Advanced Digital Communications

EC721
Lecture 7

Prepared by: Dr. Mohamed Abaza

Email: [email protected]
Reference: “Digital Communications by John G. Proakis”
 Motivation

• High bit-rate wireless applications in a multipath radio

environment.

• OFDM can enable such applications without a high

complexity receiver.

• OFDM is part of WLAN and 4G wireless technologies.

2
 What is OFDM?
• Modulation technique
– Requires channel coding
– Solves multipath problems
Transmitter:
I/Q RF
Source Channel OFDM I/Q-mod.,
Info coding coding / modulation up-
Source interleaving converter

e.g. Audio 0110 01101101 Radio-

Receiver: channel

Source Decoding / OFDM de- Down-

Info decoding deinter- modulation converter,
Sink leaving I/Q-demod.
I/Q RF

3
 Multipath Transmission

• Fading due to constructive and destructive addition of

multipath signals.

• Channel delay spread can cause ISI.

• Flat fading occurs when the symbol period is large

compared to the delay spread.

4
 Multipath Propagation
• Reflections from • Time dispersive
walls, etc. channel
–p (tImpulse
) (PDP)
response:

t [ns]

• Problem with high

5
rate data transmission:
 Inter-Symbol-Interference
Transmitted signal:
Received Signals:
Line-of-sight:

Reflected:

The symbols
add up on Delays
the channel
 Distortion!

6
 Concept of parallel transmission
(1)
Channel impulse
response Time

1 Channel (serial)

Channels are transmitted

2 Channels at different frequencies
(sub-carriers)

8 Channels
In practice: 50 … 8000
Channels (sub-carriers)

7
 The Frequency-Selective Radio
Channel
Power response [dB]
20

15

10

-5

-10

Frequency

• Interference of reflected (and LOS) radio waves

– Frequency-dependent fading

8
 Concept of parallel transmission
Channel impulse
(2) Channel
response Time
Frequency
transfer function

1 Channel (serial) Signal is

Frequency
“broadband”

2 Channels Frequency

8 Channels
Frequency

Channels are
“narrowband”
Broadband is a wide bandwidth data transmission with an ability to 9
simultaneously transport multiple signals.
Concept of an OFDM signal
Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Ch.7 Ch.8 Ch.9 Ch.10

Conventional multicarrier techniques frequency

Ch.2 Ch.4 Ch.6 Ch.8 Ch.10

Ch.1 Ch.3 Ch.5 Ch.7 Ch.9

Saving of bandwidth

50% bandwidth saving

Orthogonal multicarrier techniques frequency

10
Reference: NCCU Wireless Communication Lab

11
 A Solution for ISI channels

• Conversion of a high-data rate stream into several low-

rate streams.

• Parallel streams are modulated onto orthogonal carriers.

• Data symbols modulated on these carriers can be

recovered without mutual interference.

• Overlap of the modulated carriers in the frequency

domain different from FDM.

12
 OFDM

• OFDM is a multicarrier block transmission system.

• Block of ‘N’ symbols are grouped and sent parallely.

• No interference among the data symbols sent in a

block.

13
Transmitted Spectrum

14
 Spectrum of the modulated data
symbols
• Rectangular Window
Magnitude
of duration T0
T0
• Has a sinc-spectrum
with zeros at 1/ T0

• Other carriers are put

in these zeros
•  sub-carriers are Frequency

orthogonal

15
 OFDM terminology

• Orthogonal carriers referred to as subcarriers {f i,i=0,....N-1}.

• OFDM symbol period {Tos=N x Ts}.

• Subcarrier spacing Df = 1/Tos.

16
 OFDM and FFT

• Samples of the multicarrier signal can be obtained using

the IFFT of the data symbols - a key issue.

• FFT can be used at the receiver to obtain the data symbols.

• No need for ‘N’ oscillators,filters etc.

• Popularity of OFDM is due to the use of IFFT/FFT which

have efficient implementations.

