OFDM Advantages

Orthogonal Frequency Division „ OFDM is a spectrally efficient

Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation technique
„ It is conveniently implemented using
IFFT and FFT operations
Mary Ann Ingram
„ It handles frequency selective channels
ECE 4823 well when combined with error
correction coding

OFDM Disadvantages OFDM Concept

„ More complex than single-carrier „ Suppose the symbol length is Tu
modulation „ Sinusoidal signals differing in frequency
„ Requires a more linear power amplifier by 1/Tu will be orthogonal over the
period Tu
t s +Tu ⎡ − j 2π ⎛⎜⎜ f o + 1 ⎞⎟⎟t ⎤
∫ [e ] ⎢e ⎝ Tu ⎠ ⎥dt = 0
j 2πf o t

⎢ ⎥
ts
⎣ ⎦

Conceptual Transmitter Block

Diagram Subcarriers
b0 (t ) “1”
„ Each branch
b0 (t ) X
corresponds to a b0 (t ) X

subcarrier
e j 2πf ot e j 2πf ot
0 Tu
b1 (t )
“1” OFDM „ Subcarriers are
b1 (t ) X
Σ “Useful Part” separated by 1/Tu
Hz
b1 (t ) X
Σ
Tu sec long
0 Tu j 2π ( f o +1 / Tu )t j 2π ( f o +1 / Tu )t
bN −1 (t ) e „ Each subcarrier e
“0” M modulates a M
0 Tu bN −1 (t ) bN −1 (t )
X different symbol X

„ bk can be QAM
e j 2π ( f o +[ N −1]/ Tu )t e j 2π ( f o +[N −1]Tu )t

1
One OFDM Symbol Subcarrier Spectra
„ Each modulated subcarrier has a
spectrum in the shape of a sinc squared
⎧ N −1 ⎛ k ⎞
− j 2π ⎜⎜ f o + ⎟⎟ t function
⎪∑ bk (t )e ⎝ Tu ⎠ 0 < t < Tu
s (t ) = ⎨
k =0
⎪
⎩ 0 otherwise

Cyclic Prefix Generation Cyclic Prefix Appended

„ To avoid losing the power from echoes, „ The length of the cyclic prefix, also known as
a copy of the end is appended to the the Guard Interval, D, is supposed to be
beginning of the “useful” part longer than the excess delay of the longest
significant echo

Tu
put a copy of
this part in the ∆ Tu
front

DSRC/WAVE Timing-Related
Parameters Effects of Multipath Delays
„ A delayed echo of each subcarrier adds either
constructively or destructively to its un-delayed
version, creating a flat-faded version of that
h (t , τ ) subcarrier
All echoes completely fill the Tu window
τ

∆ Tu

2
 Cyclic Prefix Removal Fading
„ After the symbol has been received and „ The subcarrier spacing is typically much
stored in a buffer, the cyclic prefix is less than the coherence bandwidth
removed, leaving only the modulated Channel is
and faded subcarriers nearly flat for
each
subcarrier
|H(f)|
Each
subcarrier
sees only flat
fading
Tu stems indicate subcarrier frequencies f

Received OFDM Symbol, After Correlator Demodulator Block

Cyclic Prefix Has Been Removed Diagram (Baseband)
For a static, frequency selective
TU

H ( f o )b0 (t ) + n0 (t )
1
„ X
TU ∫ • dt
channel, 0

e j 2πf ot
⎛ ⎞
TU
1 1
⎧ N −1 ⎛ k ⎞
X
TU ∫ • dt H ⎜⎜ f o + ⎟⎟b1 (t ) + n1 (t )
⎛ ⎞ − j 2π ⎜⎜ f o + ⎟⎟ t r (t ) ⎝ TU ⎠
⎪∑ bk (t ) H ⎜ f o + k ⎟e ⎝ Tu ⎠ + n(t ) 0 < t < Tu
0

r (t ) = ⎨ ⎜ Tu ⎟⎠ e j 2π ( f o +1/ Tu )t
k =0 ⎝
⎪ M
⎩ 0 otherwise 1
TU
⎛ N −1 ⎞
X
TU ∫ • dt H ⎜⎜ f o + ⎟bN −1 (t ) + nN −1 (t )
TU ⎟⎠
0 ⎝

e j 2π ( f o +[ N −1]Tu )t

FFT Channel Estimation

„ These correlations are conveniently „ In order to detect the bits, the effects of
performed by the Fast Fourier channel gains must be compensated
Transform (FFT) „ The subcarrier channel gains are normally
„ The modulation is performed by the estimated using a preamble and pilot tones
inverse FFT (IFFT) „ Simplest approach is to just divide the kth
„ There are very fast and efficient demodulated output by an estimate of
implementations of the FFT and IFFT, ⎛ k ⎞
which is a big reason for the popularity H ⎜⎜ f o + ⎟⎟
of OFDM ⎝ TU ⎠

3
 Forward Error-Correction
Preamble Structure Coding (FEC)
„ The Preamble comprises 12 training „ The information is typically FEC
symbols, 10 short ones and 2 longer encoded and interleaved prior to
ones modulation
„ The bits carried by faded subcarriers
might be detected in error without the
FEC
„ With FEC and interleaving, erroneous
bits may be correctable, thereby
providing frequency diversity

Modes of DSRC/WAVE DSRC PPDU Structure

„ Modulation and Coding Rate depend on
channel quality
Data Rate Modulation Coding Rate Coded Bits per Coded Bits Data Bits per
Mbits/s (R) Subcarrier per OFDM OFDM
(NBPSC) Symbol Symbols
(NCBPS) (NDBPS)
3 BPSK 1/2 1 48 24
4.5 BPSK 3/4 1 48 36
6 QPSK 1/2 2 96 48
9 QPSK 3/4 2 96 72
12 16-QAM 1/2 4 192 96
18 16-QAM 3/4 4 192 144
24 64-QAM 2/3 6 288 192
27 64-QAM 3/4 6 288 216

Summary
„ OFDM is a multi-carrier modulation technique
„ Each subcarrier carries BPSK, QPSK or QAM
„ The subcarriers are so close, that each
subcarrier sees a flat-faded channel
„ The Guard Interval ensures that successive
OFDM symbols do not interfere with each
other
„ FEC and interleaving provide frequency
diversity
„ OFDM modulation and demodulation is
conveniently performed by fast DSP
operations (FFT and IFFT)