9 research outputs found
A Programmable look-up table-based interpolator with nonuniform sampling scheme
Interpolation is a useful technique for storage of complex functions on limited memory space: some few sampling values are stored on a memory bank, and the function values in between are calculated by interpolation. This paper presents a programmable Look-Up Table-based interpolator, which uses a reconfigurable nonuniform sampling scheme: the sampled points are not uniformly spaced. Their distribution can also be reconfigured to minimize the approximation error on specific portions of the interpolated function's domain. Switching from one set of configuration parameters to another set, selected on the fly from a variety of precomputed parameters, and using different sampling schemes allow for the interpolation of a plethora of functions, achieving memory saving and minimum approximation error. As a study case, the proposed interpolator was used as the core of a programmable noise generatoroutput signals drawn from different Probability Density Functions were produced for testing FPGA implementations of chaotic encryption algorithms. As a result of the proposed method, the interpolation of a specific transformation function on a Gaussian noise generator reduced the memory usage to 2.71% when compared to the traditional uniform sampling scheme method, while keeping the approximation error below a threshold equal to 0.000030518
Transmitter Linearization for mm-Wave Communications Systems
There is an ever increasing need for enabling higher data rates in modern communication systems which brings new challenges in terms of the power consumption and nonlinearity of hardware components. These problems become prominent in power amplifiers (PAs) and can significantly degrade the performance of transmitters, and hence the overall communication system. Hence, it is of central importance to design efficient PAs with a linear operation region. This thesis proposes a methodology and a comprehensive framework to address this challenge. This is accomplished by application of predistortion to a mm-wave PA and an E-band IQ transmitter while investigating the trade-offs between linearity, efficiency and predistorter complexity using the proposed framework.In the first line of work, we have focused on a mm-wave PA. A PA has high efficiency at high input power at the expense of linearity, whereas it operates linearly for lower input power levels while sacrificing efficiency. To attain both linearity and efficiency, predistortion is often used to compensate for the PA nonlinearity. Yet, the trade-offs related to predistortion complexities are not fully understood. To address this challenge, we have used our proposed framework for evaluation of predistorters using modulated test signals and implemented it using digital predistortion and a mm-wave PA. This set-up enabled us to investigate the trade-offs between linearity, efficiency and predistorter complexity in a systematic manner. We have shown that to achieve similar linearity levels for different PA classes, predistorters with different complexities are needed and provided guidelines on the achievable limits in term linearity for a given predistorter complexity for different PA classes.In the second line of work, we have focused on linearization of an E-band transmitter using a baseband analog predistorter (APD) and under constraints given by a spectrum emission standard. In order to use the above proposed framework with these components, characterizations of the E-band transmitter and the APD are performed. In contrast to typical approaches in the literature, here joint mitigation of the PA and I/Q modulator impairments is used to model the transmitter. Using the developed models, optimal model parameters in terms of output power at the mask limit are determined. Using these as a starting point, we have iteratively optimized operating point of the APD and linearized the E-band transmitter. The experiments demonstrated that the analog predistorter can successfully increase the output power by 35% (1.3 dB) improvement while satisfying the spectrum emission mask
ワイヤレス通信のための先進的な信号処理技術を用いた非線形補償法の研究
The inherit nonlinearity in analogue front-ends of transmitters and receivers have had primary impact on the overall performance of the wireless communication systems, as it gives arise of substantial distortion when transmitting and processing signals with such circuits. Therefore, the nonlinear compensation (linearization) techniques become essential to suppress the distortion to an acceptable extent in order to ensure sufficient low bit error rate. Furthermore, the increasing demands on higher data rate and ubiquitous interoperability between various multi-coverage protocols are two of the most important features of the contemporary communication system. The former demand pushes the communication system to use wider bandwidth and the latter one brings up severe coexistence problems. Having fully considered the problems raised above, the work in this Ph.D. thesis carries out extensive researches on the nonlinear compensations utilizing advanced digital signal processing techniques. The motivation behind this is to push more processing tasks to the digital domain, as it can potentially cut down the bill of materials (BOM) costs paid for the off-chip devices and reduce practical implementation difficulties. The work here