Ray-Tracing for Multipath

Propagation and Simplified Path loss

Model
Lecture3: Goldsmith book Ch-2

𝒓𝒊 𝒕 = 𝑹𝒆 𝑲𝒊 𝒖(𝒕 − 𝝉𝒊 )𝒆𝒋𝟐𝝅𝒇𝒄(𝒕−𝝉𝒊

λ 𝐺𝑡 𝐺𝑟
𝑲𝒊 = 4𝜋𝒅𝒊
Recap: Multipath and Ray Tracing
• In a typical urban or indoor environment, a radio signal
transmitted from a fixed source will encounter multiple objects
in the environment that produce reflected, diffracted, or
scattered copies of the transmitted signal.

• These copies of the transmitted signal, called multipath signal

components, may be
• attenuated in power (𝐾𝑖 ) 𝒓𝒊 𝒕 = 𝑹𝒆 𝑲𝒊 𝒖(𝒕 − 𝝉𝒊 )𝒆𝒋𝟐𝝅𝒇𝒄(𝒕−𝝉𝒊
• delayed in time (𝜏𝑖 ) λ 𝐺𝑡 𝐺𝑟
𝑲 =
• different phase shifts ( 𝑒 −𝑗2𝜋𝑓𝑐𝜏𝑖 ) as the carrier signal also 𝒊 4𝜋𝒅𝒊

suffers from path delay

2
• The multipath signals are added together at the receiver, often
resulting in distortion of the received signal.

• The details of multipath propagation effect can be solved by

Maxwell’s wave equation, which are highly complicated!

• We adopt ray-tracing method to model multipath propagation.

Two-Ray Model
• Single ground reflection dominates the multipath effect.

• The received signal consists of two components:

• Line-of-sight (LOS) component

• Reflected component or ray, which is the transmitted signal

reflected off the ground.

• Write down the superimposed received signal for Tx signal

𝑢𝑝 𝑡 = 𝑅𝑒 𝑢 𝑡 𝑒 𝑗2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 4
• Transmitted signal : 𝑢𝑝 𝑡 = 𝑅𝑒 𝑢 𝑡 𝑒 𝑗2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡

• Received signal at time t in LOS direction (free space pathloss)

By law of Geometrical optics,
λ 𝐺𝑎 𝐺𝑏 𝑙 𝑗2𝜋𝑓𝑐 (𝑡− 𝑙 - Similar triangles are formed
)
𝑅𝑒 𝑢 𝑡− 𝑒 𝑐
4𝜋𝑙 𝑐

• Received signal at time t after ground refection

𝑥+𝑥′
λ 𝐺𝑐 𝐺𝑑 𝑥+𝑥 ′ 𝑗2𝜋𝑓𝑐 (𝑡− 𝑐 )
𝑅𝑒 𝑅 𝑢 𝑡− 𝑒
4𝜋(𝑥+𝑥 ′ ) 𝑐

where reflection coefficient R

Delay spread
Two-Ray Model Tx signal 𝑢𝑝 𝑡 = 𝑅𝑒 𝑢 𝑡 𝑒 𝑗2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡

• By superposition of the two paths, the received signal

  l  j 2l /  x  x /  j 2  ( x  x ') /   
   Gl u (t  c )e R Gr u (t 
c
)e  j 2f t 
r2 ray (t )  Re   e c 
 4  l x  x'  
   

• Assume that √Gl = √GaGb, √Gr = √GcGd

𝑥+𝑥 / −𝑙
• Channel delay spread 𝜏𝑑 =
𝑐

7
 Received Signal Power Under Narrowband Assumption
Narrowband signal: Delay spread << symbol duration
𝑙 𝑥+𝑥 ′
• For narrowband signal 𝑢 𝑡 − ≈𝑢 𝑡− . With this
𝑐 𝑐
approximation, the received power for narrowband transmission
2
 j
  
2
Gl R Gr e
Pr  Pt   
 4  l x  x'
where

is the phase difference between the two received signal components

We are interested to find (Pr/Pt) versus distance (d) when d is very large
8
Two-Ray Model: Received power (approx.)
• For asymptotically large d
• x + x’ ≈ l ≈ d,
• θ ≈ 0, R ≈ −1 (phase is inverted after reflection)
• Gl ≈ Gr

