Ultra-Wideband Technology: Characteristcs, Applications and Challenges

Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is a wireless communication technology designed for short-range applications. It is characterized by its ability to generate and transmit radio-frequency energy over an extensive frequency range. This paper provides an overview of UWB technology including its definition, two representative schemes and some key characteristics distinguished from other types of communication. Besides, this paper also analyses some widely used applications of UWB technology and highlights some of the challenges associated with implementing UWB in real-world scenarios. Furthermore, this paper expands upon UWB technology to encompass terahertz technology, providing an overview of the current status of terahertz communication, and conducting an analysis of the advantages, challenges, and certain corresponding solutions pertaining to ultra-wideband THz communication

System design and validation of multi-band OFDM wireless communications with multiple antennas

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Radio channel characterisation and system-level modelling for ultra wideband body-centric wireless communications

PhDThe next generation of wireless communication is evolving towards user-centric networks, where constant and reliable connectivity and services are essential. Bodycentric wireless network (BCWN) is the most exciting and emerging 4G technology for short (1-5 m) and very short (below 1 m) range communication systems. It has got numerous applications including healthcare, entertainment, surveillance, emergency, sports and military. The major difference between the BCWN and conventional wireless systems is the radio channel over which the communication takes place. The human body is a hostile medium from the radio propagation perspective and it is therefore important to understand and characterise the effect of the human body on the antenna elements, the radio propagation channel parameters and hence the system performance. In addition, fading is another concern that affects the reliability and quality of the wireless link, which needs to be taken into account for a low cost and reliable wireless communication system for body-centric networks. The complex nature of the BCWN requires operating wireless devices to provide low power requirements, less complexity, low cost and compactness in size. Apart from these characteristics, scalable data rates and robust performance in most fading conditions and jamming environment, even at low signal to noise ratio (SNR) is needed. Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is one of the most promising candidate for BCWN as it tends to fulfill most of these requirements. The thesis focuses on the characterisation of ultra wideband body-centric radio propagation channel using single and multiple antenna techniques. Apart from channel characterisation, system level modelling of potential UWB radio transceivers for body-centric wireless network is also proposed. Channel models with respect to large scale and delay analysis are derived from measured parameters. Results and analyses highlight the consequences of static and dynamic environments in addition to the antenna positions on the performance of body-centric wireless communication channels. Extensive measurement i campaigns are performed to analyse the significance of antenna diversity to combat the channel fading in body-centric wireless networks. Various diversity combining techniques are considered in this process. Measurement data are also used to predict the performance of potential UWB systems in the body-centric wireless networks. The study supports the significance of single and multiple antenna channel characterisation and modelling in producing suitable wireless systems for ultra low power body-centric wireless networks.University of Engineering and Technology Lahore Pakista

Ultra Wideband

Ultra wideband (UWB) has advanced and merged as a technology, and many more people are aware of the potential for this exciting technology. The current UWB field is changing rapidly with new techniques and ideas where several issues are involved in developing the systems. Among UWB system design, the UWB RF transceiver and UWB antenna are the key components. Recently, a considerable amount of researches has been devoted to the development of the UWB RF transceiver and antenna for its enabling high data transmission rates and low power consumption. Our book attempts to present current and emerging trends in-research and development of UWB systems as well as future expectations

Timing and Carrier Synchronization in Wireless Communication Systems: A Survey and Classification of Research in the Last 5 Years

Timing and carrier synchronization is a fundamental requirement for any wireless communication system to work properly. Timing synchronization is the process by which a receiver node determines the correct instants of time at which to sample the incoming signal. Carrier synchronization is the process by which a receiver adapts the frequency and phase of its local carrier oscillator with those of the received signal. In this paper, we survey the literature over the last 5 years (2010–2014) and present a comprehensive literature review and classification of the recent research progress in achieving timing and carrier synchronization in single-input single-output (SISO), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), cooperative relaying, and multiuser/multicell interference networks. Considering both single-carrier and multi-carrier communication systems, we survey and categorize the timing and carrier synchronization techniques proposed for the different communication systems focusing on the system model assumptions for synchronization, the synchronization challenges, and the state-of-the-art synchronization solutions and their limitations. Finally, we envision some future research directions

Location-aware and Cooperative Communication in an OFDM based Ultra-wideband Radio System

