Synchronization And Channel Estimation For Designing Ofdm Wlan Systems

Broadband wireless communication requires fast and reliable synchronization and channel estimation with low overhead and computation complexity. In this work, we address the above issue by two aspects. First, we develop training signal design for not only achieving low complexity reliable receiver processing algorithms, but also improving the theoretical limit. Second, we develop low complexity high performance receiver algorithms for both single user and multiuser system. We first investigate the optimal periodic preamble design for frequency offset estimation over frequency-selective fading channels by minimizing the average Cramer-Rao bound (CRB). The proposed design includes the optimal sequence structure design and the optimal signal design, and brings new dimensions into the existing theory of the training signal designs for frequency offset estimation. To track the channel variations as well as the phase shift, data-pilot multiplexing scheme is commonly used in OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplex) systems. The two performance metrics which are not jointly incorporated yet in the existing data-pilot multiplexing scheme design are the number of data tones transmitted over one OFDM symbol (data throughput) and the channel response and phase estimation performance. In this work, we propose two multiplexing schemes which significantly improve the estimation performance with low data throughput sacrifice, resulting in a substantial performance improvement over current pilot-data multiplexed schemes. In the uplink of OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access) systems, synchronization and channel estimation problems become more challenging since multiuser, multi-dimension parameters rather than single user parameters issue have to be estimated. The existing techniques have one or more of the following unfavorable requirements: high computation complexity, loss of frequency diversity, and performance sensitivity to the number of subscribe stations. To address the above drawbacks, we propose several training designs as well as the corresponding estimators for OFDMA uplink in this thesis, yielding robust low complexity estimators with enhanced performance.

Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) access schemes are becoming more prevalent among cellular and wireless broadband systems, accelerating the need for smaller, more energy efficient receiver solutions. Up to now the majority of OFDM texts have dealt with signal processing aspects. To address the current gap in OFDM integrated circuit (IC) instruction, Chiueh and Tsai have produced this timely text on baseband design. OFDM Baseband Receiver Design for Wireless Communications covers the gamut of OFDM technology, from theories and algorithms to architectures and circuits. Chiueh and Tsai give a concise yet comprehensive look at digital communications fundamentals before explaining modulation and signal processing algorithms in OFDM receivers. Moreover, the authors give detailed treatment of hardware issues -- from design methodology to physical IC implementation. Closes the gap between OFDM theory and implementation Enables the reader to transfer communication receiver concepts into hardware design wireless receivers with acceptable implementation loss achieve low-power designs Contains numerous figures to illustrate techniques Features concrete design examples of MC-CDMA systems and cognitive radio applications Presents theoretical discussions that focus on concepts rather than mathematical derivation Provides a much-needed single source of material from numerous papers Based on course materials for a class in digital communication IC design, this book is ideal for advanced undergraduate or post-graduate students from either VLSI design or signal processing backgrounds. New and experienced engineers in industry working on algorithms or hardware for wireless communications devices will also find this book to be a key reference.

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) due to its appealing features, such as robustness against frequency selective fading and simple channel equalization, is adopted in communications systems such as WLAN, WiMAX and DVB. However, OFDM systems are sensitive to synchronization errors caused by timing and frequency offsets. Besides, the OFDM receiver has to perform channel estimation for coherent detection. The goal of this thesis is to investigate new methods for timing and frequency synchronization and channel estimation in OFDM-based systems. First, we investigate new methods for preamble-aided coarse timing estimation in OFDM systems. Two novel timing metrics using high order statistics-based correlation and differential normalization functions are proposed. The performance of the new timing metrics is evaluated using different criteria including class-separability, robustness to the carrier frequency offset, and computational complexity. It is shown that the new timing metrics can considerably increase the class-separability due to their more distinct values at correct and wrong timing instants, and thus give a significantly better detection performance than the existing timing metrics do. Furthermore, a new method for coarse estimation of the start of the frame is proposed, which remarkably reduces the probability of inter-symbol interference (ISI). The improved performances of the new schemes in multipath fading channels are shown by the probabilities of false alarm, missed-detection and ISI obtained through computer simulations. Second, a novel pilot-aided algorithm is proposed for the detection of integer frequency offset (IFO) in OFDM systems. By transforming the IFO into two new integer parameters, the proposed method can largely reduce the number of trial values for the true IFO. The two new integer parameters are detected using two different pilot sequences, a periodic pilot sequence and an aperiodic pilot sequence. It is shown that the new scheme can significantly reduce the computational complexity while achieving almost the same performance as the previous methods do. Third, we propose a method for joint timing and frequency synchronization and channel estimation for OFDM systems that operate in doubly selective channels. Basis expansion modeling (BEM) that captures the time variations of the channel is used to reduce the number of unknown channel parameters. The BEM coefficients along with the timing and frequency offsets are estimated by using a maximum likelihood (ML) approach. An efficient algorithm is then proposed for reducing the computational complexity of the joint estimation. The complexity of the new method is assessed in terms of the number of multiplications. The mean square estimation error of the proposed method is evaluated in comparison with previous methods, indicating a remarkable performance improvement by the new method. Fourth, we present a new scheme for joint estimation of CFO and doubly selective channel in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems. In the proposed preamble-aided method, the time-varying channel is represented using BEM. CFO and BEM coefficients are estimated using the principles of particle and Kalman filtering. The performance of the new method in multipath time-varying channels is investigated in comparison with previous schemes. The simulation results indicate a remarkable performance improvement in terms of the mean square errors of CFO and channel estimates. Fifth, a novel algorithm is proposed for timing and frequency synchronization and channel estimation in the uplink of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems by considering high-mobility situations and the generalized subcarrier assignment. By using BEM to represent a doubly selective channel, a maximum likelihood (ML) approach is proposed to jointly estimate the timing and frequency offsets of different users as well as the BEM coefficients of the time-varying channels. A space-alternating generalized expectation-maximization algorithm is then employed to transform the maximization problem for all users into several simpler maximization problems for each user. The computational complexity of the new timing and frequency offset estimator is analyzed and its performance in comparison with that of existing methods using the mean square error is evaluated . Finally, two novel approaches for joint CFO and doubly selective channel estimation in the uplink of multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiple access (MIMO-OFDMA) systems are presented. Considering high-mobility situations, where channels change within an OFDMA symbol interval, and the time varying nature of CFOs, BEM is employed to represent the time variations of the channel. Two new approaches are then proposed based on Schmidt Kalman filtering (SKF). The first approach utilizes Schmidt extended Kalman filtering for each user to estimate the CFO and BEM coefficients. The second approach uses Gaussian particle filter along with SKF to estimate the CFO and BEM coefficients of each user. The Bayesian Cramer Rao bound is derived, and performance of the new schemes are evaluated using mean square error. It is demonstrated that the new schemes can significantly improve the mean square error performance in comparison with that of the existing methods.

