OFDM Receiver FFT Window Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for setting the FFT window position in OFDM reception devices are inadequate, particularly when the delay spread of incoming waves exceeds the GI length, leading to increased ISI and processing delays, especially in environments with changing phase and amplitude channels.

Innovation Solution

A reception device that estimates ISI amounts based on channel characteristics and sets the FFT window position accordingly, without performing actual FFT computations, allowing for prompt determination of the optimal position and improved accuracy in minimizing ISI.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional FFT window position setting methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision of FFT window position determination deteriorates when delay spread exceeds GI length

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveFFT window position determination accuracyVSAvoidcircuit size
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary estimation of ISI amounts based on channel characteristics before actual FFT computation. By calculating delay profiles and evaluating ISI for multiple candidate positions in advance, the system determines the optimal FFT window position without performing full FFT computations for each candidate, thus improving accuracy while avoiding excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a simplified model of the FFT processing by copying and evaluating channel characteristics for candidate positions. Instead of performing actual FFT computations on the received signal for each candidate position, the system copies channel characteristic data and performs simplified ISI calculations, achieving accurate position determination with reduced computational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If actual FFT computations are performed for each candidate position, then the measurement precision of ISI amounts improves, but the productivity of determining FFT window position deteriorates due to processing delays

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveISI amount estimation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing speed of determining FFT window position
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent copies channel characteristic data and performs simplified ISI evaluations instead of actual FFT computations. By working with copied channel characteristics rather than the full received signal, the system achieves sufficient measurement precision for ISI estimation while dramatically improving processing speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses lightweight, disposable calculations based on channel characteristics that can be quickly computed and discarded. Instead of performing expensive FFT computations that require significant processing resources, the system uses simple ISI evaluation calculations that are computationally inexpensive and can be performed rapidly for each candidate position

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If the FFT window position is not appropriately set, then the ease of operation is high, but the object-affected harmful factors increase due to ICI and ISI

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of FFT processingVSAvoidInter Carrier Interference and Inter Symbol Interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces feedback by evaluating ISI amounts for candidate FFT window positions based on channel characteristics. The system uses this evaluated information to determine the optimal position, providing feedback that guides the selection process and ensures appropriate positioning to minimize ICI and ISI while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3675396B1Receiver, method of reception, reception program, integrated circuit, and digital television
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3675396B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3675396B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3675396B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A reception device for appropriately setting an FFT window position in which an FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) is performed, so as to demodulate an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) signal. The reception device estimates channel characteristics of the received OFDM signal, and, based on the estimated channel characteristics, estimates ISI (Inter-Symbol Interference) amounts corresponding one-to-one to a plurality of FFT window position candidates. Subsequently, the reception device selects an FFT window position candidate corresponding to the smallest IS1 amount from among the plurality of FFT window position candidates, designates the selected FFT window position candidate as the actual FFT window position, and performs the FFT in the FFT window position.