• We get 2
  Gl 
Pr  Pt   1  e  j
2

 4d 
 

10
Two-Ray Model: Received power in Far Field
• For asymptotically large d, ∆∅ 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑

1 e  j 2
  
2

• Therefore, the received power

1
• 𝑃𝑟 ∝
𝑑4

• Power decreases with as the inverse fourth power of the distance in the far field

11
 Received power vs distance
• A plot below shows received power (dB) as a function of distance (dB)
• f = 900MHz, R = -1, ht = 50 m, hr = 2 m, Gl = Gr = 1.

(Normalized
w.r.t. Tx
power)

12
Insights
• The plot can be separated into three segments. For d < ht , the two rays add
constructively and the path loss is roughly flat. It is proportional to 1/l2 ≈
1/(d2+h2t) ≈ 1/(h2t) for ℎ𝑡 ≫ ℎ𝑟 .

• For distances bigger than ht and up to a certain critical distance dc, the wave
experiences constructive and destructive interference of the two rays,
resulting in a wave pattern with a sequence of maxima and minima. These
maxima and minima are also referred to as small-scale or multipath fading.

• At the critical distance dc the final maximum is reached, after which the
signal power falls off proportionally to d−4. This rapid falloff with distance is
due to the fact that for d > dc the signal components only combine
destructively, so they are out of phase by at least π.
• An approximation for dc can be obtained by setting Δφ = π,
obtaining dc = 4hthr/λ.

13
Cell Design Example 1
• f = 900MHz, R= -1, ht = 50m, hr = 2m, Gl = Gr = 1

• The received power is relatively constant (receiver gain is 1 or 0 dB) up

to a distance of 50 m. The critical distance in this case is about 1000 m.

• Power fall-off between 50m and dc is about -20 dB/decade. Beyond the
critical distance it increases to -40 dB/decade.

• The critical distance dc can be used for system design. For example, if
propagation in a cellular system obeys the two-ray model then the
critical distance would be a natural size for the cell radius.

14
Example 2
(a) Determine the critical distance for the two-ray model in an urban microcell (ht = 10m, hr = 3
m) and an indoor microcell (ht = 3 m, hr = 2 m) for fc = 2 GHz.

(b) For a two-path propagation model with transmitter-receiver separation d = 100 m, ht = 10

m, and hr = 2m, find the delay spread for fc= 1 GHz.

(c) Find the critical distance dc under the two-path model for a large macro-cell in a suburban
area ( far away from city) with the base station mounted on a tower or building (ht = 20m), the
receivers at height hr = 3m, and fc = 2GHz. Is this a good size for cell radius in a suburban macro
cell?

15
Example 2 solution
(a)The critical distance
4*10*3
dc   800m
3 / 20

(b) For a two-path propagation model with transmitter-receiver separation d

= 100 m, ht = 10 m, and hr = 2m, find the delay spread between the two
signals for fc= 1 GHz.

𝑥+𝑥 ′ −𝑙
• Delay spread 𝜏𝑑 = ,
𝑐

16
Example 2 solution
(c) Find the critical distance dc under the two-path model for a large macro-cell in a suburban area
with the base station mounted on a tower or building (ht = 20m), the receivers at height hr = 3m,
and fc = 2GHz. Is this a good size for cell radius in a suburban macrocell?

3 x108

2 x109
4 x 20 x3
dc   1.6km
3 / 20
• This is a good radius for suburban cell radius as user density is low so cells can be kept fairly large.
Also, shadowing is less due to fewer obstacles.

