Simulación y evaluación de wenlaces Wi-Fi para una máquina de tomografía computarizada

Abstract

In development, research, and implementation environments for wireless communication technologies, the importance of using simulation tools becomes evident, as they allow prototypes to be validated and the behavior of a system to be predicted. This document describes the process through which the prototype of a Wi-Fi transmission system for a CT Machine at Siemens Healthineers was validated and tested, mainly using MATLAB and its WLAN Toolbox as tools for signal generation and simulation. The objective during this process was to understand the structure of Wi-Fi frames under the Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac) and Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax) standards by analyzing the different modulation schemes, the channel models that could affect transmission, and the channel estimation and equalization processes required for successful reception. Subsequently, the limitations of the prototype’s hardware components were identified. The sampling frequency of the signal to be transmitted had to be adjusted so that it matched the operation of the system’s DAC and FIFO memory, while maintaining the original bandwidth. Finally, the effects of the channel on the signal were observed. Although the signal had sufficient power to ensure a good signal-to-noise ratio, propagation in a rotating environment composed of metallic elements may have caused distortions in the transmission. Thus, the importance of the elements that enable frame synchronization, channel estimation, and channel equalization is reaffirmed, as they provide fundamental support in ensuring efficient communication. Throughout this process, the integration of theory and practice in the analysis and transmission of Wi-Fi signals was achieved, confirming the importance of understanding the system being used in order to implement simulations that provide relevant information, as well as testing processes that allow changes and improvements to be implemented within the prototype.