CDMA: fundamentals

10 kHz
bandwidth
Encoding &
Interleaving
Walsh Code
Spreading
Baseband
data
Walsh Code
Correlator
Decode &
Deinterleaving
Baseband
data
RF
Section
RF
Section
Transmitter Receiver
Frequency
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Frequency
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Frequency
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10 kHz
bandwidth
1.25 MHz
bandwidth
1.25 MHz
bandwidth
Frequency
f
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Background
noise
Frequency
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1.25 MHz
bandwidth
Other users
Interference
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1.25 MHz
bandwidth
Frequency
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1.25 MHz
bandwidth

The use of a proper code allows spreading transmitted
signal and despreading received signal.
W-CDMA: general features
W-CDMA is designed to allow many users to efficiently share
the same RF carrier by dynamically reassigning data rates and
link budget to precisely match the demand of each user in the
system.
As its name implies, W-CDMA is a code division multiple
access (CDMA) system.
As opposed to time division multiple access (TDMA), in CDMA,
all users transmit at the same time. Frequency divisions are still
used, but at a much larger bandwidth.
In addition, multiple users share the same frequency carrier.
Each users signal uses a unique code that appears to be noise to
all except the correct receiver.
Therefore, the term channel describes a combination of carrier
frequency and code.
W-CDMA:
scrambling and channelization codes
The scrambling code (SC) provides a unique identity to each UE
and each BS. The OVSF code allocations provide a unique identity
to each channel conveyed by a UE or BS within one cell.
WCDMA: protocol architecture
The network layer (layer
3) is based heavily on GSM
standards. It is responsible
for connecting services from
the network to user
equipment.
The RLC block is
responsible for the transfer
of user data, error
correction, flow control,
protocol error detection and
recovery, and ciphering.
The MAC function is responsible for mapping between logical
channels and transport channels.
The physical layer maps the transport channels onto the physical
channels and performs all of the RF functions necessary to make the
system work.
W-CDMA: basic uplink channel without
complex scrambling
W-CDMA: OVSF codes
The spreading factor (SF) can be 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, or 256,
corresponding to DPDCH bit rates from 960kbps down to 15kbps. Seven
sets of spreading codes are specified, one set for each spreading factor.
Each code is denoted by C
ch,SF,n
. For example, C
ch,4,2
means
channelization code, SF = 4, code number 2.
W-CDMA: basic uplink channel with
complex scrambling
W-CDMA: complex scrambling
)
s
chip
j (
s chip
s s chip chip
chip s s chip
s chip s chip
chip s s chip
s chip s chip
e A A
) jQ (I ) jQ (I
) Q I Q I (
) Q Q I I ( jQ I
Q I Q I Q
Q Q I I I







