weak (as is often the case when using conventional antennas), the
Ethernet Protocol signal-processing circuitry in the wireless equipment has to request multiple message packets to try
to maintain contact. This delay reduces the data throughput.
Test Procedure
Use the following test procedure to compare
the performance of Multi-Polarized antennas
to conventional antennas. In an obstructed
environment, find the range where a
conventional antenna begins to drop out,
and repeat the test at various locations
around that range. Determine how often the
dropouts occur, then test the Multi-Polarized
antenna at the same locations. The result
is an increase in the frequency of sustained
connections with faster throughput (figures
7-11).
Number of Locations
With Particular
RSSI / S/N
Rubber Duck
Antenna
RSSI / S/N
RSSI / S/N
Not Connected
-95 dBm
Statically Obstructed Environment
Many Locations Tested
Number of Locations
with Particular
RSSI / S/N
Multi-Polarized
Antenna
Number of Locations
with Particular
RSSI / S/N
Figure7
Real Signal Strength Indiction - Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Rubber Duck
Antenna
RSSI / S/N
Connected
-95 dBm
Figure8
Frequency of Particular
RSSI / S/N Reading (MHz)
Multi-Polarized
Antenna
Rubber Duck
Antenna
Figure9
RSSI in Dynamic Environment
RSSI(dBm)
Elapsed Time
RSSI(dBm)
Elapsed Time
0.3 second
RSSI readings at one location over time in a dynamically obstructed environment show the
difference in response and improved performance of the MP antenna design over a singularly
polarized antenna.
Figure10
Dynamically Obstructed Environment Multi-Polarized Antenna
At these
Locations
RSSI / S/N
Dynamically Obstructed Environment Many Locations Tested
Even when a higher signal strength from the standard antenna can be easily observed,
the MP antenna still maintains a higher throughput than a standard antenna when a
signal strength meter may indicates a higher signal strength for the standard antenna.
Figure11
Dynamically Obstructed Environment Singularly Polarized Antenna
RSSI
Momentary Drop in RSSI with
Singularly Polarized Antenna
in a Dynamically Obstructed
Environment Results in Ethernet
Protocol Retries and with Such
a Drop in Throughput
0:00:50
0:00:40
Throughput
0:00:40
Seconds
0:00:50
Radiation pattern
Theory logically concludes, and testing verifies, that a smaller Multi-Polarized antenna outperforms a similarly sized
standard antenna in most typical locations, but especially so in those areas that would require higher signal saturation
for conventional antennas to perform adequately.
For example, most often, it is more important to improve a coverage area from 90% saturation (loss of connectivity
10% of the places/time) to 99% saturation (see blue area, figure 12), than it is to increase the rarely connected
system in remote areas (see yellow area below) to occasionally connected systems.
Figure12
Antennas Typical Coverage Area
Moderate Range
Remote Areas
= Client (Potential)
The typical coverage area for an antenna can be divided into two ranges: a required to moderate range and a remote or sparsely
connected range. The inner circle defines the largest concentration of clients in residential or industrial-park WiFi WWAN
settings. The area required for good coverage comprises sites for cell phones, WiFi VOIP phones, broadcast radio, government
and commercial two-way radio, as well as Bluetooth within an automobile. The outer circle defines the sparsely connected area.
Summary
Radio frequency signals can be viewed as a fog or a smoke bomb that penetrates different shaped nooks and
crannies with a variety of polarizations. At the receiving end, Multi-Polarized antennas connect more clients at higher
data throughput rates both at a distance as well as at closer proximity in a non-LOS or near-LOS location than standard
antennas of similar size or gain. For multiple-element, complex interactions, element length must be adjusted to
optimize the (theoretical) electromagnetic-field performance. This applies to both parasitic elements and multiplecomponent fed elements (figure 13).
Figure13
Multi-Polarized Antenna Advantage
Although There Are Predictably Fewer Peak Signals With a Smaller Multi-Polarized Antenna Compared
With The Standard Technology 'Full Size' Antenna, a Greater Percentage of Clients Are Still Connected.
RSSI(dBm)
Elapsed Time
RSSI(dBm)
Nummber of Locations
With Particular RSSI / S/N
Elapsed Time
0.3 second
Multi-Polarized Antenna
Rubber Duck
Antenna
No
Connection
Although predictably fewer peaks appear for the smaller MP antenna compared to the standard, full-size
antenna, the MP antenna remains connected to a larger percentage of clients with higher data rates
over time.
Re-AdjustmentofAntennaElements
For example:
1.1 Dr
0.95 Dr
0.90 Dr
0.25
Reflector
0.20
Dr
0.22
D1
D2
D1(adjusted) = 0.95[984/f(MHz)](1/4)(12)(k-factor)
(1-P)
0.013
0.012
0.011
0.010
0.009
0.008
0.007
0.006
0.005
0.004
0.003
0.002
0.001
0.000
0 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
- Spacing
Dr5
Dr3
Dr2
Dr1
10
Bibliography:
1. Andrews, M. R., Mitra, P.P., & DeCarvalho, R., Nature 409, Tripling the Capacity of Wireless Communications Using
Electromagnetic Polarization, Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, Harvard University.
2. Argenti, F., et al, Polarization Diversity for Multiband UWB System, Department of Electronics &
Telecommunications, University of Florence, Italy, 2004.
3. Black, Jerry and Taylor, Cedric, Comparison of Space and Polarization Diversity 800MHz Cellular Antenna Systems
Through Empirical Measurements, Nortel Networks.
4. Channel Models for Fixed Wireless Applications, IEEE 802.16.3C-01/29r2, 2001.
5. Suvickunnas, Pasi, Methods and Criteria for Performance Analysis of Multiantenna Systems in Mobile
Communications (esp. page 35: 5.4 Single versus dual-polarized MIMO antenna systems). PhD. Thesis, Helsinki
University of Technology, Finland, 2006.
TM
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2011 MP Antenna, LTD. All rights reserved. MP Antenna products and technology are protected under United States Patent No. 6,496,152. Other patents pending.