Space-time polarization signaling for wireless communications

A polarization-based spread-spectrum spatio-temporal signaling scheme is proposed in this paper for transmitters consisting of an array of vector radiators. Each vector radiator consists of two closely spaced perpendicular antennas and each antenna is assigned a unique signature sequence. At the receiver, all three electric field components of the scattered signal are measured using an array of vector sensors. Each vector sensor consists of three closely spaced perpendicular antennas. The proposed polarization signaling scheme is cast in the framework of a general multiple antenna system. The distinguishing feature of polarization signaling lies within the resulting channel statistics. In particular, polarization signaling can be exploited to achieve diversity gain using less physical space than conventional antenna array approaches. We identify the key parameters controlling system performance and evaluate the relative advantages of polarization signaling under constraints of aperture size and number of antenna elements for given spatial scattering statistics.