Frequency Offset Correction in a Software Defined HiperLAN/2 Demodulator using Preamble Section A

In our Software Defined Radio project we perform a feasibility study of a software defined radio for two communication standards: HiperLAN/2 and Bluetooth. In this paper the Matlab/Simulink implementation of the HiperLAN/2 demodulator for the demonstrator of the project is discussed, with special attention for the frequency offset corrector. This type of correction is necessary to prevent large bit error rates that are caused by inter-subcarrier interference. The method that is proposed in this paper uses preamble section A to estimate the frequency offset. Simulation results for an AWGN channel show that the method is capable of correcting frequency offsets up to the boundary defined in the standard [1]. It was observed that frequency offset correction using only preamble section A is sensitive to ¿for example¿ synchronization errors in case real-life analog front-end signals are used

Adjacent Channel Interference in UMTS Networks

One of the purposes of receive filtering in a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) handset receiver is to attenuate out-of-channel interference to provide channel selectivity. A UMTS handset receiver using a receive filter adaptive on out-of-channel interference level can be more computationally efficient than a handset with a fixed receive filter provided that the hand-set operates in low out-of-channel interference conditions often enough. The UMTS Adjacent Channel Selectivity (ACS) test case requires the adaptive receive filter to provide a worst case ACS of 33 dB. An adaptive receive filter is more computationally efficient than a fixed receive filter when the required ACS is less than 23 dB, because the added complexity of measuring the out-of-channel interference is compensated for by the reduction in the required number of filter taps to achieve the ACS. Measurements of the out-of-channel interference show that currently the interference levels for which the maximum ACS of 33 dB is required are hardly ever reached in practice. For the currently measured interference levels an adaptive receive filter will be computationally more efficient than a fixed\ud receive filter 97% of the time. However, the current out-of-channel interference measurements might be on the optimistic side, because the loads of the UMTS networks are low. When these loads increase in the future, the out-of-channel interference levels may increase and the advantage in computational efficiency of the adaptive receive filter will be reduced

A Reconfigurable Tile-Based Architecture to Compute FFT and FIR Functions in the Context of Software-Defined Radio

Software-defined radio (SDR) is the term used for flexible radio systems that can deal with multiple standards. For an efficient implementation, such systems require appropriate reconfigurable architectures. This paper targets the efficient implementation of the most computationally intensive kernels of two significantly different standards, viz. Bluetooth and HiperLAN/2, on the same reconfigurable hardware. These kernels are FIR filtering and FFT. The designed architecture is based on a two-dimensional arrangement of 17 tiles. Each tile contains a multiplier, an adder, local memory and multiplexers allowing flexible communication with the neighboring tiles. The tile-base data path is complemented with a global controller and various memories. The design has been implemented in SystemC and simulated extensively to prove equivalence with a reference all-software design. It has also been synthesized and turns out to outperform significantly other reconfigurable designs with respect to speed and area

The origin of the warped heliospheric current sheet

The warped heliospheric current sheet in early 1976 was calculated from the observed photospheric magnetic field using a potential field method. Comparisons with measurements of the interplanetary magnetic field polarity in early 1976 obtained at several locations in the heliosphere at Helios 1, Helios 2, Pioneer 11 and Earth show a rather detailed agreement between the computed current sheet and the observations. It appears that the large scale structure of the warped heliospheric current sheet is determined by the structure of the photospheric magnetic field, and that "ballerina skirt" effects may add small scale ripples

How much more can sunspots tell us about the solar dynamo?

Sunspot observations inspired solar dynamo theory and continue to do so. Simply counting them established the sunspot cycle and its period. Latitudinal distributions introduced the tough constraint that the source of sunspots moves equator-ward as the cycle progresses. Observations of Hale's polarity law mandated hemispheric asymmetry. How much more can sunspots tell us about the solar dynamo? We draw attention to a few outstanding questions raised by inherent sunspot properties. Namely, how to explain sunspot rotation rates, the incoherence of follower spots, the longitudinal spacing of sunspot groups, and brightness trends within a given sunspot cycle. After reviewing the first several topics, we then present new results on the brightness of sunspots in Cycle 24 as observed with the Helioseismic Magnetic Imager (HMI). We compare these results to the sunspot brightness observed in Cycle 23 with the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI). Next, we compare the minimum intensities of five sunspots simultaneously observed by the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope Spectropolarimeter (SOT-SP) and HMI to verify that the minimum brightness of sunspot umbrae correlates well to the maximum field strength. We then examine 90 and 52 sunspots in the north and south hemisphere, respectively, from 2010 - 2012. Finally, we conclude that the average maximum field strengths of umbra 40 Carrington Rotations into Cycle 24 are 2690 Gauss, virtually indistinguishable from the 2660 Gauss value observed at a similar time in Cycle 23 with MDI