17
Impulse Response of the Channel

  l  j 2l /  x  x /  j 2  ( x  x ') /   
   Gl u (t  )e R Gr u (t  )e  j 2f t 
r2 ray (t )  Re  c  c e c 
 4  l x  x'  
   
 
 Re r baseband (t )e j 2f ct

𝐴𝑖
In general, 𝑟𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡 = σ𝑖 𝑒 −𝑗2𝜋𝑓𝑐𝜏𝑖 𝑢(𝑡 − 𝜏𝑖 )
𝑙𝑖

𝑙𝑖
where 𝑙𝑖 is the length of the 𝑖 𝑡ℎ path, and 𝜏𝑖 = is delay occurred through
𝑐
the 𝑖 𝑡ℎ path.
18
Impulse Response of the Channel
𝐴𝑖
• 𝑟𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡 = σ𝑖 𝑒 −𝑗2𝜋𝑓𝑐𝜏𝑖 𝑢(𝑡 − 𝜏𝑖 )
𝑙𝑖
• Therefore, complex baseband channel impulse response is

𝐴𝑖
ℎ𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡 = σ𝑖 𝑒 −𝑗2𝜋𝑓𝑐𝜏𝑖 δ(𝑡 − 𝜏𝑖 )
𝑙𝑖

• Corresponding frequency-domain response is

𝐴𝑖
𝐻𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓 = σ𝑖 𝑒 −𝑗2𝜋𝑓𝑐𝜏𝑖 𝑒 −𝑗2𝜋𝑓𝜏𝑖
𝑙𝑖
Example
• Determine the parameters of the two ray model: Delay spread & Gain of each path.

• fc = 900 MHz, ht=10m, hr=5m, d=50m. Antenna gains can be assumed to be 1 and ground
reflection coefficient equal to -1.

20
Solution

•  = 1/3 m
• Path gain and delay of each path

λ𝑒 −𝑗2𝜋𝑙/λ 𝑙
𝛼1 = , 𝜏1 =
4𝜋𝑙 𝑐
′
−λ𝑒 −𝑗2𝜋(𝑥+𝑥 )/λ 𝑥+𝑥 ′
𝛼2 = , 𝜏2 =
4𝜋(𝑥+𝑥 ′ ) 𝑐

• Delay spread = 𝜏2 -𝜏1 = (𝑥 + 𝑥 ′ - l)/c = 6.5 ns

Example
• Consider a two-path channel with complex baseband impulse
response

• ℎ𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 (t) = α1δ(t-𝜏𝐿𝑂𝑆 )+ α2δ(t − 𝜏𝑟 ),

• where 𝜏𝑟 − 𝜏𝐿𝑂𝑆 = 0.022𝜇𝑠.

• Assuming the free space path loss model with a reflection

coefficient of -1, and the transmitter and receiver are located
8 meters above the ground and the carrier frequency is 900
MHz, find the distance separating the transmitter and
receiver, as well as α1 and α2.

22
Solution
• Solution:
• ht=hr=8 m,  = 1/3 m

• Delay spread = 0.022msec = (x+x’-l)/c and Assume antenna gains to be equal

to 1.
• For ht=hr, l=d, and 𝑥 + 𝑥’= 4ℎ2 + 𝑑 2

• Solving the equation above, d=16.1 m

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Solution
• The received signal

  16  j 96 22.6  j135.7  

   u (t  c )e u (t 
c
)e  j 2f ct 
r2 ray (t )  Re   e 
 4  16 22 .6  
   
𝑟𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡
λ𝑒 −𝑗2𝜋𝑙/λ λ𝑒 −𝑗96𝜋
• 𝛼1 = =
4𝜋𝑙 64𝜋

′
λ𝑒 −𝑗2𝜋(𝑥+𝑥 )/λ λ𝑒 −𝑗135.7𝜋
• 𝛼2 = =
4𝜋(𝑥+𝑥 ′ ) 90𝜋

24
Empirical Path-Loss Models
• Most mobile comm. system operate in a complex propagation environment
that cannot be accurately modelled by free-space path loss model as given
by Friis equation.
• A number of path loss modals have been developed to predict path loss in
typical wireless environment such as urban macro, urban micro, inside
building environment etc. (See Section 2.5 in Goldsmith book)
• Okumura model
• Hata model
• Piecewise linear model

• However, they are complicated. A simple model that captures the essence
of signal propagation quite well is simplified path loss model
 Simplified Path-loss Model: (Mostly used for fc < 6GHz)
(Section 2.6 of Goldsmith book)

• The received power 𝑃𝑟 for the transmit power 𝑃𝑡 at a distance d is

d 
Pr (dBm)  Pt (dBm)  K (dB)  10g log10  
 d0 

• K is a unit less constant that depends on the antenna characteristics and reference
distance 𝑑0 . 2
λ 𝐺
𝐾=
4𝜋𝑑0

• 𝑑0 is a reference distance. Typical value for 𝑑0 indoor: 1-10 m and

outdoor: 100 m to 1 km

• g is the path loss exponent.

