Indoor channel measurements of point-to-point ultra broadband short range links between 75 GHz and 110 GHz

摘要

Recently, frequencies at 60 GHz and beyond have been regaining interest for high-speed wireless communication applications [1], [2]. Decreasing technology costs on one hand and an increasing demand for higher data rates on the other hand, make a spectral shift to the millimeter wave range desirable. In the long run, the sub-millimeter wave range could be of interest, considering large available bandwidths. Emerging applications encompass uncompressed high definition video streaming and ultra fast data transfers. Especially the latter group will be primarily operated in point-to-point line of sight (LOS) short range links of several to few tens centimeters, where examples include file sharing and generic data transfers between computers and peripheral devices as well as kiosk downloading to or from a handheld, as envisaged by the IEEE 802.15.3c standardization body [3]. Indoor channel characteristics in the 60 GHz band have been thoroughly studied, including among others spatial and temporal properties [4], effects of antenna directivity and polarization [5] and the influence of the human activity [6]. In contrast, indoor propagation channel investigations beyond 60 GHz are scarce in literature. In [7], effects of polarization, antenna directivity and room size on multipath characteristics are studied at 94 GHz. However, the measurements there are narrow band, spanning only 900 MHz around the center frequency of 94.45 GHz. Hence, in light of emerging applications, there is a clear need for intensified measurement campaigns to characterize indoor channel beyond 60 GHz. In this paper, propagation properties of point-to-point links, i.e. aiming at applications based on LOS short range, i.e. in the range of several to few tens centimeters data transfers are studied in W-band, encompassing the frequency range between 75 GHz and 110 GHz. Considered antenna configurations involve high gain - high gain as well as high gain - low gain realizations. The analysis is performed in the temporal domain, whereby the focus is placed on the effects of mispointing of antennas.