OFDM Timing and Frequency Synchronization

Presented by: Shahabudin Rahmanian Jan. 2007

Outline
Introduction n Carrier Frequency Synchronization n ML Estimation of Time and Frequency Offset (Coarse Decimal). n New Coarse decimal Part Estimation n Integer Part Estimation n References
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Introduction
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OFDM have high sensitivity to synchronization errors. Synchronization errors cause

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Inter-symbol interference (ISI) Inter-carrier interference (ICI) Symbol Timing Synchronization Symbol Timing Synchronization Carrier Frequency Synchronization Sampling Clock Synchronization

Synchronization stages:
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Introduction
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Burst Packet Mode (IEEE 802.11)

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Synchronization ought to be established at any time. The duration of the training symbols used for synchronization in this mode is relatively short. Stringent requirement on synchronization time. Synchronization must be done in time domain. Averaging method can be used to improve the estimation accuracy. Large numbers of sub-carriers has been utilized. It is appropriate to apply the cyclic prefix (CP) or pilots to these synchronization methods.

Continuous mode (DAB, DVB-T)

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Carrier Frequency Synchronization

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Reasons:
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Mismatch between local oscillators of transmitter and receiver. Doppler shift.

Introduce ICI and destroy the orthogonality of OFDM sub-carriers. Put an extra phase factor in each subcarrier.

Carrier Frequency Synchronization

Without carrier offset With Carrier offset

Carrier Frequency Synchronization

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CFO estimation methods:

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Use of training symbols or pilots (Data Aided). Use of the intrinsic structure of OFDM symbols, e.g. cyclic prefix (Non Data Aided ). Blind approaches, which relies on the signal statistics and often has very high computational complexity.

Error of CFO estimation must be less than 1% of sub carrier spacing.

Carrier Frequency Synchronization

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CFO normalized by sub-carrier spacing is divided into

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Integer part , (multiple of the sub-carrier spacing) Decimal part (less than half of the sub-carrier spacing, causes attenuation and rotation and ICI).

CFO estimation can be divided into three parts:

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Coarse decimal part (Time domain) Integer part( Frequency domain) Fine decimal part( Frequency domain)

Carrier Frequency Synchronization

Typical CFO unit structure

ML Estimation of Time and Frequency Offset( coarse decimal)

ML Estimation of Time and Frequency Offset( coarse decimal)

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Results
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N = 1024 L = 128 SNR = 15 dB

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ML Estimation of Time and Frequency Offset( coarse decimal)

Results

Constellation with 100 Hz carrier offset

After compensation

New Coarse decimal Part Estimation

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J. J. Van de Beek algorithm have two defects:

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Assume that an accurate symbol timing done before doing decimal frequency offset Estimation. Performance decrease greatly when the symbol timing error varies from 0 samples to about 20 samples. When the decimal part approaches to 0.5 of the subcarrier spacing, the estimated value may, jump to the inverse polarity(0.498 => -0.467)

New Coarse decimal Part Estimation

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Bo Ai algorithm

New Coarse decimal Part Estimation

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A Novel Adjusting Model (IIR Filter)

Integer Part Estimation

Tree algorithm for integer part estimation. 1 and 3 utilize the power property of the known pilots. 2 exploited the phase property.

Integer Part Estimation

Multi path channel

AWGN channel with Timing error

Integer Part Estimation

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Algorithm 3

Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Integer CFO.

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The received symbol

The frequency offset can be represented with respect to the subcarrier bandwidth.

ML Estimation of Time and Frequency Offset( coarse decimal)

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J. J. Van de Beek algorithm Received signal:

r (k ) = s(k ) e j 2k / N + n(k )

We observe 2N+L samples of r(k), contain one complete OFDM symbol (N+L) sample

Fine decimal estimation

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Fine decimal part estimation

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In the presence of carrier offset, the received signal will lose the repetitive structure

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The estimator is formed as follows,

Consider two complex variables A = a + jb B = (a + jb) ej to find out from A and B = - phase of (A B*)

Timing synchronization
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Symbol timing error can not only disturb the amplitude as well as the phase of the received signal, but also introduce ISI. Symbol timing synchronization must be done to determine the starting point (i.e. FFT window).

Timing synchronization
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Coarse:
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Most representative method:

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MLE (Maximum Likelihood Estimation) utilizing the cyclic prefix.

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When the multi-path channel condition becomes severely degraded, data in GIB is badly contaminated by ISI.

Novel scheme
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Utilizing both CP and pilots was proposed by D.Landstrm.

Fine:
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The residual timing error may cause the phase rotation of the subcarriers. Algo. 2 Algo. 4

Timing synchronization

Timing synchronization (Results)

300 sample error from start of symbol

120 sample error from start of symbol

After correction

References
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B. Ai, Z. Yang, C. Pan, J. Ge, Y. Wang and Z. Lu, "On the Synchronization Techniques for Wireless OFDM Systems," IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, vol. 52, no. 2, june 2006. T. Keller, L. Piazzo, P. Mandarini, and L. Hanzo, "Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Synchronization Techniques for Frequency-Selective Fading Channels," IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 19, no. 6, June 2001. Chandranath R, N Athaudage and Vikram Krishnamurthy, A low complexity Timing and Frequency Synchronization Algorithm for OFDM Systems, IEEE 2004 Baoguo Yang, Roger S Cheng, Khaled Ben Letaief, Zhigang Cao, Timing recovery for OFDM Transmission, IEEE 2003 Jeong- Ki Min, Hyoung-Kyu Song, Frequency Synchronization for Digital Audio Broadcasting, IEEE 2003 Jan-Jaap van de Beek, Magnus Sandell and Per Ola Borjesson, ML Estimation of Time and Frequency Offset in OFDM systems, IEEE 2001.