Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
Technology Overview
Ultra-wideband (UWB) permits short-range, high-bandwidth communications at very low energy levels by using a large portion of the radio spectrum. UWB has traditionally been used for radar imaging with pulsed signals. Today’s UWB systems for wireless connectivity communications are based on an OFDM system structure. The most important UWB communications system, promoted by WiMedia®, also uses a multiband OFDM (MB-OFDM) structure, which is implemented in the ECMA-368 standard. This standard is optimized for low power consumption at high data rates. WiMedia® UWB technology has been selected by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. for high-speed Bluetooth® and by the USB Implementers Forum for wireless USB.
Applications
Typical applications for UWB include wireless USB, as well as video streaming, for example between digital camcorders and wireless monitors, TVs and other digital user devices. UWB is also used for high data rate Bluetooth connections.
Rohde & Schwarz Test Solutions
The R&S®AFQ100B UWB signal and I/Q modulation generator is an excellent choice for generating the baseband signals required in order to develop and test UWB components and receivers. Its 528 MHz RF bandwidth is optimally suited for one WiMedia® UWB band. Additionally, ECMA-368-compliant signals can easily be generated by means of the R&S®WinIQSIM2TM software tool (R&S®AFQ-K264).
To generate UWB signals in the RF, use the new R&S®SMBV100A vector signal generator to upconvert the baseband signal delivered by the R&S®AFQ100B. The R&S®SMBV100A features an I/Q modulator with an RF bandwidth of 528 MHz, which is ideal for signals provided by the R&S®AFQ100B.
Key Parameters
| UWB | |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range |
Show / Hide
|
| Modulation | QPSK |
| Multiple Access | TFI-OFDM |
| Duplex (Uplink/Downlink) | TDD |
| Channel Bandwidth | 528 MHz |
| Number of Channels | 6 band groups |
| Peak Data Rate | 480 Mbit/s |
| Max. Speed | 1 km/h |
| Max. Distance | 10 m |
Standardization
The MB-OFDM proposal was released in the ECMA-368 standard in December 2005 and has been adopted by the WiMedia Alliance. The ECMA-368 standard has also been selected by Bluetooth to establish itself as a successful high data rate standard.
