Ultra Wide Band Technology: Performance of Physical Layer

Abstract

Despite the fact ultra-wideband (UWB) technology has been around for over 30 years,there is a newfound excitement about its potential for communications. With theadvantageous qualities of multipath immunity and low power spectral density, re-searchers are examining fundamental questions about UWB communication systems.In this work, I analyze following features.IR-UWB is a potential physical layer forsensor networks and emerging pervasive wireless networks.Their average data-rate islow, on the order of a few megabits per second. IR-UWB physical layers are attractivefor these networks because they potentially combine low-power consumption, robust-ness to multipath fading and to interference, and location/ranging capability. Detailed discussion of the fundamentals of UWB technology, short-pulse generation,UWB modulation and multiple-access techniques, as well as UWB applications. Comparative analysis of UWB, narrowband, and spread-spectrum wideband com-munication systems, emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of UWB technologycompared to traditional continuous-wave wireless communications techniques. In one part of this thesis, I am interested in IEEE 802.15.4a, a standard for lowdata-rate, low complexity networks that employs an IR-UWB physical layer. Comprehensive bibliographies at the end of the thesis to help readers delve furtherinto the concepts discussed in the thesis.In this report, I derive the performance graphs for UWB communication systemsusing dierent combining techniques in a RAKE Receiver. Comparisons have alsobeen made between the techniques and conclusions have been drawn based on therequirements. I also incorporate the eect of number of ngers on the performance ofthe receivers. The results obtained give me way to evaluate the performance of Rakereception of UWB signals in dense multipath channels. I present simulation resultsusing IEEE 802.15.3a UWB channel models. I evaluate the performances of RakeReceivers with dierent pulse-widths.