Abstract: Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for optimizing voltage use in digital circuits. This can be obtained by creating situations for digital circuits such that the effective critical path (ECP) can be used such as, for example, the case where a digital circuit includes a plurality of voltage domains powered by individual and possibly different voltage sources. This can then reduce voltage use in digital circuits.

Abstract: Digital IQ imbalance estimation and compensation is facilitated by shaping the frequency response of receiver branches. In particular, in a multi-carrier receiver, the frequency response of signal processing elements in at least one receiver branch is set to not fully attenuate received signals in a frequency band of interest. The frequency band of interest is greater than the carrier bandwidth of the received signal processed by that receiver branch. In some embodiments, the received signal is not attenuated, and adjacent interfering signals are partially attenuated. This allows information regarding the interfering signals to appear in an IQ imbalance-induced, inter-carrier image of the signals in anther receiver branch, facilitating digital estimation and compensation of IQ imbalance.

Abstract: A receiver is operated so as to receive data conveyed on an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) signal transmitted on a plurality of sub-carriers. Such operation includes ascertaining which of the plurality of sub-carriers have a channel quality that satisfies one or more criteria. Then, sub-carriers are selected based at least in part on whether they have the channel quality that satisfies one or more criteria. The receiver then fully processes data streams only from the selected sub-carriers, wherein fully processing data streams comprises sub-carrier channel estimation or sub-carrier equalization or both sub-carrier channel estimation and sub-carrier equalization.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for optimizing voltage use in digital circuits. This can be obtained by creating situations for digital circuits such that the effective critical path (ECP) can be used such as, for example, the case where a digital circuit includes a plurality of voltage domains powered by individual and possibly different voltage sources. This can then reduce voltage use in digital circuits.

Abstract: Inter-carrier interference (ICI) cancellation in an OFDMA receiving signals from two transmitters is performed by identifying the transmitted sub-carriers that cause the largest ICI to sub-carriers received from other transmitters, and removing the ICI contribution from these sub-carriers. This may be accomplished by calculating the ICI terms only based on the interfering sub-carrier and the frequency offset. Alternatively, the transmissions causing the ICI are demodulated, the ICI on other signals is then determined and subtracted, and other signals are then demodulated. Which transmissions cause the largest ICI on others depends on the relative strength of the corresponding sub-carriers and how much orthogonality is lost. The latter might be due to frequency error, Doppler spread, or a combination of both.

Abstract: The control word input to a Digitally Controlled Oscillator (DCO) is modified to reduce non-monotonic regions in the output response of the DCO. The DCO may be included in a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) circuit for generating an output signal that locks onto either the phase or frequency of a reference signal input. By modifying the control word input to the DCO to avoid non-monotonic regions in the DCO output response, PLL phase noise is reduced. In one embodiment, the control word is modified by reordering or skipping control word values input to the DCO that correspond to non-monotonic regions in the output response of the DCO circuit.

Abstract: A Decimation In Frequency (DIF) Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) stage is used in an N bin FFT, wherein N is an even integer. The DIF FFT stage includes swap logic that receives a first input sample, x(v), and a second input sample, x(v+N/2), and selectively supplies either the first and second input samples at respective first and second swap logic output ports or alternatively the second and first input samples at the respective first and second swap logic output ports, wherein 0?v<N/2. The DIF FFT stage further includes a summing unit for adding values supplied by the first and second swap logic output ports; a differencing unit for subtracting values supplied by the first and second swap logic output ports; and twiddle factor logic that multiplies a value supplied by the differencing unit by a twiddle factor, WN(v+s)mod(N/2), where s is an integer representing an amount of circular shift of N input samples.

Abstract: A coarse estimate of a location of an information carrying part of a symbol in a received signal in a telecommunication system is generated. This involves generating correlation values by correlating the received signal with a delayed received signal. A maximum correlation value of the correlation values is identified, and a duration in time during which the correlation values are greater than or equal to a predetermined percentage of the maximum correlation value is identified, wherein the duration in time begins at a first moment in time and ends at a second moment in time. The coarse estimate of the location of the peak correlation value is set equal to a moment in time between the first moment in time and the second moment in time, for example, a midpoint between the first moment in time and the second moment in time.

Abstract: A method of processing a set of input data values comprises the steps of providing said input data values serially to circuitry comprising a number of memory elements; and performing in said circuitry a transform function to obtain a set of transformed data values. The method further comprises the steps of delaying a subset of said set of input data values under use of said memory elements; providing a modified set of data values by adding individual delayed data values to individual non-delayed data values from said set of input data values; and performing said transform function on said modified set of data values. In this way a transform function can be evaluated at fewer output data values than available input data values without increasing the memory requirements considerably.

