Adaptive array antenna for WLAN: A smart approach to beam switching through phase shifting in feed network

Abstract

The WLAN is operated in some high traffic area where the radiation beam produced by the antenna is to be utilized with optimum efficiency. The aim of those antennas is to produce some directive and switched beams rather than producing Omni-directional pattern since these beam patterns are considered to be wastage in some non-used or low traffic areas. Hence, the antenna systems producing the directive and switched beams should be highly preferred for the WLAN application. A smart antenna array system performs the adaptive beam forming by focusing the beam in the desired direction and creating nulls in other directions to avoid the interference and the wasting of the beams. This is performed by the operating the phase shifting in its feed network and different ports. This paper investigates the performance of the different array patterns with different phase shifting for the optimum performance of the WLAN applications in a high congested indoor environment.