Diversity antenna studies at 2.3 GHz for automotive applications, and MEMS-based antenna diversity switching circuit

In this paper, we present work on diversity antenna experiments in the 2.3 GHz band, specifically for applications in the automotive environment. We describe the case of. two-element position diversity, and we study the effects of the antenna positions on the amount of diversity gain. The presentation consists primarily of measurement data on a moving vehicle, with software postprocessing to determine the effects of diversity combining. We present several diversity combining schemes, and describe hardware that we have built to address one of these schemes. Finally, we make several conclusions regarding the optimum geometry for antenna diversity in an automotive environment.