TY - JOUR
T1 - A Novel Low-Cost Channel Sounder for Double-Directionally Resolved Measurements in the MmWave band
AU - Hammoud, Hussein
AU - Zhang, Yuning
AU - Cheng, Zihang
AU - Sangodoyin, Seun
AU - Hofer, Markus
AU - Pasic, Faruk
AU - Pohl, Thomas
AU - Zavorka, Radek
AU - Prokes, Ales
AU - Zemen, Thomas
AU - Mecklenbräuker, Christoph F.
AU - Molisch, Andreas F.
PY - 2024/11/13
Y1 - 2024/11/13
N2 - Since the design of wireless MIMO systems requires knowledge of the double-directional (i.e., directionally resolved at both link ends) channel characteristics, and 5G/6G use higher frequency bands, there is the need for double-directional measurements in the mmWave spectrum, along with channel sounders that can accurately perform such measurements. This paper introduces a novel channel sounding approach based on a redirecting rotating mirror arrangement (ReRoMA). The method is low-cost and flexible as it requires only a single radio frequency chain at each link end and performs mechanical beamsteering. However, in contrast to existing rotating-horn systems, it physically separates the signal generation/transmission and the beam steering components, resulting in orders-of-magnitude faster measurements. The paper outlines the fundamental concept, describes details of the implementation, and demonstrates its application and accuracy using a $60$\,GHz prototype for measurements in static reference scenarios, as well as dynamic measurements. We illustrate the detected propagation paths using dynamic angular and delay power spectra and correlate these findings with the surrounding environmental structure. Locations of environmental objects are detected within the Fourier resolution determined by bandwidth and horn width, with no noticeable degradation due to the faster measurements.
AB - Since the design of wireless MIMO systems requires knowledge of the double-directional (i.e., directionally resolved at both link ends) channel characteristics, and 5G/6G use higher frequency bands, there is the need for double-directional measurements in the mmWave spectrum, along with channel sounders that can accurately perform such measurements. This paper introduces a novel channel sounding approach based on a redirecting rotating mirror arrangement (ReRoMA). The method is low-cost and flexible as it requires only a single radio frequency chain at each link end and performs mechanical beamsteering. However, in contrast to existing rotating-horn systems, it physically separates the signal generation/transmission and the beam steering components, resulting in orders-of-magnitude faster measurements. The paper outlines the fundamental concept, describes details of the implementation, and demonstrates its application and accuracy using a $60$\,GHz prototype for measurements in static reference scenarios, as well as dynamic measurements. We illustrate the detected propagation paths using dynamic angular and delay power spectra and correlate these findings with the surrounding environmental structure. Locations of environmental objects are detected within the Fourier resolution determined by bandwidth and horn width, with no noticeable degradation due to the faster measurements.
KW - channel measurements
KW - double-directional
KW - channel modelling
KW - mmwave
U2 - 10.1109/TWC.2024.3492184
DO - 10.1109/TWC.2024.3492184
M3 - Article
SN - 1536-1276
VL - 24
JO - IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications
JF - IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications
ER -