17
 Wireless Communication
Channels

From “Wireless Communications” Edfors, Molisch, Tufvesson

• Communications over wireless channels suffer from multi-path propagation

• Multi-path channels are usually frequency selective
• OFDM supports high data rate communications over frequency selective
channels
18
 Multi-Path Propagation
Modeling Power

Multi-Path
Components

τ0 τ1 τ2 Time

Multi-path results from reflection, diffraction, and scattering off environment

surroundings
Note: The figure above demonstrates the roles of reflection and scattering only on
19
multi-path
 Multi-Path Propagation
Modeling Power

Multi-Path
Components

τ0 τ1 τ2 Time

As the mobile receiver (i.e. car) moves in the environment, the strength of
each multi-path component varies
20
 Multi-Path Propagation
Modeling Power

Multi-Path
Components

τ0 τ1 τ2 Time

As the mobile receiver (i.e. car) moves in the environment, the strength of
each multi-path component varies
21
 Multi-Path = Frequency-Selective!
f=0 0.5 0.5
1 1
0.5

1 μs
1 μs

f=1 MHz
1 0.5 0.5 1
0.5

-0.5
-1 1 μs -1

1 μs

f=500 KHz 1
1 0.5 0.5
0.5

-0.5
-1
-1 1 μs
1 μs
22
 Multi-Path = Frequency-Selective!
h(t) |H(f)|
0.5 0.5 1

f (MHz)

0 0.5 1 1.5 2
1 μs

• A multi-path channel treats signals with different

frequencies differently
• A signal composed of multiple frequencies would
be distorted by passing through such channel
23
 Frequency Division & Coherence Bandwidth
Power

Frequency

• Subdivide wideband bandwidth into multiple narrowband sub-carriers

• Bandwidth of each channel is selected such that each sub-carrier
approximately displays Flat Fading characteristics
• The bandwidth over which the wireless channel is assumed to display flat
fading characteristics is called the coherence bandwidth

24
 Example Frequency Response for 3G Channel
Power Delay Profile Snapshot for Frequency
10
(Vehicular A Channel Response
Model)
Resolv Relative Average
9

8
able Delay Power (dB)
Path (nsec) 7

6
1 0 0.0
5

H(f)
2 310 -1.0
4

3 710 -9.0 3

4 1090 -10.0 2

5 1730 -15.0 1

6 2510 -20.0 0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
Frequency (Hz) x 10
6

Simulation Assumptions
 Rayleigh Fading for each resolvable path
 System Bandwidth = 5 MHz
 Coherence Bandwidth = 540 KHz
 Number of Sub-Carriers = 64
 Sub-Carrier Bandwidth = 78.125 KHz
25
 Example Frequency Response for 3G Channel
Power Delay Profile 10
Snapshot for Frequency
(Vehicular A Channel Response
9
Model)
Resolv Relative Average 8
able Delay Power (dB)
Path (nsec) 7

6
1 0 0.0
5

H(f)
2 310 -1.0 4

3 710 -9.0 3

4 1090 -10.0 2

5 1730 -15.0 1

6 2510 -20.0 0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
Frequency (Hz) x 10
6

Simulation Assumptions
 Rayleigh Fading for each resolvable path
 System Bandwidth = 5 MHz
 Coherence Bandwidth = 540 KHz
 Number of Sub-Carriers = 64
 Sub-Carrier Bandwidth = 78.125 KHz
26
 Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)

Filter in time domain by

multiplying the signal with
h(t) {impulse response of
the filter}

Binary Transmitting Bandpass

Modulation Filter (f1) Demod.
Encoder Filter (f1)

Binary Transmitting Bandpass

Modulation Filter (f2) Demod.
Encoder Filter (f2)

Wireless
+ Channel

Binary Transmitting Bandpass

Modulation Demod.
Encoder Filter (fN) Filter (fN)