is carried out using three approaches: numerical analysis & computer simulations; experimental tests using commercial instruments; actual implementation with FPGA. The primary contributions for this thesis are summarized as the following three points: 1) An adaptive digital predistortion (DPD) with fast convergence rate and low complexity for multi-carrier GSM system is presented. Albeit a legacy system, the GSM, however, has a very strict requirement on the out-of-band emission, thus it represents a much more difficult hurdle for DPD application. It is successfully implemented in an FPGA without using any other auxiliary processor. A simplified multiplier-free NLMS algorithm, especially suitable for FPGA implementation, for fast adapting the LUT is proposed. Many design methodologies and practical implementation issues are discussed in details. Experimental results have shown that the DPD performed robustly when it is involved in the multichannel transmitter. 2) The next generation system (5G) will unquestionably use wider bandwidth to support higher throughput, which poses stringent needs for using high-speed data converters. Herein the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) tends to be the most expensive single device in the whole transmitter/receiver systems. Therefore, conventional DPD utilizing high-speed ADC becomes unaffordable, especially for small base stations (micro, pico and femto). A digital predistortion technique utilizing spectral extrapolation is proposed in this thesis, wherein with band-limited feedback signal, the requirement on ADC speed can be significantly released. Experimental results have validated the feasibility of the proposed technique for coping with band-limited feedback signal. It has been shown that adequate linearization performance can be achieved even if the acquisition bandwidth is less than the original signal bandwidth. The experimental results obtained by using LTE-Advanced signal of 320 MHz bandwidth are quite satisfactory, and to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first high-performance wideband DPD ever been reported. 3) To address the predicament that mobile operators do not have enough contiguous usable bandwidth, carrier aggregation (CA) technique is developed and imported into 4G LTE-Advanced. This pushes the utilization of concurrent dual-band transmitter/receiver, which reduces the hardware expense by using a single front-end. Compensation techniques for the respective concurrent dual-band transmitter and receiver front-ends are proposed to combat the inter-band modulation distortion, and simultaneously reduce the distortion for the both lower-side band and upper-side band signals.電気通信大学201
Optimal polygonal L1 linearization and fast interpolation of nonlinear systems
The analysis of complex nonlinear systems is often carried out using simpler piecewise linear representations of them. A principled and practical technique is proposed to linearize and evaluate arbitrary continuous nonlinear functions using polygonal (continuous piecewise linear) models under the L1 norm. A thorough error analysis is developed to guide an optimal design of two kinds of polygonal approximations in the asymptotic case of a large budget of evaluation subintervals N. The method allows the user to obtain the level of linearization (N) for a target approximation error and vice versa. It is suitable for, but not limited to, an efficient implementation in modern Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), allowing real-time performance of computationally demanding applications. The quality and efficiency of the technique has been measured in detail on two nonlinear functions that are widely used in many areas of scientific computing and are expensive to evaluate
Modem design for digital satellite communications
The thesis is concerned with the design of a phase-shift keying system for a
digital modem, operating over a satellite link. Computer simulation tests and
theoretical analyses are used to assess the proposed design.
The optimum design of both transmitter and receiver filters for the system to be
used in the modem are discussed. Sinusoidal roll-off spectrum with different roll-off
factor and optimum truncation lengths of the sample impulse response are designed
for the proposed scheme to approximate to the theoretical ideal. It has used an EF
bandpass filter to band limit the modulated signal, which forms part of the satellite
channel modelling. The high power amplifier (HPA) at the earth station has been
used in the satellite channel modelling due to its effect in introducing nonlinear AMAM
and AM-PM conversion effects and distortion on the transmitted signal from the
earth station. The satellite transponder is assumed to be operating in a linear mode.
Different phase-shift keying signals such as differentially encoded quaternary
phase-shift keying (DEQPSK), offset quaternary phase-shift keying (OQPSK) and
convolutionally encoded 8PSK (CE8PSK) signals are analysed and discussed in the
thesis, when the high power amplifier (HPA) at the earth station is operating in a
nonlinear mode. Convolutional encoding is discussed when applied to the system
used in the modem, and a Viterbi -algorithm decoder at the receiver has been used, for
CE8PSK signals for a nonlinear satellite channel. A method of feed-forward
synchronisation scheme is designed for carrier recovery in CE8PSK receiver.