The Second Edition of OFDM Baseband Receiver Design for Wirless Communications, this book expands on the earlier edition with enhanced coverage of MIMO techniques, additional baseband algorithms, and more IC design examples. The authors cover the full range of OFDM technology, from theories and algorithms to architectures and circuits. The book gives a concise yet comprehensive look at digital communication fundamentals before explaining signal processing algorithms in receivers. The authors give detailed treatment of hardware issues - from architecture to IC implementation. Links OFDM and MIMO theory with hardware implementation Enables the reader to transfer communication received concepts into hardware; design wireless receivers with acceptable implemntation loss; achieve low-power designs Covers the latest standards, such as DVB-T2, WiMax, LTE and LTE-A Includes more baseband algorithms, like soft-decoding algorithms such as BCJR and SOVA Expanded treatment of channel models, detection algorithms and MIMO techniques Features concrete design examples of WiMAX systems and cognitive radio apllications Companion website with lecture slides for instructors Based on materials developed for a course in digital communication IC design, this book is ideal for graduate students and researchers in VLSI design, wireless communications, and communications signal processing. Practicing engineers working on algorithms or hardware for wireless communications devices will also find this to be a key reference.

The desire to build lower cost analog front-ends has triggered interest in a new domain of research. Consequently the joint design of the analog front-end and of the digital baseband algorithms has become an important field of research. It enables the wireless systems and chip designers to more effectively trade the communication performance with the production cost. Digital Compensation for Analog Front-Ends provides a systematic approach to designing a digital communication system. It covers in detail the digital compensation of many non-idealities, for a wide class of emerging broadband standards and with a system approach in the design of the receiver algorithms. In particular, system strategies for joint estimation of synchronization and front-end non-ideality parameters are emphasized. The book is organized to allow the reader to gradually absorb the important information and vast quantity of material on this subject. The first chapter is a comprehensive introduction to the emerging wireless standards which is followed by a detailed description of the front-end non-idealities in chapter two. Chapter three then uses this information to explore what happens when the topics introduced in the first two chapters are merged. The book concludes with two chapters providing an in-depth coverage of the estimation and compensation algorithms. This book is a valuable reference for wireless system architects and chip designers as well as engineers or managers in system design and development. It will also be of interest to researchers in industry and academia, graduate students and wireless network operators. Presents a global, systematic approach to the joint design of the analog front-end compensation, channel estimation, synchronization and of the digital baseband algorithms Describes in depth the main front-end non-idealities such as phase noise, IQ imbalance, non-linearity, clipping, quantization, carrier frequency offset, sampling clock offset and their impact on the modulation Explains how the non-idealities introduced by the analog front-end elements can be compensated digitally Methodologies are applied to the emerging Wireless Local Area Network and outdoor Cellular communication systems, hence covering OFDM(A), SC-FDE and MIMO Written by authors with in-depth expertise developed in the wireless research group of IMEC and projects covering the main broadband wireless standards

Multi-Carrier Techniques for Broadband Wireless Communications provides an accessible introduction to OFDM-based systems from a signal processing perspective. The first part presents a concise treatment of some fundamental concepts related to wireless communications and multicarrier systems, while the second offers a comprehensive survey of recent developments on a variety of critical design issues. These include synchronization techniques, channel estimation methods, adaptive resource allocation and practical schemes for reducing the peak-to-average power ratio of the transmitted waveform.