Smart Antenna Systems for Mobile Communications

Full system design for narrowband smart antenna systems used in mobile communications.

Until recently, Base station antennas have been omnidirectional or sectored. This can be regarded as a waste of power as most of it will be radiated in other directions than toward the user. In addition, the power radiated in other directions will be experienced as interference by other users.

Smart antennas combine multiple antenna elements with a signal processing capability in order to optimize its radiation pattern automatically in response to the signal environment.

Smart antennas will lead to a much more efficient use of the power and spectrum, increasing the useful received power as well as reducing interference.