MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology

1. MIMO is a new wireless technology conceived in the mid 90’s
2. It is based on an entirely new paradigm for digital signal processing that multiplies the data rate throughput achievable in wireless communication products.
3. Greatly improves the reliability, range and robustness of the connection providing a much better user experience that is closer to “wired” Ethernet quality.
4. MIMO technology is now being introduced to the Wi-Fi market.

MIMO is a smart antenna technique that increases speed, range, reliability and spectral efficiency for wireless systems.
MIMO is one technology being considered for 802.11n, a standard for next-generation 802.11 that boosts throughput to 100M bit/sec.

• Smart antenna techniques use multiple antennas to improve wireless performance and reliability.
– Antennas themselves are “dumb” pieces of metal.
– “Smartness” comes from signal processing that is applied to the multiple antennas.
– There are differing degrees of smartness.
• Conventional, “single-dimension” (1D) smart antenna techniques transmit just one data stream per channel
– RF beamforming.
– Digital beamforming.
– Digital receive diversity combining.
• MIMO makes smart antennas “multi-dimension”.
– Multiple data streams in the same channel.
– 2-D signals.

BENEFITS OF MIMO TECHNOLOGY:
For Business
• Enables truly wireless office – replaces Ethernet
– Improves wireless reliability and robustness
– Reduces infrastructure cost - Doubles coverage area of each AP
– Rates to 108 Mbps in each channel – similar to wired Ethernet speed
• Improves VoIP performance
– Extends handset battery life
– Increases call capacity
For Consumers
• One AP covers your whole home with reliable service
– Penetrates more walls at higher rates
– No need to sit in the right place to use your laptop
• Supports new wireless multimedia applications
– Whole-home coverage for high-speed broadband access
– Reliable SDTV and HDTV video transport in home networks
– Multi-service applications – voice, video, data