The thesis describes a method of baseband linearizing the baseband signal in
order to reduce the nonlinear effects caused by the HPA at the earth station. The
scheme which compensates for the nonlinear effects of the HPA by predistorting the
baseband signal prior to modulation as opposed to correcting the distortion after
modulation, thus reducing the effects of nonlinear distortion introduced by the HPA.
The results of the improvement are presented.
The advanced technology of digital signal processors (DSPs) has been used in the implementation of the demodulation and digital filtering parts of the modem
replacing large parts of conventional circuits. The Viterbi-algorithm decoder for
CE8PSK signals has been implemented using a digital signal processor chip, giving excellent performance and is a cost effective and easy way for future developments
and any modifications,
The results showed that, by using the various studied techniques, as well as the
implementation of digital signal processor chip in parts of the modem, a potentially
more cost effective modem can be obtained
Otimização do fronthaul ótico para redes de acesso de rádio (baseadas) em computação em nuvem (CC-RANs)
Doutoramento conjunto (MAP-Tele) em Engenharia Eletrotécnica/TelecomunicaçõesA proliferação de diversos tipos de dispositivos moveis, aplicações e serviços
com grande necessidade de largura de banda têm contribuído para o aumento
de ligações de banda larga e ao aumento do volume de trafego das
redes de telecomunicações moveis. Este aumento exponencial tem posto
uma enorme pressão nos mobile operadores de redes móveis (MNOs). Um
dos aspetos principais deste recente desenvolvimento, é a necessidade que as
redes têm de oferecer baixa complexidade nas ligações, como também baixo
consumo energético, muito baixa latência e ao mesmo tempo uma grande
capacidade por baixo usto. De maneira a resolver estas questões, os MNOs
têm focado a sua atenção na redes de acesso por rádio em nuvem (C-RAN)
principalmente devido aos seus benefícios em termos de otimização de performance
e relação qualidade preço. O standard para a distribuição de sinais
sem fios por um fronthaul C-RAN é o common public radio interface (CPRI).
No entanto, ligações óticas baseadas em interfaces CPRI necessitam de uma
grande largura de banda. Estes requerimentos podem também ser atingidos
com uma implementação em ligação free space optical (FSO) que é um sistema
ótico que usa comunicação sem fios. O FSO tem sido uma alternativa
muito apelativa aos sistemas de comunicação rádio (RF) pois combinam a
flexibilidade e mobilidade das redes RF ao mesmo tempo que permitem a
elevada largura de banda permitida pelo sistema ótico. No entanto, as ligações
FSO são suscetíveis a alterações atmosféricas que podem prejudicar
o desempenho do sistema de comunicação. Estas limitações têm evitado o
FSO de ser tornar uma excelente solução para o fronthaul. Uma caracterização
precisa do canal e tecnologias mais avançadas são então necessárias
para uma implementação pratica de ligações FSO. Nesta tese, vamos estudar
uma implementação eficiente para fronthaul baseada em tecnologia
á rádio-sobre-FSO (RoFSO). Propomos expressões em forma fechada para
mitigação das perdas de propagação e para a estimação da capacidade do
canal de maneira a aliviar a complexidade do sistema de comunicação. Simulações
numéricas são também apresentadas para formatos de modulação
adaptativas. São também considerados esquemas como um sistema hibrido
RF/FSO e tecnologias de transmissão apoiadas por retransmissores
que ajudam a alivar os requerimentos impostos por um backhaul/fronthaul
de C-RAN. Os modelos propostos não só reduzem o esforço computacional,
como também têm outros méritos, tais como, uma elevada precisão na estimação
do canal e desempenho, baixo requisitos na capacidade de memória
e uma rápida e estável operação comparativamente com o estado da arte
em sistemas analíticos (PON)-FSO. Este sistema é implementado num recetor
em tempo real que é emulado através de uma field-programmable gate
array (FPGA) comercial. Permitindo assim um sistema aberto, interoperabilidade,
portabilidade e também obedecer a standards de software aberto.
