OFDM Receiver Local Carrier Frequency Shifting for Pilot SNR

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-carrier communication systems face challenges in maintaining high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) due to frequency characteristics, particularly at DC, leading to errors in pilot signals, which are exacerbated by 1/f noise and frequency distortion, and current solutions increase power consumption and costs.

Innovation Solution

The approach involves cyclically varying the frequency of a local carrier wave by an integer multiple of the frequency interval for each OFDM symbol, effectively shifting the signal band to prevent SNR degradation and redistribute signal errors across sub-carriers, thereby improving the SNR of pilot signals without requiring costly SiGe semiconductor processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If measures for suppressing frequency distortion in a filter are taken, then frequency characteristic stability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency characteristic stabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention dynamically shifts the frequency position of pilot sub-carriers in the frequency domain across different time slots. Instead of using a fixed frequency position that may coincide with low-SNR regions, the pilot sub-carriers are moved to different frequency positions periodically, allowing the system to adapt to varying frequency characteristics and avoid consistent degradation at specific frequencies without requiring complex filter adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the frequency parameter of pilot sub-carriers by applying frequency shifts in the frequency domain. This parameter change allows the system to move pilot signals away from frequency regions with poor SNR characteristics, thereby improving measurement accuracy without requiring hardware modifications or increased power consumption for filter suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If 1/f noise in the vicinity of DC is suppressed using SiGe semiconductor process, then noise performance is improved, but system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise performanceVSAvoidsystem cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention dynamically adjusts the frequency position of pilot sub-carriers to avoid DC and low-frequency regions where 1/f noise is prominent. By shifting pilot signals to higher frequency positions in the frequency domain, the system achieves better noise performance without requiring expensive SiGe semiconductor processes, as the pilot signals are positioned where the frequency characteristic is more favorable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates multiple copies of pilot sub-carriers at different frequency positions through frequency shifting. Instead of relying on a single pilot frequency that may be affected by 1/f noise, the system uses multiple frequency-positioned pilot copies, allowing selection of the best SNR position and achieving improved noise performance through frequency domain diversity rather than expensive hardware processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Device complexity

If a fixed pilot sub-carrier frequency is used, then system complexity is reduced, but SNR degradation occurs due to frequency characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidSNR of pilot signal
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces dynamic frequency shifting of pilot sub-carriers in the frequency domain, where the position of pilot sub-carriers is changed according to a predetermined pattern across different time slots. This dynamic approach maintains relatively simple system architecture while improving SNR by ensuring pilot signals are not consistently positioned in low-SNR frequency regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements periodic frequency shifting of pilot sub-carriers, where the frequency position of pilots follows a periodic pattern. This periodic action in the frequency domain allows the system to systematically explore different frequency positions and select those with better SNR characteristics, improving reliability without requiring complex adaptive algorithms or increasing overall system complexity significantly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method enhances the SNR of pilot signals by redistributing signal degradation, reducing the impact of frequency characteristics on pilot sub-carriers, and achieves this without increasing power consumption or using expensive semiconductor processes, thus improving communication system performance.

Implementation Method 1

cyclically varying the frequency of a local carrier wave by an integer multiple of the frequency interval for each OFDM symbol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFrequency modulation: Phase Modulation

Data Source

PatentEP2124367B1Multi-carrier communication apparatus
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 SOCIONEXT INC
  • EP2124367B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(G)
  • EP2124367B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2124367B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A local carrier wave output from a synthesizer to quadrature demodulators is multiplied by an offset that makes a frequency shift by an integer number of subcarriers in units of sub-carrier bands. The offset is set to a value obtained by multiplying the number sequentially counted up from 0 to the number of unused sub-carriers included in guard tones in a signal band by the bandwidth of a sub-carrier. By shifting the frequency of the local carrier wave at the time of quadrature demodulation with the offset, the SNR of a baseband signal is prevented from being constantly degraded by a frequency characteristic possessed by the circuit of a receiver in a particular sub-carrier signal. Especially, by preventing a pilot signal from being constantly degraded, the signal can be received with higher accuracy.