OFDM & Fading

Digital Communication
17/12/2013
Outline
1. Introduction to OFDM
2. The Multipath Environments
3. The Principle of OFDM
4. OFDM Mechanism
5. Conclusion
6. Example




-New techniques for digital transmission have developed to meet the increasing demand
for higher data rates in communications is Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
(OFDM)
-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a Multi-Carrier Modulation
technique in which a single high rate data-stream is divided into multiple low rate data-
streams and is modulated using subcarriers which are orthogonal to each other.
-Advantages
-high data rate and bandwidth efficiency.
-Easy and efficient in dealing with multipath
-robust against narrow band interference
-Disadvantages
-High PAPR
-Sensitive to frequency offset
-Applications
Digital audio and video broadcasting Wireless LAN 802.11
Digital subscriber lines (DSL) WiMAX 802.16
LTE (Long term Evolution), 4G Cellular Networks

Introduction to OFDM
The Multipath Environments
-The transmission of the signal from the transmitter to the receiver is carried over multiple
paths
Fading is the rapid fluctuation of the amplitude of a radio signal over a short Period of time
or travel distance, caused by interference between two or more versions of the transmitted
signal which arrive at the receiver at slightly different times
Flat Fading
If the transmitted channel is sufficiently narrow then all the frequency components
transmitted in the channel will be attenuated by the same amount, this is known as flat
fading
Frequency Selective Fading
If the mobile channel has a bandwidth that is smaller than the bandwidth of transmitted
signal, then the channel creates frequency selective fading on the received signal. the
received signal includes multiple versions of the transmitted waveform which are attenuated
(faded) and delayed in time, Thus the channel induces inter symbol interference
Narrowband and Wideband Channels
A channel to be Narrow band Ts > Td
A channel to be Wideband Td > Ts

Coherence Bandwidth
a channel which passes all spectral components with approximately equal gain and linear phase
which the channel considered to be flat .
Bc = 1/Td

The Principle of OFDM
- Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) is the principle of transmitting data by dividing the stream into
several bit stream and the corresponding subchannel bandwidth is much less than the total system
bandwidth
-The number of substreams is chosen to insure that each subchannel has a bandwidth less than the
coherence bandwidth of the channel, so the subchannels experience relatively flat fading. So, the
ISI on each subchannel is small.
-Consider a bandwidth B available, then the symbol time T
s
=1/B
-For multicarrier system dividing bandwidth B into N subcarrier .

Spacing

to subcarrier spacing N ( if we have

subcarrier then we have

system carrier.
Multicarrier Data Detection
y(t)= S(t)= X
i

2

where y(t) in absence of noise.

Multicarrier Transmission
Consider i
th
subcarrier F
i
=i

, center frequency of the i

th
subcarrier where
(

2
1)

2

X
i
Data transmitted on i
th
subcarrier
S
i
(t)= X
i

X
i

There are now N-subcarrier Hence, there are N data stream(X
i
).
S(t)= S
i
(t) where, S(t) composite transmit signal , S
i
(t) i
th
data stream modulated into i
th
subcarrier .
S(t)= S
i
(t) = X
i

2

= X
i

where, S(t) multi-carrier composite transmitted signal.
Detection Scheme[1]
- Coherent demodulated each stream with corresponding sub-carrier :

(
2
/
0
)
*
dt where f
l
its l
it
subcarrier and the conject its match filer

=

( Xi
2

/
0
)
2

dt

=

Xi
2()

/
0
where, f
o
=

multiple of fundamental frequency by Fourier

series.
Fundamental period T
o
=
1
fo
=

Xi
2

0
= 0

=
= X
l
+
il

i Xi
2()

/
0
dt
All subcarrier are orthogonal.
- F
o
=

and time period of integration = 1/f

o
= N/B

=

(XL +
il
Xi
2()

/
0

/
0
) dt
=

XL.

il
Xi
2()

/
0
dt


= 0 since, integrating in fundamental period
=

XL.

= XL where, Xl: information symbol transmitted on L

th
subcarrier.
Hence, XL can be recovered by coherently demodulating with
2

.
This scheme is a termed of multicarrier modulation system(MCM) , its however the basic for
orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. but not OFDM modulation .
Hense, MCM transmit N-symbol using N-subcarrier in time period N/B
Therefore, symbol rate =

/
=
Single carrier , symbol rate =
1
1/
=
This, the overall symbol rate in single carrier Vs multicarrier system is unchanged.
MCM N-symbol on N-subcarrier
Single carrier One symbol on a carrier
Hense, single carrier system experience ISI . but the BW for MCM coherence BW each
subcarrier experience frequency flat fading.
Hense, there is No ISI in time domain.
What is the problem in MCM system[2]?
Sol: implementing bank of N-modulator and N-demodulator is challenging.
There is a key advancement made by ( Weinsten & fbert, Data transmitting by frequency
Division Multiplexing using the discrete Fourier Transformer.1971)
Consider the MCM transmit signal and this signal is band limited to B.
Hense, the Nyqist sampling rate is B, sampling time T
s
=1/B
S(t)= X
i

