Contributions to the design of broadband antennas and arrays for base stations for the new generation of mobile communication systems

El objetivo de esta tesis es el diseño de antenas y arrays de banda ancha para estaciones base en las nuevas generaciones de comunicaciones móviles. Los nuevos retos en los sistemas de comunicación tales como el aumento de dispositivos conectados y el Internet de las cosas (IoT), conlleva la aparición de nuevas generaciones de telefonía. Para hacer frente a ese desafío se necesitan nuevas estrategias para optimizar el espectro, aumentar el ancho de banda y las velocidades de transmisión. Aunque algunas técnicas son aumentar la frecuencia de trabajo desarrollando celdas más pequeñas y rápidas, esta tesis se centra en el otro enfoque, extender las bandas de frecuencia utilizadas en la actualidad. Este enfoque tiene algunas ventajas como una mayor penetración ofreciendo mejor cobertura en zonas aisladas, así como la coexistencia de las futuras redes 5G con los estándares 3G y 4G actuales. En una primera parte, se presentan diseños de elementos de antenas planares cumpliendo con los nuevos requisitos. La antena está diseñada y fabricada de una forma rentable y asequible, presentando una topología compacta y completamente plana. La idea principal para la consecución de los objetivos es la inclusión de dipolos acoplados incluidos dentro de la propia antena de forma antipodal para conseguir un diseño compacto y un patrón de radiación estable en toda la banda de funcionamiento. El diseño compacto y de doble polarización se logra en un elemento que trabaja en todo el ancho de banda frecuencial entre 1.427 y 2.69 GHz, la banda que aquí se presenta como Banda Ultra Ancha Extendida (ExtUWB). En segundo lugar, se desarrolla un estudio de diferentes formas de planos de masa o re ectores en el campo cercano del elemento. La inclusi ón de un plano de masa es necesaria para eliminar la radiación trasera y dar forma al haz de radiación para obtener una antena directiva con el ancho de haz deseado que permanezca estable dentro de toda la banda de trabajo. El punto clave a tratar es que el plano de masa o re ector al ser colocado en el campo cercano del elemento produce perturbaciones en el mismo, tanto en la adaptación como en su diagrama de radiación. A continuación, se propone la combinación de dos elementos para cubrir las dos bandas requeridas. El elemento ExtUWB para la banda 1,42 a 2,69 GHz se integra con nuevos elementos para la banda 690 a 960 MHz. Se estudia la integración de los elementos de ambas bandas en un mismo espacio físico para desarrollar una antena de estación base que proporcione cobertura en las dos bandas de forma conjunta. Finalmente, se propone la combinación de elementos en con guraciones de array para las nuevas bandas de 5G con el propósito de ser utilizados como estaciones base. La inclusión en array permite lograr diferentes propósitos: aumentar la directividad, cumplir con los requisitos generales de las estaciones base y obtener exibilidad para diferentes con guraciones de arrays. Se proponen distintos arrays con diferentes objetivos, estos arrays son con gurables para ser utilizados como estaciones base clásicas, pero también formando un nuevo sistema innovador de Massive MIMO con propiedades de haz orientable que no se ha presentado para la banda L hasta ahora.The objective of this thesis is the design of broadband antennas and arrays for base stations for the new generations of mobile communications. The new challenges in the communication systems such as the increase of connected devices, the amount of smart products, and the Internet of Things (IoT), has brought the arrival of new 5G systems. To deal with that challenge, new mobile communication systems need new strategies for optimizing the spectrum, increase the bandwidth and the data rates as it is required. Although some techniques are to increase the working frequency and develop faster and smaller cells, this thesis is focused on the other coliving approach, which is to extend the nowadays mobile communication operating bands. That approach has some advantages as higher penetration with deeper coverage, and the coexistence of future 5G networks with the existing standards. Firstly, some designs of planar antenna element following the new requirements are presented. The antenna is designed and manufactured in a cost-effective and affordable way presenting a compact and fully planar topology. The main idea to obtain the objectives is the inclusion of active embedded dipoles in the antipodal part of the antenna itself to achieve a compact design and a stable radiation pattern within the wide frequency band of operation. Compactness and dual polarized performance is achieved for working in the whole frequency bandwidth between 1.427 and 2.69 GHz, the band that is presented here as the Extended Ultrawideband (ExtUWB). Secondly, a study of different ground plane shapes or reflectors in the element near field is developed. A ground plane is needed to remove the back radiation and shape the radiation beam to obtain a directive antenna with the desired beamwidth that remains stable within the broadband frequency band. The key point to deal with is that the ground plane or reflector placed in the element near field disturbs both the matching and the radiation. Thirdly, the combination of two elements to cover both required bands is proposed. The ExtUWB element for the band 1.42 to 2.69 GHz is integrated with new elements for the band 690 to 960 MHz. Integration of both band elements in the same physical space for developing the base station antenna providing dual band coverage is studied. Finally, the combination of elements in array configurations is proposed for the new 5G bands with the purpose of been used as base stations. It allows to accomplish different goals: increasing the directivity, fufilling the overall base station requirements, and obtaining flexibility for different array configurations. Different arrays are proposed with different objectives, those arrays are configurable for being used as classical base stations, but also as a new innovative system of Massive MIMO with beamsteering properties that has not been presented for the L-band till now.Programa de Doctorado en Multimedia y Comunicaciones por la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid y la Universidad Rey Juan CarlosPresidente: Carlos del Río Bocio.- Secretario: Luis Emilio García Castillo.- Vocal: David González Ovejer

