I-Q Decoupled OFDM Modulation for Phase Imbalance Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing OFDM modulation systems suffer from I-Q imbalance, leading to interference between the desired data sequence and its image sequence, particularly in wireless communication networks, which can result in inter-subcarrier interference and degrade signal quality.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of modified DC-OFDM modulation and demodulation techniques, where the frequency-domain data sequence is split into two disjoint subsequences, each processed independently to generate conjugate symmetric sequences, and zero values are inserted to address I-Q phase imbalance, allowing for independent estimation and correction of phase offsets in the receiver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If regular OFDM modulation is used, then data communication is achieved, but I-Q imbalance causes interference between desired data sequence and image sequence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidI-Q imbalance interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency-domain data sequence is divided into two disjoint subsequences: one for generating the in-phase component and another for generating the quadrature-phase component. This segmentation allows independent processing of I and Q components, preventing interference between them and resolving the I-Q imbalance issue while maintaining data communication effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If I-Q decoupled OFDM modulation is implemented, then I-Q imbalance interference is reduced, but device complexity increases due to separate processing of I and Q components

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveI-Q imbalance robustnessVSAvoidmodulation processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The in-phase and quadrature-phase components are generated separately through conjugate symmetric sequences and then merged by placing them into even and odd index positions respectively in the time-domain sequence. This merging approach maintains the benefits of I-Q decoupling while integrating the components into a unified OFDM signal structure, managing complexity through systematic combination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If zero values are inserted to address I-Q phase imbalance, then phase offset correction is enabled, but data transmission efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephase offset estimation accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Zero values are strategically inserted into the frequency-domain subsequences at specific positions to create known reference points that enable phase offset estimation and correction. These zero insertions are minimal and targeted, extracting only the necessary information for phase correction while preserving the majority of data subcarriers for efficient transmission, thus balancing precision and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3510739B1Communication with i-q decoupled OFDM modulation
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3510739B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3510739B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3510739B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In some examples, an apparatus includes a transmitter configured to apply input data as a frequency-domain data sequence to modulate a set of subcarriers, and separate the frequency-domain data sequence into a first subsequence of elements and a second subsequence of elements. A first conjugate symmetric subsequence that is based on inserting a zero value into the first subsequence is formed, and a second conjugate symmetric subsequence that is based on inserting a zero value into the second subsequence is formed, where the zero values are inserted at different positions in the first and second subsequences. A time-domain sequence comprising a first component that is a function of the first conjugate symmetric subsequence, and a second component that is a function of the second conjugate symmetric subsequence is generated.