Evaluation of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) System Capacity with Spatial Correlations

Problem statement: Today’s wireless technologies just won’t get us to the hyper connectivity of uninterrupted access from any mobile device with unlimited bandwidth at real-time speeds. This is due to the low data throughput and scarcity in spectrum. Approach: Under the condition of uncorrelated antenna elements, capacity of the Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system can be increased linearly with the number of antennas. But in practice correlation among the antenna elements exists and it can reduce the channel capacity. The effect of correlation can be reduced by using spatial diversity techniques. Results: The capacity of various MIMO configurations were analyzed and simulated. The effect of capacity of MIMO system due to correlation was presented with and without Eigen value distribution of the channel. The spatial correlation of dipole array and rectangular micro strip patch arrays were simulated with respect to various element spacing. Conclusion/Recommendations: The simulation results showed that, the capacity of MIMO system without spatial correlation was higher than with correlation effect. By comparing, the rectangular micro strip patch array has low correlation than dipole array and provides high capacity which can be utilized for high data rate applications.