Reconfigurable antennas for performance enhancement of interference networks employing interference alignment

Overview

This technology provides a system and method for enhancing wireless network capacity through the utilization of reconfigurable antennas and pattern diversity in the context of interference alignment (IA). IA is a technique that aims to maximize network capacity by aligning interference signals in a way that allows for increased signal transmission in the presence of interference. Reconfigurable antenna based pattern diversity is used to realize an optimal channel and maximize the distance between two subspaces, thereby increasing sum-rate and an improvement in IA's performance. It quantifies the impact of pattern diversity on IA in MIMO-OFDM interference networks, providing an analysis of the enhancements achieved in terms of sum capacity, degrees of freedom, and the distance between interference and desired signal spaces. The results are quantified with two different reconfigurable antenna architectures namely, Switched Parasitic Elements (SPE) and Tunable Reactive Loading (TRL). This system and method have been tested in the Drexel Wireless Systems Laboratory with initial data demonstrating performance improvements in these areas.

Market Applications

Wireless communications: The system can be used to improve spectral efficiency and the quality of service of wireless communication systems, such as cellular networks, wireless local area networks (WLANs), wireless personal area networks (WPANs), or cognitive radio networks.
Wireless power transfer: The system can be used to enhance wireless power transfer efficiency and the safety of wireless power transfer systems, such as wireless charging, wireless energy harvesting, or wireless power transmission.
Radar and imaging: The system can be used to improve resolution and accuracy of radar and imaging systems, such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR), inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR), or medical imaging.
Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
5G and beyond-5G wireless systems.
Broadband and wireless data transmission.

Key Advantages

Reconfigurable antennas enhance network performance by offering pattern diversity
Pattern diversity increases the chordal distance and sum capacity of an interference network
Reconfigurable antennas adapt to physical link conditions, leading to increased network capacity
Potential for additional capacity gains when combined with IA
Reduced interference leakage and increased signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR)
Reconfigurable antennas that can adapt to dynamic channel conditions like the channel state information (CSI), network topology, the interference alignment algorithm, or user preferences

Problems Solved

Suboptimal subspace separation: The conventional methods of interference alignment in antenna design may not achieve the optimal subspace separation between the interference and the desired signals, especially when the channel conditions are unfavorable, the network topology is complex, or the interference alignment algorithm is suboptimal. This may result in a lower sum-rate of the network. The proposed system improves IA's performance in low SNR conditions
Limited adaptability: Conventional methods may not be able to adapt to the dynamic channel conditions, which may vary due to the mobility of the users, the environmental changes, or the network reconfiguration. This can result in degraded network performance. This system enhances network capacity in multi-user wireless networks.
High hardware complexity and cost: The conventional methods of interference alignment may require multiple fixed antennas or antenna arrays to achieve multiple radiation patterns, which may increase the hardware complexity and cost of the system. This system’s use of reconfigurable antennas solves this problem.