27
 Channel Bandwidth of FDM
Time-Limited Communications Band-Limited Communications

Tx Filter
Rectangular Filter Raised Cosine Filter
TS

Tx Signal
in Time

TS

Tx Signal 2/TS
in
Frequency

0 -fc- -fc+ 0 fc- RS/2 fc+ RS/2

-fc fc RS/2 RS/2

Signal
Bandwidth Zero-to-Zero Bandwidth = 2/TS Bandwidth = RS = 1/TS

28
 Orthogonal FDM
Is it possible to find carrier
frequencies f1, f2 … fN such
that
TS

cos 2πf t cos 2πf t dt 0

0
i j i  j

1 S 
TS T


0
cos  i
2πf t cos 
2πf j t dt 

2

 0

cos 2π fi  fj t  cos 
2π fi  f j t dt 



TS
TS
  
1  sin2π fi  f j t sin 2π fi  f j t  
  
cos 2πfi t cos 2πf j t dt    
0  
2  2π fi  f j 
2π fi  f j  
0

TS
 
1  sin 2π fi  f j TS sin 2π fi  f j TS  
  
cos 2πfi t cos 2πf j t dt    
0 
2  2π fi  f j
  2π fi  f j 
 
29
 Orthogonal FDM
Is it possible to find carrier
frequencies f1, f2 … fN such
that
TS

cos 2πf t cos 2πf t dt 0

0
i j i  j

TS
 
1  sin 2π fi  f j TS sin 2π fi  f j TS   
 
cos 2πfi t cos 2πf j t dt     
0
2  2π fi  f j
 
2π fi  f j    
TS

cos 2πf t cos 2πf t dt 0

0
i j


 2π fi  f j TS nπ  n=1,2,3, .... &  
2π fi  f j TS mπ m=1,2,3, ....
n

 fi  fj   2TS
n=1,2,3, .... & f  f   2Tm
i j m=1,2,3, ....
S 30
 Orthogonality of Sub-Carriers
Ts

The sinusoid signals with 1

frequencies f1, f2, f3, f4 are all f1 
2Ts
mutually orthogonal over
the symbol period Ts 1
f2 
Ts

3
f3 
2Ts

2
f4 
Ts

31
 Orthogonality of Sub-Carriers
T s

The sinusoid signals with 1

frequencies f1, f2, f3, f4 are all f1 
2Ts
mutually orthogonal over
the symbol period Ts 1
f2 
Ts

 πt   2πt 
sin   sin  
T
 s T
 s 

Ts T Ts
 πt   2πt  s
 πt   3πt 

0
sin 
T
 s
 sin 
T
 s 
dt  
0
cos   dt 
 Ts 

0
cos 
T
 s 
 dt
Ts
Ts
 πt   2πt   sin πt Ts  sin 3πt Ts  

0
sin  
 Ts 
sin 
 Ts 
dt  
 πt Ts 
  0
3πt Ts   0
32
 Orthogonality of Sub-Carriers
T s

The sinusoid signals with 1

frequencies f1, f2, f3, f4 are all f1 
2Ts
mutually orthogonal over
3
the symbol period Ts f3 
2Ts

 πt   3πt 
sin   sin  
T
 s T
 s 

Ts T Ts
 πt   3πt  s
 2πt   4πt 

0
sin 
T
 s
 sin 
T
 s 
dt  
0
cos 
T
 s 
 dt  
0
cos 
T
 s 
 dt
Ts
Ts
 πt   3πt   sin 2πt Ts  sin 4πt Ts  

0
sin  
 Ts 
sin 
 Ts 
dt  
 2πt Ts 
  0
4πt Ts   0
33
 Orthogonality of Sub-Carriers
T s

The sinusoid signals with 1

frequencies f1, f2, f3, f4 are all f1 
2Ts
mutually orthogonal over
2
the symbol period Ts f4 
Ts

