Space Time Block Codes for MIMO systems: History to Recent Developments

Himanshu Khanna

Abstract: Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) communication is a proven technique to increase the throughput, diversity gain and increase the energy gain by reducing the energy consumption of the wireless network. Space time diversity used in MIMO systems is a technique to mitigate multipath fading. The same information is transmitted over multiple channels that fade independently. So, space time diversity is achieved. Transmit space time diversity is achieved if the transmitter has knowledge of the channel. But, if the transmitter does not know the channel then it is necessary to code across both space and time to achieve diversity which is termed as space time coding. In this article, we discuss the developments in MIMO systems and Space Time Block Coding Techniques for MIMO systems, over the years.

Keywords: Space time block codes, diversity, fading, relay channel, user cooperation