Smart and multibeam diversity antenna arrays with high-bandwidth analog signal processing

This paper presents an overview of the work done at the University of Colorado at Boulder in the area of smart and multibeam antennas, specifically as related to the following projects, funded by the NSF Wireless Initiative: (1) multibeam lens antenna arrays and reconfigurable antennas for wireless communications with diversity. Design and characterization of a 10-GHz multibeam array with two different diversities polarization and angle is presented. A new method of using random reconfiguration of a simple antenna to increase capacity is discussed. This work was done in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin. (2) analog processing that enables principal component analysis (PCA) and independent component analysis (ICA) for broadband signals. The design and performance of a dynamic holographic processor integrated with RF and baseband electronics is discussed. The processor is capable of blind signal separation, otherwise not possible by state-of-the-art DSP for signals with bandwidths above a few kHz. This work was done in collaboration with the Department of Physics and JILA, University of Colorado.