Wideband Analysis of Coupled Reverberation Chambers for Testing MIMO Systems

In this paper, a wideband characterization of coupled reverberation chambers is presented. This testbed allows to model dense multipath environments and to control the channel by means of a waveguide connecting the two chambers. A wideband model is first proposed. This model emphasizes the presence of different independent paths between the emitter and the receiver. Some measurements of impulse response are then presented. Very high values of rms delay spread are obtained between the chambers leading to inadequacy with indoor environments for example. A modification of the testbed by means of absorbing materials is proposed. Measurements results are presented showing that the best position for placing absorbing materials is in the transmitter chamber. The values of rms delays spread obtained pave the way to a new testbed for MIMO systems