Channel Selection requirements for Bluetooth receivers using a simple demodulation algorithm

In our Software Defined Radio (SDR) project we combine two different types of standards, Bluetooth and HiperLAN/2, on one common hardware platform. SDR system research aims at the design, implementation and deployment of flexible radio systems that are reprogrammable and re-configurable by software. Goal of our project is to generate knowledge about designing the front end of an SDR system (from the antenna signal to the channel bit stream) where especially an approach from both analog and digital perspective is essential. This paper discusses the channel selection requirements for the Bluetooth standard. The standard specifications specify only the power level of the interferers, the power level of the wanted signal and the maximum allowed Bit Error Rate (BER). In order to build a radio front-end, one has to know the required (channel) suppression of these interferers. From [1] it is known that the required SNR for a Bluetooth demodulator is 21 dB, but by which value should interferers be suppressed? This paper will validate if the SNR value needs to be used for the suppression of adjacent channels. In order to answer this question a simulation model of a Bluetooth radio front-end is built

DSP Prototyping of Blind Adaptive MMSE Multiuser Detection for Cellular Wireless CDMA Systems

Blind adaptive Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) detection is theoretically one of the most promising multiuser detection techniques for cellular wireless Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, but its implementation has not yet been studied extensively. Therefore the goal of the research described in this paper is to study the implementation of blind adaptive MMSE detection on the current generation of DSPs and to determine the detectedbits-per-second performance that can be achieved by such an implementation. The blind adaptive MMSE detection algorithm is first analyzed in order to determine how it can be implemented. The algorithm is then implemented in a simulator and the simulator is used to study the adaptive behavior of the algorithm. The simulator is also used to verify the correctness of the implementation of the algorithm by comparing the simulation results obtained with the simulator to simulation results published in literature. When the algorithm is shown to be correct it is implemented on and optimized for a floating-point DSP. This DSP implementation is used to determine the detected-bits-per-second performance that can be achieved by blind adaptive MMSE detection on modern DSPs

Spectral Weighting Functions for Single-symbol Phase-noise Specifications in OFDM Systems

For the specification of phase-noise requirements for the front-end of a HiperLAN/2 system we investigated available literature on the subject. Literature differed in several aspects. One aspect is in the type of phase-noise used (Wiener phase-noise or small-angle phase noise). A Wiener phase-noise based analysis leads to contradictions with the type of analysis normally used in the solid state oscillator literature. However, a phase-noise spectrum with a Wiener phase-noise shape can be used provided that the small-angle approximation is satisfied. An other aspect is whether a Fourier Series or DFT based approach is used. The approaches use weighting functions to relate phase-noise power spectral densities to phase-noise power. The two types of analysis are presented in a unified fashion that allows easy comparison of the weighting functions involved. It can be shown that for practical purposes results are identical. Finally phase-noise specifications for the HiperLAN/2 case are presented

Functional Analysis of a SDR Based Bluetooth/HiperLAN Terminal Demonstrator

|In our Software Defined Radio (SDR) project we aim at combining two different types of standards, Bluetooth and HiperLAN/2 on one common hardware platform. HiperLAN/2 is a high-speed Wireless LAN (WLAN) standard, whereas Bluetooth is a low-cost and low-speed Personal Area Network (PAN) standard. An SDR system is a °exible radio system that is re-programmable and reconfigurable by software in order to cope with its multi-service, multi-standard and multi-band environment. Goal of our project is to generate knowledge about designing the front end of an SDR system where especially an approach from both analog and digital perspective is essential.To what extent can we use the HiperLAN/2 receiver hardware for our Bluetooth receiver? In this paper we present a functional architecture that brings the architectural descriptions of both standards to an equal level. This SDR functional architecture is used in the sequel of the project for a number of purposes, of which we mention 1. Definition of reference points (for requirements definition purposes). 2. Definition of interfaces (potential alignment with SDR Forum). 3. Delimitation of our demonstrator (what is it that is going to be built). 4. Identification of inter-standard functional integration challenges