LTE Antennas

3 days

Download brochureThe course explains in detail all the aspects related to implementation and deployment of the advanced antenna systems for 3GPP-LTE, starting from Release 8 and ending up at Release 10. Special attention is given to explanation of numerous techniques related to Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), such as spatial diversity, spatial multiplexing, single-user MIMO, multi-user MIMO and beamforming. The course also addresses the issue of how MIMO systems can impact the network performance, including coverage, capacity and reliability.

The course utilizes a number of hands-on practical exercises using the following tools:

• Propagation prediction tool to depict MIMO channels and angular spread,
• LTE PHY Lab – a Link Level Simulator applied to observe MIMO-related signals of the LTE air interface.

Radio Propagation Overview and Antenna

• Fundamentals
• Propagation in dispersive multipath channels
• Basic antenna characteristics (time, frequency and angular spread)
• Vertical, horizontal and circular polarization of electromagnetic wave
• Basic antenna structures (isotropic and dipole), their characteristics and parameters
• Sector antenna pattern, influence of down-tilting
• Line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight propagation

Spatial Diversity Methods

• Three domains for providing diversity (time, frequency and space)
• Diversity combining schemes: MRC for receive diversity, Alamouti for transmit diversity and selection combining for both
• Combination of spatial diversity (RAKE receiver and cyclic delay diversity)
• Use of space time coding (STBC, STTC)

Beamforming

• Fundamentals of creating adaptive antenna patterns
• Transmit and receive beamforming (DoD and DoA)
• Physical vs. mathematical beamforming
• Switched multibeam vs. adaptive antenna array
• Optimal usage of beamforming (desired signal enforcement, interference suppression or cancellation)
• Combination of beamforming with spatial diversity or spatial multiplexing
• Practical examples of range increase

Spatial Multiplexing

• Basic idea of creating independent spatial channels
• General mathematical model for spatially multiplexed channels
• Encoder and decoder for Horizontal Layered Space (H-BLAST)
• Encoder and decoder for Vertical Layered Space (V-BLAST)
• Encoder and decoder for Diagonal Layered Space (D-BLAST)
• Spatial multiplexing with feedback (closed loop)
• Water-filling concept in closed loop MIMO
• Zero-forcing receiver and singular value decomposition (SVD)

MIMO in Multiple-user Scenario

• Extension of spatial multiplexing concept to multiple-user scenarios
• Classification of multiple-user scenarios for MIMO usage
• 3-dimensional scheduling in LTE system
• Coordinated MIMO transmission from more than one base station

Combination of MIMO with OFDMA and SC-FDMA

• OFDMA and SC-FDMA as the key transmission techniques in the LTE specs
• MIMO-related synchronization and channel estimation aspects
• Combination of STBC and OFDMA
• Combination of SM/BF and OFDMA
• Possible allocations of transmit diversity and spatial multiplexing
• Receive beamforming with SC-FDMA

E-UTRA Release 8 MIMO Processing

• Downlink and uplink scenarios for Rel. 8 MIMO
• Pilot patterns for 1, 2 and 4 antenna ports at the eNB
• Signal processing chain for MIMO including eNB transmitter and UE receiver
• MIMO mapping including transport blocks, codewords and layers
• MIMO operation for SFBC, spatial multiplexing and beamforming
• MIMO modes and feedback (PMI, RI)

E-UTRA Release 10 and Beyond MIMO Enhancements

• 8x8 spatial multiplexing in downlink and new reference signals
• 4x4 spatial multiplexing in uplink
• SU-MIMO for PUSCH and transmit diversity for PUCCH
• Coordinated multipoint transmission in downlink
• Coordinated multipoint reception in uplink

LTE MIMO in Network Deployment

• Antenna system elements and site configurations
• Practical realization of MIMO configurations
• MIMO impact on coverage, capacity, reliability and interference
• Influence on link budgets and capacity budgets
• Typical design trade-offs in application of MIMO

Numerical Experiments (tool-based)

• MIMO processing at eNB transmitter (including SISO, TX Diversity, Spatial Multiplexing)
• MIMO related reference signals
• Channel correlation influence on spatial stream separation