The Impact of Novel RF MEMS and SDCs on Smart Antenna Technologies

This paper evaluates the impact of the newest micro & nanotechnologies on smart antenna systems. After analyzing the key features of the main mobile wireless systems of the present - UMTS, CDMA2000, WiMax 802.16e, and MBWA 802.20, we have identified some common issues, requirements and limitations. Dwelling on the SDC -Software-Defined Component perspectives we have analyzed the impact of novel RF MEMS on reconfigurable circuits, namely on smart antenna systems. This lead us to imagine a software-defined autonomous antenna - SDAA, which includes the RF module. This in turn, integrated on a SDR platform, will prototype the idea of extending the SDR concept over the RF module. This paper introduces our proposed SDR & SDAA architecture and its benefits.