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W-CDMA: complex scrambling
What kind of constellation does it result if complex scrambling is
applied?
W-CDMA: complex scrambling
In the case of two channels with the same amplitude, the chip signal
maps onto a QPSK constellation. The scrambling signal also maps onto
a QPSK constellation.
W-CDMA: complex scrambling
In the case of two channels with different amplitudes, the chip signal
maps onto a rectangular 4-QAM constellation. The scrambling signal still
corresponds to a QPSK constellation.
W-CDMA: HPSK modulation
W-CDMA systems use Hybrid
Phase Shift Keying (HPSK), also
known as Orthogonal Complex
Quadrature Phase Shift Keying
(OCQPSK), to reduce the peak-
to-average power ratio of the
signal in the uplink.
HPSK is a variation of basic
complex scrambling that
eliminates zero-crossings for
every second chip point.
It accomplishes this by using a
specific repeating sequence as
the scrambling signal and by
choosing specific orthogonal
codes to spread the different
channels.
W-CDMA: HPSK modulation
The repeating Walsh rotator sequence, I
s
= W
0
= (1,1) and Q
s
= W
1
= (1,-
1), is used as the scrambling signal.
Only even-numbered OVSF codes are used to spread the data from the
different channels. Even numbered OVSF codes consist of pairs of identical
bits.
For two consecutive identical chip points, the first one is rotated by +45,
and the second one by -45, which ensures that they will be 90 apart in the
final constellation and the transition between them does not go through
zero.
W-CDMA: HPSK modulation
Constellation without HPSK Constellation with HPSK
W-CDMA: HPSK modulation
HPSK eliminates 0 phase
shift transitions for every
second chip point.
A 0 phase transition
occurs when two consecutive
points are at the same place
on the final constellation.
This causes overshooting
trajectory, which increases
the peak-to-average power
ratio of the signal.
HPSK forces 90 transitions between pairs of consecutive points. This
minimizes 0 phase transitions, which further reduces the peak-to-average
power ratio of the signal.
W-CDMA: primary PN spreading code
A primary PN spreading
(scrambling) code PN
(1)
is
applied to the final I and Q
signals to allow for
identification of the mobile
and correlation at the
receiver.
The PN
(1)
sequence is
the same for I and Q and it
does not affect the number
of 90 transitions.
The PN
(1)
spreading
code can instead be
directly multiplied with the
I and Q components of the
scrambling signal before
the complex scrambling.
W-CDMA: primary PN spreading code
The PN
(1)
sequence does not affect the number of 90 transitions.
W-CDMA: secondary PN spreading code
A decimated secondary PN
spreading code (P) is
multiplied with the Q
component of the Walsh
rotator, W
1
=(1,-1).
P is a decimated version of
the real chip rate sequence
PN
(2)
.
P randomizes the direction
of the phase rotation while
keeping the phase difference
of 90 between pairs of
consecutive final points.
W-CDMA: secondary PN spreading code
The decimated secondary PN sequence (P) randomizes the direction of
the rotation.
W-CDMA: uplink structure
W-CDMA: uplink DPCH/DPCCH coding,
spreading, and scrambling.
In Band/in Channel Measurements
Modulation domain measurements
Error vector
QPSK EVM
Composite EVM
Symbol EVM
Rho
Code domain power
Modulation Domain Measurements
Error Vector
The resulting constellation depends on the physical channel
configuration. The constellation typically does not look like QPSK,
or any other known constellation, except for some very specific
channel configurations.
For example, a signal with a single DPDCH (or a single
DPCCH) does map onto a QPSK constellation. A signal with a
DPDCH and a DPCCH at the same amplitude level maps onto a
45rotated QPSK constellation.
You can use a regular EV measurement to evaluate the
modulation quality of the transmitter for a single DPDCH, a single
DPDCH, or a signal with both at the same amplitude level. More
complex signals cannot be analyzed with this measurement.
Modulation Domain Measurements
QPSK EVM
A regular QPSK EVM measurement can be used to evaluate the
modulation quality of the transmitter for a single DPDCH, a single
DPDCH, or a signal with both at the same amplitude level. More
complex signals cannot be analyzed with this measurement.
QPSK EVM compares the measured chip signal at the RF with an
ideal QPSK reference.
Modulation Domain Measurements
Composite EVM
The composite EVM is useful throughout the development,
performance verification, and manufacturing phases of the UE life cycle.
It in particular allows the:
evaluation of the quality of the transmitter for a multi-channel signal.
detection of spreading or scrambling errors.
detection certain problems between the baseband and RF sections.
analysis of errors that cause high interference in the signal.
By descrambling and despreading the signal the constellation and EVM
for a specific code channel at the symbol level, even in the presence of
multiple codes, can be analyzed.
Modulation Domain Measurements
Symbol EVM
Misurazioni in Banda/nel Canale
Dominio della modulazione
Rho (r)
obiettivo: valutare la qualit di modulazioni numeriche a
divisione di codice (CDMA);
definizione: rapporto tra la potenza correlata e la
potenza complessiva del segnale in banda base trasmesso,
caratterizzato da un solo codice (un solo canale);
procedura: la potenza correlata calcolata rimuovendo
gli offset in frequenza, in fase e nel tempo e calcolando, in
banda base, la mutua correlazione fra il segnale misurato e
quello di riferimento (ideale);
strumentazione: VSA, analizzatore di spettro dotato di
specifica measurement personality.
Misurazioni in Banda/nel Canale
Rho (r)
a complessiv potenza
correlata potenza
r
Il valore di rho tanto pi elevato
quanto maggiore il grado di
somiglianza tra il segnale trasmesso e
quello ideale.
Poich la potenza non correlata si
manifesta come interferenza, bassi
valori di rho compromettono la capacit
di una cella nei sistemi radiomobili.
Misurazioni in Banda/nel Canale
Dominio della modulazione
Potenza nel dominio dei codici
obiettivo: verificare se la stazione base sta
trasmettendo la potenza prevista sui canali attivi
(differenti codici) oppure sta trasmettendo anche sui
canali inattivi, generando interferenza con altri utenti;
definizione: potenze associate alle diverse componenti
(caratterizzate da diversi codici) di un segnale in banda
base in modulazione CDMA;
procedura: le diverse componenti in banda base sono
separate sfruttando lortogonalit tra i codici;
strumentazione: VSA, analizzatore di spettro dotato di
specifica measurement personality.
Misurazioni in Banda/nel Canale
Potenza nel dominio dei codici
La potenza associata ai vari canali pu essere valutata solo
dopo la loro decodifica.
In Band/out of Channel Measurements
ACLR is a measure of transmitter performance. It is defined as the
ratio of the transmitted power to the power measured after a receiver
filter in the adjacent RF channel. This is what was formerly called
adjacent channel power ratio.
ACS is a measure of receiver performance. It is defined as the ratio of
the receiver filter attenuation on the assigned channel frequency to the
receiver filter attenuation on the adjacent channel frequency.
ACIR is a measure of overall system performance. It is defined as the
ratio of the total power transmitted from a source (BS or UE) to the total
interference power resulting from both transmitter and receiver
imperfections affecting a victim receiver.
The following relation holds