OFDM Impulse Noise Mitigation via Channel Response Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems face interference issues due to nearby electronic devices and their own radiation, which can freeze television pictures, necessitating a method to mitigate such interference.

Innovation Solution

A signal processing method that estimates the transmission channel response and noise in OFDM systems, using a reference signal and noise estimate to compensate the received multicarrier signal, thereby reducing interference effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If OFDM systems are used to increase throughput and bandwidth utilization, then spectral efficiency is improved, but susceptibility to impulse noise and interference from electronic devices worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidimpulse noise interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful impulse noise into a measurable quantity by estimating noise variance from received signal statistics. The noise estimate, initially representing interference degradation, is transformed into a corrective parameter used to adjust the equalization process, thereby converting the harmful effect into a basis for compensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes the noise variance parameter based on received signal conditions. By calculating noise variance from signal statistics and using it to adjust the equalization weight, the system adapts to varying interference levels, transforming a static parameter into a dynamic one that responds to environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If adaptive channel correction is applied to improve signal quality, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel response estimation accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by estimating channel response and noise variance directly from the received signal itself, without requiring external calibration equipment or additional reference signals. The received signal serves dual purposes: as the signal to be decoded and as the source of information for estimating channel and noise characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The equalization process serves multiple functions simultaneously: it compensates for channel effects, reduces impulse noise impact, and adapts to varying signal conditions. The same computational framework handles both standard channel equalization and impulse noise mitigation, eliminating the need for separate processing paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1913720B1Systems, methods, and apparatus for impulse noise mitigation
Publication Date: 2012.09.19 ATI TECHNOLOGIES ULC
  • EP1913720B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1913720B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP1913720B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of signal processing according to one of several embodiments includes estimating a deterministic component of a received signal. The estimating is based on an estimated response of a transmission channel. Based on the estimated deterministic component, a non-deterministic component of the received signal is estimated. Based on corrupted portions of the estimated non-deterministic component, a noise estimate is obtained, and the received signal is compensated based on the noise estimate. A method according to another embodiment includes replacing received samples at corrupted locations with values from a calculated model.