Estimation of Overspread Scattering Functions

In many radar scenarios, the radar target or the medium is assumed to possess randomly varying parts. The properties of a target are described by a random process known as the spreading function. Its second order statistics under the WSSUS assumption are given by the scattering function. Recent developments in operator sampling theory suggest novel channel sounding procedures that allow for the determination of the spreading function given complete statistical knowledge of the operator echo from a single sounding by a weighted pulse train. We construct and analyze a novel estimator for the scattering function based on these findings. Our results apply whenever the scattering function is supported on a compact subset of the time-frequency plane. We do not make any restrictions either on the geometry of this support set, or on its area. Our estimator can be seen as a generalization of an averaged periodogram estimator for the case of a non-rectangular geometry of the support set of the scattering function

On Unlimited Sampling

Shannon's sampling theorem provides a link between the continuous and the discrete realms stating that bandlimited signals are uniquely determined by its values on a discrete set. This theorem is realized in practice using so called analog--to--digital converters (ADCs). Unlike Shannon's sampling theorem, the ADCs are limited in dynamic range. Whenever a signal exceeds some preset threshold, the ADC saturates, resulting in aliasing due to clipping. The goal of this paper is to analyze an alternative approach that does not suffer from these problems. Our work is based on recent developments in ADC design, which allow for ADCs that reset rather than to saturate, thus producing modulo samples. An open problem that remains is: Given such modulo samples of a bandlimited function as well as the dynamic range of the ADC, how can the original signal be recovered and what are the sufficient conditions that guarantee perfect recovery? In this paper, we prove such sufficiency conditions and complement them with a stable recovery algorithm. Our results are not limited to certain amplitude ranges, in fact even the same circuit architecture allows for the recovery of arbitrary large amplitudes as long as some estimate of the signal norm is available when recovering. Numerical experiments that corroborate our theory indeed show that it is possible to perfectly recover function that takes values that are orders of magnitude higher than the ADC's threshold.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, copy of initial version to appear in Proceedings of 12th International Conference on Sampling Theory and Applications (SampTA

Performance bounds for polynomial phase parameter estimation with nonuniform and random sampling schemes

Copyright © 2000 IEEEEstimating the parameters of a cisoid with an unknown amplitude and polynomial phase using uniformly spaced samples can result in ambiguous estimates due to Nyquist sampling limitations. It has been shown previously that nonuniform sampling has the advantage of unambiguous estimates beyond the Nyquist frequency; however, the effect of sampling on the Cramer-Rao bounds is not well known. This paper first derives the maximum likelihood estimators and Cramer-Rao bounds for the parameters with known, arbitrary sampling times. It then outlines two methods for incorporating random sampling times into the lower variance bounds, describing one in detail. It is then shown that for a signal with additive white Gaussian noise the bounds for the estimation with nonuniform sampling tend toward those of uniform sampling. Thus, nonuniform sampling overcomes the ambiguity problems of uniform sampling without incurring the penalty of an increased variance in parameter estimation.Jonathan A. Legg and Douglas A. Gra

Scattered Pilots and Virtual Carriers Based Frequency Offset Tracking for OFDM Systems: Algorithms, Identifiability, and Performance Analysis

In this paper, we propose a novel carrier frequency offset (CFO) tracking algorithm for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems by exploiting scattered pilot carriers and virtual carriers embedded in the existing OFDM standards. Assuming that the channel remains constant during two consecutive OFDM blocks and perfect timing, a CFO tracking algorithm is proposed using the limited number of pilot carriers in each OFDM block. Identifiability of this pilot based algorithm is fully discussed under the noise free environment, and a constellation rotation strategy is proposed to eliminate the c-ambiguity for arbitrary constellations. A weighted algorithm is then proposed by considering both scattered pilots and virtual carriers. We find that, the pilots increase the performance accuracy of the algorithm, while the virtual carriers reduce the chance of CFO outlier. Therefore, the proposed tracking algorithm is able to achieve full range CFO estimation, can be used before channel estimation, and could provide improved performance compared to existing algorithms. The asymptotic mean square error (MSE) of the proposed algorithm is derived and simulation results agree with the theoretical analysis

Fractional biorthogonal partners in channel equalization and signal interpolation

The concept of biorthogonal partners has been introduced recently by the authors. The work presented here is an extension of some of these results to the case where the upsampling and downsampling ratios are not integers but rational numbers, hence, the name fractional biorthogonal partners. The conditions for the existence of stable and of finite impulse response (FIR) fractional biorthogonal partners are derived. It is also shown that the FIR solutions (when they exist) are not unique. This property is further explored in one of the applications of fractional biorthogonal partners, namely, the fractionally spaced equalization in digital communications. The goal is to construct zero-forcing equalizers (ZFEs) that also combat the channel noise. The performance of these equalizers is assessed through computer simulations. Another application considered is the all-FIR interpolation technique with the minimum amount of oversampling required in the input signal. We also consider the extension of the least squares approximation problem to the setting of fractional biorthogonal partners