COURSE # TRO-312

“…most timely overview and a solid introduction to the emerging ultra wide band technology, its applications and a marketplace…”

Based on their new book, Ultra-Wideband Radio Technology , Wiley: UK, 2004, authors Siwiak and McKeown trace UWB technology through history, regulations, standards, system implementations and commercial applications. They strike a judicious balance between sufficient technical detail for the practitioner, and practical and strategic observations to benefit technology managers, marketers and potential investors in the technology. There has been a recent surge of invention and commercialization interest following the FCC’s “Report and Order” which allows an unprecedented access to more than 7.5 GHz of unlicensed UWB spectrum in the US. Methods of generating and modulating UWB signals are described and presented in the context of UWB proposals for IEEE802 Standards. Interesting UWB antenna, radiation, and propagation phenomena, including unique behavior in multipath, are presented and compared with narrow band radio. Examples of UWB link margins, including data throughput versus range and system data capacity (up to 2 Gb/s), are compared with conventional and much higher power 802.11a/b systems. The future of UWB is a judicious mix of wireless communications, precision positioning and radar. UWB can enable an accurate indoor adjunct to GPS with centimeter accuracy. Discussions of applications show that UWB capabilities make possible delivery of location-specific content and information, tracking of high value assets, security systems and emerging automotive and home based “location awareness” systems.

Applications and benefits:

• The communications systems market drivers:

  cost, size, data rates, capacity…

• The UWB concepts:

  promises made, promises delivered…

• Historical evolutionary path:

  technology, funding, regulations, standards…

• UWB technology ‘best fit’:

  commercial: 802.xx, 3G, 4G and beyond…

  defense: portable radar systems, through the wall imaging…

Who should attend:

The strive for broadband communications is not new; increasing data rates and capacity requirements demand it. Consequently, the evolving 802.xx and 3G standards go far beyond the ‘old’ 30kHz and even 1.25 MHz channel bandwidths, yet the radio techniques, air interface, modulation, etc., remain a convenient (and ingenious) mix from the past. UWB evolved in a manner independent from any standards, and hence bears only very few similarities. Recent regulatory changes and technology advances brought to light its great potential. This course presents an overview and introduction to the issues, regulations and technology of UWB, and is an invaluable resource for engineers and technical staff, managers and business development personnel who plan to pursue this technology, or compete with it.

Course Outline:

• History of Wireless and UWB

  The earliest wireless was “UWB” but spectrum sharing technology evolved around narrow band techniques. The development of wireless shows a trend back towards UWB as new techniques make the technology more attractive.

• Regulatory Climate - Summary of Regulatory Activities

  By 2002 US FCC regulations are written to permit the deployment of UWB under the unlicensed provisions of the regulations. Both European and Asian regulators are considering permitting the technology along a similar path.

• Standards: UWB in IEEE802

  Ultra-high data rate standard is evolving under IEEE 802.15.3a, and a lower data rate version including positioning is growing in IEEE 802.15.4a. Standards for UWB deployment are under review in Europe.

• Generating and Modulating UWB Signals

  Methods of generating UWB signals are discussed: “time” signal designs and how they fill the spectrum; modulating UWB signals with data.

• Radiating UWB Signals

  UWB signal shapes change in the radiation and reception process. The process is followed from currents supplied to the antenna, to fields in space and finally to terminal voltages at the receiving antenna.

• Propagating UWB Signals

  Once launched as propagating wavelets, UWB signals are affected by multipath differently than conventional narrow band radio signals.

• Receiving UWB Signals

  UWB became practical with the advent of efficient recovery techniques for the UWB wavelet energy.

• UWB Link Budgets and System Capacity

  The link budget for UWB is constrained by regulations, bandwidth, and device technology. Samples of link designs are discussed. With 7.5 GHz of spectrum available (in the USA), UWB offers some unique challenges and capabilities in system design. Huge aggregate and shared capacities are available. Capacities are compared with the existing 802.11a/b systems.

• Location Awareness and Positioning in UWB-RT

  UWB bandwidth and some modulation techniques allow for a high degree of positioning accuracy making the concept of location awareness a part of future wireless systems. The value of knowing “where” a device is will take on an economic valuation on par with the valuation of the actual data transferred on UWB data links.

• Applications and Future Considerations

  Systems deployment will commence under the UWB standards; special applications systems will also begin to appear. The R&D trends and directions will fin UWB appearing as a participant in late 3G and early 4G scenarios.

Course: TRO-312        Duration: 3 Days        FEE: $1,499       CEUs: 2.16

Please direct any additional inquiries regarding this course to Anita Hellstrom, Program Coordinator, by e-mail, FAX: (636) 273-4955 or TELEPHONE: (636) 273-9608.

Call toll free 1-800-683-7267 from anywhere in the Continental U.S. or CANADA.

Last modified January 30, 2004.