An investigation into the spatial heterogeneity of MIMO device with 3D deterministic channel modelling using single-probe anechoic chamber method

The multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) over-the-air (OTA) testing technique is envisaged capable of effectively emulating the channel environment. While characterizing classical cellular channels, spatial correlation can be used to evaluate the differences correlation between each pair of transmit and receive antennas. In the next-generation wireless systems, the presence of reflectors close to the wireless device in a complex electromagnetic environment as well as toward higher carrier frequency will cause heterogeneous channel characteristics. Consequently, the current MIMO OTA emulation techniques represented by multi-probe anechoic chamber (MPAC) method will hardly emulated the heterogeneity channels by planewave-based architecture. We propose a single-probe anechoic chamber (SPAC) based MIMO OTA solution to emulate the heterogeneous deterministic channel, which has been decomposed and synthesized for each array element in a temporally sequential manner. Both the theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate the proposed method can effectively extend the application scenarios for SPAC based MIMO OTA emulation.