Fully Planar Dual-Polarized Broadband Antenna for 3G, 4G and Sub 6-GHz 5G Base Stations

A fully planar dual polarized radiating element with internal embedded coupled dipoles is presented in this paper. The inclusion of these elements allows achieving three different goals: firstly, an extension of the bandwidth towards lower frequencies (from 1.69 GHz to 1.427 GHz) as required in new 5G standards; secondly, a reduction of the antenna size in comparison with other topologies for bandwidth extension and, finally, a reduction of the secondary lobes. The proposed dual polarized broadband antenna is based on two sets of dual polarized dipoles, with a fully planar structure. The objective of this paper is the design of an antenna working in the extended 5G band in order to fulfil the future 5G requirement in the microwave region, in which the new frequency bandwidth goes from 1.427 up to 2.69 GHz with the return losses lower than -14 dB and the crosspolar isolation larger than 28 dB.This work was supported in part by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport under a grant for predoctoral contracts for University Teacher Training under Grant FPU16/00459, and in part by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, (program ``Programa Estatal de I+D+i orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad'') under Grant RTC-2017-6394-7

Using laboratory to improve understanding of 802.3 physical characteristics

When teaching computer networks as part of a Computer Engineering degree, emphasis is placed on higher-layer protocols while Physical and Data-Link layers usually play a secondary role. Physical aspects of data communication are sometimes taught as an independent, not-related, topic whereas Data-Link concepts are “hard” to our students. We propose a new lab experience in which students can see IEEE 802.3 frames in a new way; by using standard digital oscilloscope we are able to go deeper into lower-level layers. The lab session will be divided into two parts, focusing on topics that are usually considered “hard” by our students. The first part will focus on physical aspects of a frame transmission whereas the second will focus on MAC-layer. For example, topics like physical layer synchronization, signal attenuation, 5-4-3 rule and even Interframe Gap are exercised at the lab session. This experience has been tested with a group of last year students; we have analyzed students "own perception" of previous knowledge of some related topics, the results from a evaluation questionnaire (a small exam given out to students) and students evaluation of this exercise.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TEC2006-0843

