Multipath communications using a phase-conjugate array

A new microwave wireless communications scheme based on a phase-conjugating retrodirective antenna is introduced for maintaining a reliable radio link in a severe multipath environment. The method does not eliminate multipath, but uses it advantageously and is better suited to cope with mobile receivers than other methods. In the ideal case, the negative effects of multipath propagation can be completely avoided and multipath propagation only improves reliability of the radio channel. The principle is experimentally verified at 5.35 GHz and demonstrates that severe fading can be avoided and variation of received signal power can be reduced.