Os esquemas híbridos têm a habilidade de suportar diferentes aplicações,
serviços e múltiplos operadores a partilharem a mesma infraestrutura de
fibra ótica.The proliferation of different mobile devices, bandwidth-intensive applications
and services contribute to the increase in the broadband connections
and the volume of traffic on the mobile networks. This exponential growth
has put considerable pressure on the mobile network operators (MNOs). In
principal, there is a need for networks that not only offer low-complexity,
low-energy consumption, and extremely low-latency but also high-capacity
at relatively low cost. In order to address the demand, MNOs have given significant
attention to the cloud radio access network (C-RAN) due to its beneficial
features in terms of performance optimization and cost-effectiveness.
The de facto standard for distributing wireless signal over the C-RAN fronthaul
is the common public radio interface (CPRI). However, optical links
based on CPRI interfaces requires large bandwidth. Also, the aforementioned
requirements can be realized with the implementation of free space
optical (FSO) link, which is an optical wireless system. The FSO is an appealing
alternative to the radio frequency (RF) communication system that
combines the flexibility and mobility offered by the RF networks with the
high-data rates provided by the optical systems. However, the FSO links are
susceptible to atmospheric impairments which eventually hinder the system
performance. Consequently, these limitations prevent FSO from being an
efficient standalone fronthaul solution. So, precise channel characterizations
and advanced technologies are required for practical FSO link deployment
and operation. In this thesis, we study an efficient fronthaul implementation
that is based on radio-on-FSO (RoFSO) technologies. We propose closedform
expressions for fading-mitigation and for the estimation of channel
capacity so as to alleviate the system complexity. Numerical simulations
are presented for adaptive modulation scheme using advanced modulation
formats. We also consider schemes like hybrid RF/FSO and relay-assisted
transmission technologies that can help in alleviating the stringent requirements
by the C-RAN backhaul/fronthaul. The propose models not only
reduce the computational requirements/efforts, but also have a number of
diverse merits such as high-accuracy, low-memory requirements, fast and
stable operation compared to the current state-of-the-art analytical based
approaches. In addition to the FSO channel characterization, we present
a proof-of-concept experiment in which we study the transmission capabilities
of a hybrid passive optical network (PON)-FSO system. This is
implemented with the real-time receiver that is emulated by a commercial
field-programmable gate array (FPGA). This helps in facilitating an
open system and hence enables interoperability, portability, and open software
standards. The hybrid schemes have the ability to support different
applications, services, and multiple operators over a shared optical fiber
infrastructure
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Efficient, High power Precision RF and mmWave Digital Transmitter Architectures
Digital transmitters offer several advantages over conventional analog transmitters such as reconfigurability, elimination of scaling-unfriendly, power hungry and bulky analog blocks and portability across technology. The rapid advancement of technology in CMOS processes also enables integration of complex digital signal processing circuitry on the same die as the digital transmitter to compensate for their non-idealities. The use of this digital assistance can, for instance, enable the use of highly efficient but nonlinear switching-class power amplifiers by compensating for their severe nonlinearity through digital predistortion. While this shift to digitally intensive transmitter architectures is propelled by the benefits stated above, several pressing challenges arise that vary in their nature depending on the frequency of operation - from RF to mmWave.
Millimeter wave CMOS power amplifiers have traditionally been limited in output power due to the low breakdown voltage of scaled CMOS technologies and poor quality of on-chip passives. Moreover, high data-rates and efficient spectrum utilization demand highly linear power amplifiers with high efficiency under back-off. However, linearity and high efficiency are traditionally at odds with each other in conventional power amplifier design. In this dissertation, digital assistance is used to relax this trade-off and enable the use of state-of-the-art switching class power amplifiers. A novel digital transmitter architecture which simultaneously employs aggressive device-stacking and large-scale power combining for watt-class output power, dynamic load modulation for linearization, and improved efficiency under back-off by supply-switching and load modulation is presented.