MCM signal.
Consider the u
th
sample at t=uT
s
= u/B
S(uT
s
) = X(u) = X
i

= X
i

X(u) = X
i

I DFT (Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform) of information symbol
X(0) X(1) .X(N-1)
The MCM transmit signal can simply be generated by employing IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier
Transform) .
This proposed scheme generating the MCM transmit signal has mush lower complexity
compared to using bank of modulator) as a fast operation.
Now, at the receiver, to recover the information symbol one can corresponding employ an FFT
operation.
This is termed as OFDM ( Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) Due to the rectangular
shape of pulses in the time domain, the spectrum of each modulated carrier has a sin(x)/x shape.
The spectra of different modulated carriers overlap, but each carrier is in the spectral nulls of all
other carriers. Therefore, as long as the receiver does the appropriate demodulation (multiplying
by exp(j2fnt ) and integrating over symbol duration), the data streams of any two subcarriers
will not interfere.[3]
OFDM Mechanism
Transmitter schematic
The incoming data stream is first converted from serial data to parallel data(output of S/P is
discrete frequency component) . The number of parallel data stream will depend on the
bandwidth of the overall channel and the number of sub-carriers available to carry the data. Each
of the parallel streams of data is then modulated on to each sub-carrier which then undergoes an
IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) which transforms the frequency domain signal into a time
domain signal(Each input controls signal at one frequency). The complex time domain signal is
then added to produce a composite and complex waveform.

IFFT output is sum of signal samples
IFFT does modulation and multiplexing in one step
Filtering and D/A of samples results in baseband signal
Receiver schematic :
The captured and sampled signal is transformed to the frequency domain by applying an FFT.
This effectively separates the sub-carriers so they may be demodulated independently.
DFT is means to generate samples of the OFDM signal in the frequency and time domain
without the use of oscillators


Multipath fading causes some frequencies to be attenuated
Fading is approximately constant over narrow band
Multipath delay causes change in amplitude and phase of each subcarrier
Cyclic Prefix[2,5]
The multi-path environment through which the radio signals propagate creates temporal
distortions in the data carried by the radio channel. The differing propagation durations of each
of the multi-path components create inter-symbol interference (ISI). Inter-symbol interference in
OFDM systems cannot be tolerated since it reduces the orthogonality between the sub-carriers,
and increases the BER and reduces the performance of the channel. All of the information
important to the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) is contained within the symbol time. Therefore it
is critical that there is no distortion during this period.
Since the ISI cannot be eliminated from the channel, the information must be protected from its
effect. The solution in OFDM systems is to extend the length of each symbol by a factor
equivalent to the likely delay spread in the channel. This extension to the symbol is known as the
cyclic prefix (CP) .
The CP, which appears at the beginning of each symbol, is actually a copy of the last part of that
symbol
X^(0).X^(n-2)X^(n-1) X(0)X(1)X(2)..X(n-1)


Frequency selective channel can be modeled as:
h(0)h(1)h(L-1) multi tap channel.

First symbol corresponding to current OFDM symbol block is:
Y(o) = h(0)X(0) + h(1)X^(n-1) + h(2)X^(n-2) +..h(L-1)X^(n-l+1)




Initial sample are being subject to ISI
Y(1) = h(0)X(1) + h(1)X(0) + h(2)X^(0) + .+ h(l-1)X^(n-l+2)

X(0)X(1) .. X(n-1) X(n-2) X(n-l+1)


Current OFDM symbol Previous OFDM symbol
L taps
This from previous OFDM symbol ( Interference from L-1 sample)
ISI from previous OFDM symbols
Cyclic Prefix
X(n-l+1)X(n-2)X(n-1) X(0)X(1) .. X(n-1)
Y(0) = h(0)X(0) + h(1)X(n-1) + + h(n-1)X(n-l+1)

[ y(0) y(1)y(n-1)] = [h(0) h(1) ..h(l-1)] [ X(0) X(1) ..X(n-1)]
Received sample multi tap channel models ISI N-samples of current OFDM
Symbols generated after IFFT
Y=H X this is possible because of additional of cyclic prefix
Y(k) = H(k)X(k) modulated information symbol at K
th
subcarrier
Where, Y(k):received symbol across K
th
subcarrier
H(k):channel coefficient corresponding to K
th
subcarrier
X(k): symbol loaded onto K
th
subcarrier
Hense, the frequency selective channel is converted into a group of Narrow band Flat fading
channel one channel a cross each subcarrier.
All samples belong to current OFDM
symbol
Y(0) = H(0) X(0)
Y(1) = H(1) X(1) N parallel Flat fading channel
Hense, OFDM essentially removes the ISI