Abstract: A channel response estimate is generated from a received signal that comprises two or more different pilot carriers in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communications system. This involves, for each of the carriers, determining a rotation amount that is at least in part a function of a frequency separation between two adjacent carriers, a delay spread of the channel, and a position of the carrier relative to other carriers within the received signal. The received signal is processed with a Fast Fourier Transform, thereby generating a processed signal. Prior to performing frequency interpolation as part of a channel estimation process, the processed signal is rotated by the rotation amount. The channel response is estimated by performing the channel estimation process at least in part on the rotated processed signal.

Abstract: Inter-carrier interference (ICI) cancellation in an OFDMA receiving signals from two transmitters is performed by identifying the transmitted sub-carriers that cause the largest ICI to sub-carriers received from other transmitters, and removing the ICI contribution from these sub-carriers. This may be accomplished by calculating the ICI terms only based on the interfering sub-carrier and the frequency offset. Alternatively, the transmissions causing the ICI are demodulated, the ICI on other signals is then determined and subtracted, and other signals are then demodulated. Which transmissions cause the largest ICI on others depends on the relative strength of the corresponding sub-carriers and how much orthogonality is lost. The latter might be due to frequency error, Doppler spread, or a combination of both.

Abstract: Inter-carrier interference (ICI) cancellation is performed on a received signal comprising signals transmitted by a transmitter to a plurality of users. ICI cancellation is performed for a given user by identifying the signals transmitted to other users that cause the largest ICI to signals transmitted to the receiving user, and selectively removing the ICI contribution from these transmissions. This may be accomplished by calculating the ICI terms based on an estimate of the transmitted signal calculated as the received signal divided by an estimate of the channel. Alternatively, the transmissions causing the ICI may be selectively demodulated and decoded, and the improved estimates of the transmitted signal used for ICI estimation and cancellation. Which transmissions cause the largest ICI on others depends on the relative strength of the corresponding data and pilot symbols and how much orthogonality is lost.

Abstract: The control word input to a Digitally Controlled Oscillator (DCO) is modified to reduce non-monotonic regions in the output response of the DCO. The DCO may be included in a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) circuit for generating an output signal that locks onto either the phase or frequency of a reference signal input. By modifying the control word input to the DCO to avoid non-monotonic regions in the DCO output response, PLL phase noise is reduced. In one embodiment, the control word is modified by reordering or skipping control word values input to the DCO that correspond to non-monotonic regions in the output response of the DCO circuit.

Abstract: In communication systems where the channel is expected to vary during a communication burst, gain adjustments during the communication burst can be implemented by automatic gain control (AGC) in the receiver, with minimal performance degradation. These gain adjustments are successfully accommodated by virtue of suitable information-sharing between an AGC unit and a digital baseband part. The digital baseband part can direct the AGC unit appropriately to ensure that gain adjustments are implemented during time intervals that do not carry substantive communication information (e.g., guard intervals). In receivers that perform channel estimation in the digital baseband part, the AGC unit supports channel estimation by informing the digital baseband part about the timing of the gain adjustment. The AGC unit can also support channel estimation by informing the digital baseband part about the size of the gain adjustment.

Abstract: A DIF FFT stage is used in an N bin FFT, wherein N is an even integer. The DIF FFT stage includes swap logic that receives a first input sample, x(v), and a second input sample, x(v+N/2), and selectively supplies either the first and second input samples at respective first and second swap logic output ports or alternatively the second and first input samples at the respective first and second swap logic output ports, wherein 0?v<N/2. The DIF FFT stage further includes a summing unit for adding values supplied by the first and second swap logic output ports; a differencing unit for subtracting values supplied by the first and second swap logic output ports; and twiddle factor logic that multiplies a value supplied by the differencing unit by a twiddle factor, WN(v+s)mod(N/2), where s is an integer representing an amount of circular shift of N input samples.

Abstract: A channel response estimate is generated from a received signal that comprises two or more different pilot carriers in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communications system. This involves, for each of the carriers, determining a rotation amount that is at least in part a function of a frequency separation between two adjacent carriers, a delay spread of the channel, and a position of the carrier relative to other carriers within the received signal. The received signal is processed with a Fast Fourier Transform, thereby generating a processed signal. Prior to performing frequency interpolation as part of a channel estimation process, the processed signal is rotated by the rotation amount. The channel response is estimated by performing the channel estimation process at least in part on the rotated processed signal.

Abstract: A coarse estimate of a location of an information carrying part of a symbol in a received signal in a telecommunication system is generated. This involves generating correlation values by correlating the received signal with a delayed received signal. A maximum correlation value of the correlation values is identified, and a duration in time during which the correlation values are greater than or equal to a predetermined percentage of the maximum correlation value is identified, wherein the duration in time begins at a first moment in time and ends at a second moment in time. The coarse estimate of the location of the peak correlation value is set equal to a moment in time between the first moment in time and the second moment in time, for example, a midpoint between the first moment in time and the second moment in time.