Dual-monopole array backed by a reflector for antenna diversity/MIMO systems

A dual-monopole array backed by a plane reflector is designed and rigorously analysed to provide information on the installations and applications of monopole arrays mounted on a wall or ceiling for antenna diversity/multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) operations. The optimum design of the array is determined through computer simulation. On the basis of the experimental measurements and theoretical investigations in a typical rich multipath environment, the authors found that both the diversity gain and the average MIMO capacity of the array are almost unaffected by the distance of the array from the reflector if the distance is greater than ~0.16lambda. On the other hand, both the diversity gain and the average MIMO capacity are significantly reduced once the separation between the monopoles is less than ~0.2lambda. The findings have reference values for the design of monopole arrays in diversity/MlMO systems