 πt   4πt 
sin   sin  
T
 s T
 s 

Ts T Ts
 πt   4πt  s
 3πt   5πt 

0
sin 
T
 s
 sin 
T
 s 
dt  
0
cos 
T
 s 
 dt  
0
cos 
T
 s 
 dt
Ts
Ts
 πt   4πt   sin 3πt Ts  sin 5πt Ts  

0
sin  
 Ts 
sin 
 Ts 
dt  
 3πt Ts 
  0
5πt Ts   0
34
 Orthogonal FDM
Binary Transmitting Correlate
Modulation with (f1) Demod.
Encoder Filter (f1)

f2=f1+1/2TS
Correlate
Binary Transmitting Demod.
Modulation with (f2)
Encoder Filter (f2)

Wireless
+ Channel

fN=f1+1/2(N-1)TS

Transmitting Correlate
Binary Demod.
Modulation with (fN)
Encoder Filter (fN)

35
 Number of Subcarriers in OFDM
• For band-limited FDM if the system bandwidth is
B, number of sub-carriers is given by:
B BTS 0 α 1  Rolloff Factor
NC  
1  α  / TS 1  α 
 For OFDM if the system bandwidth is B, Number of
sub-carriers is given by:
B
NC  2BTS
1/ 2TS
OFDM has the potential to at least double the number of
sub-carriers (i.e., double the total transmission rate over
the system bandwidth)
36
 Intersymbol Interference in OFDM
Ts s, f2=2/Ts
Assume OFDM over two subcarriers: f1=1/T Ts

1
f1 
Ts

+
2
f2 
Ts

OFDM Symbol

Tx
Signa
l

37
 Intersymbol Interference in OFDM
OFDM Symbol

Tx
Signa
l

h0 h1
Suppose multi-path channel with delay
Ts/8
Ts/8
Inter-Symbol
OFDM Symbol Interference (ISI)

Rx
Signa
l

Inter-symbol interference (ISI) occurs when one OFDM symbol affects

the next one due to the multi-path channel 38
 Inserting Guard Time
OFDM Symbol

Ts/8 Ts Ts Ts/4
Tx
Signa
l
Guard
Time
h0 h1
Suppose multi-path channel with delay
Ts/8
Ts/8

Ts/8 Ts Ts Ts/4
Rx
Signa
l
Guard
Time No ISI

• Guard Time eliminates ISI between neighboring OFDM symbols

• However each OFDM symbol suffers from inter-carrier interference (ICI)
• Guard time corresponds to a reduction of bit rate 39
 Guard Time & Inter-Carrier
Tx Signal Interference Rx Signal
OFDM Symbol OFDM Symbol

Ts/8 Ts Ts/8 Ts

Guard Guard
Time Time

+ +

40
 Guard Time & Inter-Carrier
Interference
Rx Signal
Consider the receiver for f1=1/Ts that
OFDM Symbol
correlates over Ts with sin 2πt Ts 
Ts/8 Ts T
s

Guard
Time
Correlation at Rx over Ts Not
x
Orthogon
al

+
Intra-Carrier
Interference

41
 Guard Time & Inter-Carrier
Interference
Rx Signal
Consider the receiver for f1=1/Ts that
OFDM Symbol
correlates over Ts with sin 2πt Ts 
Ts/8 Ts T
s

Guard
Time
Correlation at Rx over Ts Orthogon
x
al

+
No Interference

42
 Guard Time & Inter-Carrier
Rx Signal
Interference
Consider the receiver for f1=1/Ts that
OFDM Symbol
correlates over Ts with sin 2πt Ts 
Ts/8 Ts T
s

Guard
Time
Correlation at Rx over Ts Not
x
Orthogon
al

+
Inter-Carrier
Interference

43
 Cyclic Prefix
The cyclic prefix is used to eliminate Inter-carrier interference
Tx Signal (Guard Time) Tx Signal (Cyclix Prefix)
OFDM Symbol OFDM Symbol