Die auf dem orthogonalen Frequenzmultiplex (OFDM, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) basierende Ultra-Breitband-(UWB, Ultra-wideband) Technologie stellt eine verheißungsvolle Technologie dar, um hohe Datenübertragungsraten und Lokalisierungs- und deren Tracking-Anwendungen zu realisieren. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Systemen ist die Reichweite von OFDM UWB Systemen durch eine strenge Regulierung sehr stark begrenzt. Darüber hinaus ist die Lokalisierung nicht zufriedenstellend. Damit sind bereits die beiden größten Nachteile im Bezug auf bestehende OFDM UWB System benannt. Die Motivation und Hauptaufgabe dieser Arbeit ist damit die Lösung der eben genannten Nachteile. Es wird ein OFDM UWB System vorgestellt, das Space Frequency Block Coding (SFBC) und FFH OFDM miteinander verbindet. Dieses vereinte System wertet die räumliche und frequentielle Diversität eines OFDM-Symbols aus und zeigt dabei eine hohe Güte in der Punkt-zu-Punkt Kommunikation. Beim Design von kooperativen UWB-Systemen wird ein AF-(Amplify-and-Forward) basiertes echtzeitfähriges SFBC-TFC (Time Frequency Code) Protokoll vorgestellt. In Kombination mit den oben genannten Strategien, kann eine Erhöhung in den Reichweite von OFDM UWB Systemen erreicht werden. In den Ausführungen zur Ortung anhand von OFDM UWB Signalen wird ein Algorithmus entwickelt, der aufgrund einer Kanalschätzung eine Minimierung des Phasenversatzes zwischen geschätztem und realem Kanal im Frequenzbereich durchführt. Diese Minimierung erwirkt eine Unterdrückung der Energie am Ende der Kanalimpulsantwort (CIR, Channel Impulse Response) im Zeitbereich. Zum Zweck der einfachen Implementierbarkeit wird das RTT (Round-Trip-Time) Messprotokoll in WiMedia UWB Systemen dahingehend verändert, dass das mobile Gerät keine Minimierung vornimmt. Es leitet seine Informationen an das mit ihm Kommunizierende, stationäre Gerät weiter, das direkt den gesamten Zeitversatz innerhalb des RTT berechnet. Der vorgeschlagene Algorithmus und das vorgeschlagene Protokoll haben ein besseres Ortungsvermögen als bekannte UWB Lokalisierungsprozeduren und bedürfen nur etwas zusätzlicher Berechnungsleistung. Diese Arbeit zeigt, dass Systeme mit hohen Datenraten wie OFDM UWB auch eine gute Lokalisierungsgenauigkeit erreichen können. Zusätzlich ist die Schwachstelle einer limitierten Reichweite ebenso kompensiert worden. Diese Erweiterungen dienen der Entwicklung von nützlichen UWB-Applikationen und sichern den Anteil der OFDM UWB Technik im Markt der drahtlosen Kommunikationssysteme der Zukunft.The Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) based Ultra-wideband (UWB) is one of the most promising technologies for high data rate transmission and localization and tracking applications. However, the restricted transmit power causes a shorter communication range compared to other indoor radio systems. In addition, the ranging functionality is still not well supported by the current OFDM based UWB technology. These two drawbacks are the main disadvantages existing in the current OFDM UWB systems. To get rid of the two drawbacks, is the motivation and main task of this thesis. Within the scope of this thesis, a joint design of Space Frequency Block Coding (SFBC) with Fast Frequency Hopping (FFH) OFDM scheme is investigated in a multiple antenna OFDM UWB system. The joint scheme is able to exploit spatial and frequency domain diversity within one OFDM symbol, and can improve the data transmission quality in point-to-point communication. To the cooperative communication in UWB systems, an Amplify-and-Forward (AF) based distributed SFBC-TFC (Time Frequency Code) protocol is designed. In combination with the aforementioned strategies an increase in the communication range is achieved. Within the scope of this thesis, accurate ranging schemes for the OFDM UWB systems are designed. Fine ToA detection method based on the estimated channel is developed. The fine ToA is estimated by minimizing the accumulated energy of the tail taps of the estimated Channel Impulse Response (CIR). For the purpose of a feasible implementation, the Round-Trip-Time (RTT) measurement protocol in [WiM09] is modified in a way that the complicated computational tasks are burden onto the powerful device. The proposed fine ToA detection method and modified RTT protocol provides an accurate ranging capability and ensures feasible implementation to the MB-OFDM UWB systems. In carrying out this scheme, only some computational tasks are needed, no extra hardware support is required. It is shown in this thesis, OFDM UWB systems with very high data rate transmission and good ranging capability could be achieved, and the weakness of limited communication range is also compensated. These improvements will cause the rise of more valuable UWB applications for customers and ensures a bright future for the OFDM UWB technique

Improved Ultra Wideband Communication System through Adaptive Modulation and Spatial Diversity

PhDAdvances in Multimedia communications have shown the need for high data rate wireless links over short distances. This is to enhance flexibility, accessibility, portability and mobility of devices in home and enterprise environment thereby making users more productive. In 2004, the WiMedia group proposed the Multiband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Ultra Wideband (MB-OFDM UWB) system with a target of delivering data rate of 480Mbps over 3 metres. However, by now no existing commercial UWB product can meet this proposed specification. The project aims to investigate the reason why UWB technology has failed to realise its potential by carrying out detailed analysis and to seek ways of solving the technical problems. Detailed system analyses were carried out on the UWB technology using a commercial UWB product and a MB-OFDM UWB Evaluation kit. UWB channel measurements of different scenarios were carried out in order to characterise both time varying and time invariant channels. The scenarios are the realistic environments where UWB devices are operating with human subjects in various movement patterns. It gives insight into the effects of human object blocking on the MB-OFDM system performance and estimates an acceptable feedback rate in a UWB time varying channel when implementing an adaptive modulation. The adaptive modulation was proposed and implemented in the MB-OFDM system model to demonstrate the improved Bit Error Rate (BER) performance. Modulating bits are varied across the sub-channels depending on the signal to noise ratio (SNR). Sub-channels experiencing severe fading employ lower or no bit-loading while sub-channels with little or no fading utilise higher bit-loading to maintain a constant system data rate. Spatial diversity was employed to exploit different properties of the radio channel to improve performance. Good diversity gain of two receiving diversity systems using maximal ratio combining and antenna selection techniques is demonstrated in the measurements with the different antenna orientations. An antenna selection circuit is designed and implemented working together with AT90CAP9 UWB Evaluation kit, verifying an improved performance of the UWB system in an indoor environment. The maximal ratio combining technique is also implemented and demonstrated to give a better system performance on a test bed after post-processing