On the Capacity of Printed Planar Rectangular Patch Antenna Arrays in the MIMO Channel: Analysis and Measurements [Wireless Corner]

Printed arrays of rectangular patch antennas are analyzed in terms of their MIMO performance using a full-wave channel model. These antennas are designed and manufactured in various array configurations, and their MIMO performance is measured in an indoor environment. Good agreement is achieved between the measurements and simulations performed using the full-wave channel model. Effects on the MIMO capacity of the mutual coupling and the electrical properties of the printed patches, such as the relative permittivity and thickness of the dielectric material, are explored.