At RF frequencies, while the problem of watt-class power amplification has been long solved, more pressing challenges arise from the crowded spectrum in this regime. A major drawback of digital transmitters is the absence of a reconstruction filter after digital-to-analog conversion which causes the baseband quantization noise to get upconverted to RF and amplified at the output of the transmitter. In high power transmitters, this upconverted noise can be so strong as to prevent their use in FDD systems due to receiver desensitization or impose stringent coexistence challenges. In this dissertation, new quantization noise suppression techniques are presented which, for the first time, contribute toward making watt-class fully-integrated digital RF transmitters a viable alternative for FDD and coexistence scenarios. Specifically, the techniques involve embedding a mixed-domain multi-tap FIR filter within highly-efficient watt-class switching power amplifiers to suppress quantization noise, enhancing the bandwidth of noise suppression, enabling tunable location of suppression and overcoming the limitations of purely digital-domain filtering techniques for quantization noise
Linear Operation of Switch-Mode Outphasing Power Amplifiers
Radio transceivers are playing an increasingly important role in modern society. The
”connected” lifestyle has been enabled by modern wireless communications. The demand
that has been placed on current wireless and cellular infrastructure requires increased spectral
efficiency however this has come at the cost of power efficiency. This work investigates
methods of improving wireless transceiver efficiency by enabling more efficient power
amplifier architectures, specifically examining the role of switch-mode power amplifiers in
macro cell scenarios. Our research focuses on the mechanisms within outphasing power
amplifiers which prevent linear amplification. From the analysis it was clear that high power
non-linear effects are correctable with currently available techniques however non-linear effects
around the zero crossing point are not. As a result signal processing techniques for suppressing
and avoiding non-linear operation in low power regions are explored. A novel method of digital
pre-distortion is presented, and conventional techniques for linearisation are adapted for the
particular needs of the outphasing power amplifier. More unconventional signal processing
techniques are presented to aid linearisation of the outphasing power amplifier, both zero
crossing and bandwidth expansion reduction methods are designed to avoid operation in nonlinear
regions of the amplifiers. In combination with digital pre-distortion the techniques
will improve linearisation efforts on outphasing systems with dynamic range and bandwidth
constraints respectively.
Our collaboration with NXP provided access to a digital outphasing power amplifier,
enabling empirical analysis of non-linear behaviour and comparative analysis of behavioural
modelling and linearisation efforts. The collaboration resulted in a bench mark for linear
wideband operation of a digital outphasing power amplifier. The complimentary linearisation
techniques, bandwidth expansion reduction and zero crossing reduction have been evaluated in
both simulated and practical outphasing test benches. Initial results are promising and indicate
that the benefits they provide are not limited to the outphasing amplifier architecture alone.
Overall this thesis presents innovative analysis of the distortion mechanisms of the
outphasing power amplifier, highlighting the sensitivity of the system to environmental effects.
Practical and novel linearisation techniques are presented, with a focus on enabling wide band
operation for modern communications standards
Efficient digital baseband predistortion for modern wireless handsets
This dissertation studies the design of an efficient adaptive digital baseband predistorter for modern cellular handsets that combines low power consumption, low implementation complexity, and high performance. The proposed enhancements are optimized for hardware implementation. We first present a thorough study of the optimal spacing of linearly-interpolated lookup table predistorters supported by theoretical calculations and extensive simulations. A constant-SNR compander that increases the predistorter's supported input dynamic range is derived. A corresponding low-complexity approximation that lends itself to efficient hardware design is also implemented in VHDL and synthesized with the Synopsys Design Compiler. This dissertation also proposes an LMS-based predistorter adaptation that is optimized for hardware implementation and compares the effectiveness of the direct and indirect learning architectures. A novel predistorter design with quadrature imbalance correction capability is developed and a corresponding adaptation scheme is proposed. This robust predistorter configuration is designed by combining linearization and I/Q imbalance correction into a single function with the same computational complexity as the widespread complex-gain predistorter.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Altunbasak, Yucel; Committee Co-Chair: Zhou, G. Tong; Committee Member: Al-Regib, Ghassan; Committee Member: Kenney, James Stevenson; Committee Member: Ma, Xiaoli; Committee Member: Pan, Ronghu