Ts/8 Ts Ts/8
Ts/8 Ts

Guard Cyclic
Time Prefix

Cyclic
+ Prefix
+

Cyclic
Prefix
44
 Cyclic Prefix
Rx Signal (Cyclix Prefix) Consider the receiver for f1=1/Ts that
Cyclic
Prefix
correlates over Ts with sin 2πt Ts 
Ts/8 T
Ts/8 Ts
s

Not
Correlation at Rx over x
Ts Orthogon
al

Intra-Carrier
Interference

45
 Cyclic Prefix
Rx Signal (Cyclix Prefix) Consider the receiver for f1=1/Ts that
Cyclic
Prefix
correlates over Ts with sin 2πt Ts 
Ts/8 T
Ts/8 Ts
s

Orthogon
Correlation at Rx over x
Ts al

No Interference

46
 Cyclic Prefix
Rx Signal (Cyclix Prefix) Consider the receiver for f1=1/Ts that
Cyclic
Prefix
correlates over Ts with sin 2πt Ts 
Ts/8 T
Ts/8 Ts
s

Orthogon
Correlation at Rx over x
Ts al

No Inter-
Carrier
Interference

47
 Cyclic Prefix (Summary)
Assume fi, fj are two OFDM sub-carriers and φij is the phase shift
associated with the cyclic prefix and multi-path channel
Ts

sin 2πf t sin 2πf t  φ dt

0
i j ij

Ts

    
 sin 2πfi t  sin 2πf j t cos φij  cos 2πf jt sin φij  dt   
0
Ts Ts

cos φij   sin 2πf t sin 2πf t dt  sin φ  sin 2πf t cos 2πf t dt
i j ij i j
0 0
Ts

 sin 2πf t sin 2πf t  φ dt 0

0
i j ij

Cyclic Prefix eliminates Inter-carrier Interference (ICI)

48
 Cyclic Prefix (Summary)
Assume an OFDM sub-carrier fi, and φii is the phase shift
associated with the cyclic prefix and multi-path channel
Ts

sin 2πf t sin 2πf t  φ dt

0
i i ii

Ts

 sin 2πfi t  sin 2πfi t cos φii   cos 2πfi t sin φii  dt
0
Ts Ts

cos φii  sin2 2πfi t dt  sin φii  sin 2πfi t cos 2πfi t dt
0 0
Ts Ts

 sin 2πfi t sin 2πfi t  φ ii  dt cos φ 

ii sin2
2πfit dt  0 cos φii 
0 0

With Cyclic Prefix remains the component cos φii as a source of

Intra-Carrier Interference 49
 Cyclic Prefix vs Guard Time
Guard Time Cyclic Prefix
Eliminates Inter-symbol Interference Eliminates Inter-symbol Interference
Suffers from Inter-carrier Interference Eliminates Inter-carrier Interference
Suffers from Intra-carrier Interference Suffers from Intra-carrier Interference
Causes a reduction in data rate as a Causes a reduction in data rate as a
result of the increased OFDM symbol result of the increased OFDM symbol
time time
Does not consume additional power Necessitates additional power
associated with OFDM symbol time associated with OFDM symbol
expansion due to the guard time expansion due to the introduction of
cyclic prefix

50
 Mitigation of Fading
• Distribute power over sub-carriers such as to
maximize total system data rate
 Requires channel estimation
 Requires channel estimation knowledge at transmitter

51
52
 OFDM Applications

1.LTE

2.WiFi

3.WiMAX

53
Maximum Likelihood Decoder
^
hs  n  h s  xi

1 - If I send "1" and assume "1" at the receiver

h  n - h n x 1
If I send "1" and assume "0" at the receiver
h  n - 0 h  n x 2
x 1  x 2 so it means that the bit must be "1"

2 - If I send "0" and assume "0" at the receiver

0  n - 0 n x 1
If I send "0" and assume "1" at the receiver
0  n - h n - h x 2
x 1  x 2 so it means that the bit must be "0"
54