Typical Path-loss Exponent g

• The typical values of g are as: 𝑃𝑟 ∝ 𝑑−𝛾

Under what conditions is the simplified path loss model the same as the free
space path loss model?
2
 G 
• Free space path loss model: Pr  Pt  

 4d 

• Simplified Path Loss model

2
λ 𝐺
where K =
4𝜋𝑑0

For any distance d, the above two models are same when
𝜸=𝟐
For any 𝛾, they are equal when
d = 𝒅𝟎
28
Example
• 1(a). Consider the set of empirical measurements of Pr/Pt given
in the table below for an indoor system at 900 MHz. Find the
path loss exponent 𝛾 that minimizes the MSE between the
simplified path loss model and the empirical dB power
measurements, assuming that d0 = 1 m and K is determined
from the free space path gain formula at this d0 with
omnidirectional antenna.

29
Solution
• Given information: =1/3 m, d0=1m, G=1.
• Simplified path loss model:
2
  G   1 / 3 2
K    
  4 
 4d 0 

K (dB)  20 log10 (12 )  31.5266dB

d 
Pr (dBm)  Pt (dBm)  K (dB)  10g log10  
 d0 
Solution
• Now set up the MMSE error equation for the dB power measurements as
f(𝛾) = [Mmeasured(di) −Mmodel(di)]2,

• Where Mmeasured(di) is the path gain (Pr/Pt) at distance di from empirical measurement

• Mmodel(di) = K (dB)−10𝛾 log10(di/d0) is path gain at distance di from simplified path loss model

f(𝛾) = (−70 + 31.54 + 10𝛾)2 + (−75 + 31.54 + 13.01𝛾)2 + (−90 + 31.54 + 16.99𝛾)2 + (−110 + 31.54 + 20𝛾)2 + (−125 +
31.54 + 24.77𝛾)2
= 21676.3 − 11654.9𝛾 + 1571.47𝛾2.

Differentiating f(𝛾) relative to 𝛾 and setting it to zero yields

−11654.9 + 3142.94𝛾 = 0 → 𝛾 = 3.71

31
1(b) Find the received power at 150 m for the simplified path loss
model with this path loss exponent and a transmit power of 1 mW
(= 0 dBm).

• To find the received power at 150 m under the simplified path

loss model with K = −31.54 dB, 𝛾 = 3.71, and Pt = 0 dBm,

Pr (dB)= Pt (dB)+ K (dB) - 10𝛾 log10(d/d0)

= 0 − 31.54 − 10 ∗ 3.71 log10(150)
= −112.27 dBm.
Simplified Path Loss Model Accuracy
Received power vs. distance
-60

-70
The difference is
captured by the
-80 variation due to
“shadowing”
received power in dB

-90

-100
estimated power (simplified path loss model)

-110 actual power

( empirical
measurements)
-120

-130
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
distance (m)
Example
• Consider a receiver with noise power -160 dBm within the signal bandwidth of interest.
Assume a simplified path loss model with d0 = 1 m, K obtained from the free space path
loss formula with omni-directional antennas and fc = 1 GHz, and 𝛾 = 4. For a transmit
power of Pt = 10 mW, find the maximum distance between the transmitter and receiver
such that the received signal-to-noise power ratio is 20 dB.

34
solution
• Given: Pt = 10 dBm
• Required Pr = -160+20=-140 dBm

• =0.3m, 𝛾 = 4,
K(dB) = 20*log10( 𝐺/4𝑑0 ) =20*log10(0.3/4)=-32.44 dB

• Need to find distance d such that the received power is at least -140 dBm.

• Pr (dB) = Pt (dB) + K(dB) - 10g log10(d/𝑑0 )

-140=10-32.44-40*log10(d)
• d = 869.4 m

• Then, distance should be less than or equal to d to achieve the SNR of 20

dB.