Choosing the Right Protocol Stack for an Open and Flexible Remote Unit

This paper presents some works made in the development of communications software for an embedded open core system. By using a Linux-based processor implemented on a FPGA, we are developing the appropriate software in order to implement a remote unit to be used in a telecontrol network. We present an analysis of the physical devices needed and a performance report of them. After that, we analyze the requirements of the telecontrol network and the possibility of reusing already implemented protocols in Linux instead of using standard telecontrol protocols.Junta de Andalucía EXC-2005-TIC-1023Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TEC2006-0843

Implementing IEC 60870-5 data link layer for an Open and Flexible Remote Unit

This paper presents an open source implementation for a data-link layer protocol specified in IEC 60870, protocol specification for telecontrol networks. It has been tested over LEON an embedded system with a Linux based operating system. Protocol engineering methods have been used in order to implement the protocol. The standard is in natural language so a formal language is needed to describe its behavior. A prototype has also been created to simulate the protocol behavior. The protocol has been tested on a real environment, using PCs and LEON as primary and secondary stations, and different physical layers, serial cable, radio frequency and GSM.Junta de Andalucía EXC-2005-TIC-1023Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TEC2006-0843

IEC-60870-5 application layer for an Open and Flexible Remote Unit

This paper presents the development and test of the standard IEC-60870-5 application layer protocol for a Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) based on open hardware and software. The RTU hardware is an embedded system, a SoC-type design using FPGA that has been programmed with the open core LEO. with Linux operating system running over it, so both the hardware and IOS are open source. For prototyping the GR-XC3S-1500 board has been used. There is no open source code available for the IEC standard protocols, so application layer protocol has to be implemented. All the software design has been made in a PC platform using standard development tools. The source code generated for the protocol has been compiled with the standard Linux gcc compiler in LEO.. Several tests have been made to prove the right behavior of the protocol as well as its performance over different transmission mediums.Junta de Andalucía EXC-2005-TIC-1023Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TEC2006-0843

Enzalutamide: a new prostate cancer targeted therapy against the androgen receptor

[Abstract] Enzalutamide (MDV3100), an androgen receptor-signalling inhibitor, represents the most recent compound added to the therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who progressed to docetaxel. The anti-tumour activity and safety of enzalutamide has been demonstrated in a phase III clinical trial, showing a benefit in overall survival, which was the primary endpoint. There are no head-to-head studies comparing the different treatment options in this subset of patients. In this article, most relevant data published in the literature have been reviewed, with special attention to the therapeutic alternatives currently available for postdocexatel mCRPC patients, emphasising the mechanisms of action of the different drugs, efficacy and quality of life-related aspects

Radium-223 dichloride: a new paradigm in the treatment of prostate cancer

Review[Abstract] Radionuclides have been widely used for cancer treatment. Recently, new research about radium-223 dichloride has been conducted in prostate cancer, which reveals that it is the first radiopharmaceutical to demonstrate an improvement in overall survival and time to first symptomatic skeletal event in patients with castration resistant prostate cancer with symptomatic bone metastases. This fact has created a new paradigm in the treatment of prostate cancer landscape, where only chemotherapy and hormone therapy had a role, while β-emitters had been confined exclusively to the role of pain relief with no impact on survival. The aim of this review is to outline current treatment approaches for advanced prostate cancer with a focus on the role of radium-223 dichloride, reviewing patients' profile that make them suitable to therapy and chances for further studies

A new scenario in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a SOG‑GU consensus

[Abstract] Background This article describes and compares approved targeted therapies and the newer immunotherapy agents. Materials and methods This article especially performs an in-depth review of currently available data for tivozanib, explaining its mechanism of action, its safety profle and its role as an efcacy drug in the management of renal cancer. Results Despite the fact that the treatment of advanced RCC has been dramatically modifed in recent years, durable remissions are scarce and it remains a lethal disease. For frst- and second-line therapy, there is now growing evidence to guide the selection of the appropriate treatment. Conclusions Several TKIs are standard of care at diferent settings. Among those approved TKIs, tivozanib has similar efcacy than others with a better safety profle. The use of prognostic factors is critical to the selection of optimal therapy