Y(N) = H(N-1) X(N-1)
Example
Let X(f) is the i/p of IFFT then, the o/p =

Example
NoteThat:
- IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) which transforms the frequency domain signal
into a time domain signal. IFFT output is sum of signal samples, sample at fundamental
period
- F(t) =
2
= cos2 + 0.5 cos4 +0.5cos6.
-
2
= cos2 + sin2
- cos2ft =
1
2
[ f fo +f + fo]
For IDFT X(n) =
1

X
i

Let


| | | | | | | | | | X X 0 X 1 X 2 X 3 1 1 1 1 ( = =

( ) | | | | | | | | | |
n n n n
3
j2i j2 j4 j6
N N N N
i 0
1 1
x n X i e X 0 X 1 e X 2 e X 3 e ,0 n N 1
4 4
=
| |
= = + + + s s
|
\ .

( )
n n n
j2 j4 j6
N N N
1
x n 1 e e e ,0 n N 1
4
| |
= + + + s s
|
\ .
( ) ( )
1
x 0 1 1 1 1 1
4
= + + + =
( )
3
j j
j
2 2
1
x 1 1 e e e 0
4
| |
= + + + =
|
\ .
( ) ( )
j j2 j3
1
x 2 1 e e e 0
4
= + + + =
( )
3 9
j j
j3
2 2
1
x 3 1 e e e 0
4
| |
= + + + =
|
\ .
| | { } | | IDFT 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 =
Example
- Now, at the receiver after S/P, to recover the information symbol one can
correspond employ an FFT operation.
X(k) = ()

1
==0
K=0,1,.,N-1
W
N
=

If N = 4 N = 2
2

X(0) = X0 + X1 + X2 +X3
X(1) = X0 + X1

2
4
- X2 + X3

23
4

X(2) = X0 X1 + X2 X3
X(3) = X0 + X1

23
4
- X2 X3

23
4


X(k) = X(even) + W
n
X(odd)
By applied The CooleyTukey algorithm, ( Butterfly algorithm) per/bit
O(N Log
2
N) : number of branch , Log
2
N : number of level [10]
Example
Example. 2: Consider a multicarrier system with a total passband bandwidth of 1
MHz. Suppose the system operates in a city with channel delay spread Tm = 20s.
How many subchannels are needed to obtain approximately flat-fading in each
subchannel.

Solution: The channel coherence bandwidth is Bc = 1/Tm = 1/.00002 = 50 KHz. To
insure flat-fading on each subchannel, we take BN = B/N = .1Bc << Bc. Thus, N =
B/.1Bc = 1000000/5000 = 200 subchannels are needed to insure flat-fading on each
subchannel. In discrete implementations of multicarrier N must be a power of two
for the DFT and IDFT operations, in which case N = 256 for this set of
parameters.[3]
Conclusion
- OFDM is a key broadband wireless technology support data in excess of 100 Mbps.
- Designed for NLOS operation
- Fixed size (256 carrier), variable subcarrier spacing to support multiple defined
bandwidth.
- Adaptive modulation with BPSK , QPSK and 64-QAM defined.
- OFDM is an advanced modulation technique which is suitable for high-speed data
transmission due to its advantages in dealing with the multipath propagation problem,
high data rate and bandwidth efficiency.
References
[1] Theodore Rappaport, Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice,2002
[2] Andrea Goldsmith, Wireless Communications, Cambridge University Press.2005
[3] Andreas F. Molisch ,Wireless Communications, Second Edition 2011 John Wiley & Sons
[4] Yao Xiao, A Thesis of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Modulation and Inter-
carrier Interference Cancelation ,2003
[5] Arun Gangwar1, Manushree Bhardwaj, An Overview: Peak to Average Power Ratio in
OFDM system & its Effect,2012
[6]Hwaei Company, Telecomm Academy, LTE Radio Interface
[7 ] Gongpu Wang, Feifei Gao, Yik-Chung Wu, and Chintha Tellambura, Joint CFO and
Channel Estimation for OFDM-Based Two-Way Relay Networks,2011
[8] Yajun Wang, Wen Chen, , and Chintha Tellambura, Genetic Algorithm Based Nearly
Optimal Peak Reduction Tone Set Selection for Adaptive Amplitude Clipping PAPR
Reduction,2012
[9] Xiaoqiang Ma, Hisashi Kobayashi. and Stuart C. Schwarrz, Effect of Frequency Offset On
BER of OFDM and Single carrier System ,2003
[10] Pavan Kumar, Priya Jain, Ravi Kiran, Rohith N, Ramamani K, FFT Algorithms: A
Survey,2013