Multipath Performance of Handset Adaptive Array Antennas in the Vicinity of a Human Operator

This paper examines the performance of the adaptive array antennas used in digital handset systems by studying the minimum mean square error (MMSE) algorithm at 2 GHz. The array is comprised of multiple quarter-wavelength monopole antennas and planar inverted-F antennas (PIFAs). By calculating the spatial correlation between two different directions, we describe how significant enhancement in the capability of reducing interference signals can be achieved, even when the handset is being held in the vicinity of a human operator in the talking position. Secondly, a computer simulation has been carried out under a flat Rayleigh fading environment with multiple cochannel interference signals, in which the average bit error rate (BER) of the handset adaptive array antenna has been characterized for the coherent detection of phase-shift keyed (PSK) signals. The performance of the handset adaptive array is compared to that of an adaptive array comprising plural parallel half-wavelength dipole antennas that are one half-wavelength apart. The performance was also evaluated with regard to the distance between the handset and the human head for different unequal median values and fading correlations of the received signals. The study has revealed that the adaptive array under consideration has substantial potential, not only to reduce the relative power of interference signals, but also to combat multipath fading of the desired signal by using the spatial diversity function of the MMSE, even in close proximity to a human operator.