Wideband Modulation Techniques, OFDM

Source: WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS: Chapter:11 Upena Dalal

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Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
● Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a modulation scheme that is
especially suited for high-data-rate transmission in delay-dispersive environments
Dr. Chang Proposed in 1955
Advances in hardware and DSP made OFDM realistic
Digital Audio/Video broadcasting, Wireless LANs IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g

● 3GPP-LTE, WiMAX, 4G
● OFDM splits a high-rate data stream into N parallel streams
● Transmitted by Modulating N distinct carriers.
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OFDM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_PNOa_2kus
Basic principles of Orthogonality
Orthogonality:
● Two signals co-exist but are independent in a
specified time.
● Independent with each other and do not
interact in a specified time.
● is a property, allows multiple information
signals over a common channel and detected
without interference.
● Loss of orthogonality results in blurring
between information signals and
degradations in communications
● TDM, FDM…
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
● FDM
Large spacing between carriers

● OFDM
Utilizes the spectrum with narrower Sub-
carriers frequencies fn = nW/N,
W: Total available bandwidth W = N/Ts
PAM with rectangular basis pulses on each
subcarrier for Modulation
Single Vs Multicarrier Systems

Single Carrier Frequency Allocation Multi Carrier Frequency Allocation

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FDM Vs OFDM
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OFDM and OFDMA

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Few terms
● Cyclic Prefix (CP) is an essential technique used to combat inter-symbol interference (ISI)
and to maintain orthogonality between the subcarriers.
● Definition: The cyclic prefix is a copy of the last part of an OFDM symbol that is appended
to the beginning of that symbol. This creates a longer symbol duration, which helps mitigate
potential interference from previous symbols
● Inter-symbol Interference Mitigation: By extending the symbol duration, the CP provides
a buffer zone that helps reduce the impact of ISI, especially in multipath propagation
scenarios where signals arrive at different times.
● Orthogonality Maintenance: The CP helps preserve the orthogonality of subcarriers in an
OFDM system, ensuring that the subcarriers remain independent and reducing the risk of
interference between them

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● Positioning Reference Signal (PRS)
● Synchronization: PRS helps in synchronizing the receiver with the transmitter, ensuring
that the timing and frequency of the received signals are correctly aligned
● Channel Estimation: By providing a known reference, the PRS allows the receiver to
estimate the characteristics of the communication channel, which is essential for effective
signal processing and data decoding.

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Frame Structure: Frame
1.Definition: A frame is the largest time unit in a communication system that organizes the
overall transmission. It consists of multiple subframes and represents a complete cycle of
data transmission.
2.Duration: The duration of a frame can vary depending on the specific communication
standard (e.g., 10 ms in LTE).
3.Structure: A frame contains several subframes, each of which can contain various
allocations for data transmission.

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● Subframe
1.Definition: A subframe is a time-structured unit in a communication system (like LTE or
5G) that groups together a set of symbols. It typically consists of a defined number of
OFDM symbols and spans a specific duration (e.g., 1 ms in LTE).
2.Structure: A subframe may contain multiple slots or mini-slots, which are further divided
into time-frequency resources for data transmission.
● Resource Block (RB)
1.Definition: A resource block is the smallest unit of resource allocation in an OFDM system.
It typically consists of a fixed number of subcarriers (usually 12) and spans a specific
duration (usually one slot, which may contain multiple OFDM symbols).
2.Frequency-Time Allocation: Each resource block can be thought of as a rectangle in the
time-frequency grid of the OFDM system, representing a specific number of subcarriers
over a defined time period.
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● Relationship
1.Composition: A subframe is composed of multiple resource blocks. Each subframe can
include a varying number of resource blocks depending on the system's configuration and
the number of symbols in the subframe.
2.Resource Allocation: When allocating resources for users, the system assigns resource
blocks from within the available subframes. This allows for flexible allocation based on
demand, channel conditions, and QoS requirements.
3.Dynamic Allocation: The relationship between subframes and resource blocks allows for
dynamic allocation of resources to users. The system can adjust the number of resource
blocks assigned to different users based on their needs, the current traffic conditions, and
overall network efficiency.

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How many symbols per second OFDM carries?
● The number of symbols per second that an OFDM system can carry depends on several
factors, including the total bandwidth, the subcarrier spacing, and the structure of the
system. Here’s how to calculate it:
● Key Factors
1.Subcarrier Spacing: This is the frequency difference between adjacent subcarriers. A
common subcarrier spacing in systems like LTE is 15 kHz.
2.Number of Subcarriers: The total number of subcarriers depends on the available
bandwidth and the subcarrier spacing.
3.Symbol Duration: The duration of one OFDM symbol is inversely related to the subcarrier
spacing.

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● To allocate resources for a 1 Mbps application using Orthogonal Frequency Division
Multiplexing (OFDM), you'll need to consider several factors, including bandwidth,
modulation scheme, coding rate, and the overall structure of the OFDM system. Here’s a
step-by-step approach:
● 1. Determine Bandwidth
● First, define the channel bandwidth available for your OFDM system. Common bandwidths
for wireless communication might be 1.4 MHz, 3 MHz, 5 MHz, 10 MHz, etc.

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● 2. Select Modulation Scheme
● Choose a modulation scheme based on the channel conditions and required data rate.
Common schemes include:
• QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying): 2 bits per symbol.
• 16-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation): 4 bits per symbol.
• 64-QAM: 6 bits per symbol.

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● Since you can't have half a symbol, we typically consider 7 symbols.

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● 7. Consider Other Factors
• Channel Quality: Adjust modulation schemes based on channel conditions (e.g., switch to
QPSK in poor conditions).
• User Mobility: Take into account the potential changes in channel conditions as users
move.
• Scheduling: Use dynamic scheduling to allocate resources efficiently based on real-time
traffic needs.

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The duration of an OFDM symbol, including the cyclic prefix (CP), depends on the number
of subcarriers and the sampling rate.

1. Basic OFDM Symbol Duration (T): The duration of a single OFDM symbol without
the cyclic prefix is given by: T = 1/B​
where B is the total bandwidth (the number of subcarriers multiplied by the subcarrier
spacing).

2. Cyclic Prefix (CP): The cyclic prefix is typically a fraction of the OFDM symbol
duration, often ranging from 1/4 to 1/8 of the symbol duration.
If we denote the cyclic prefix length as TCP​, then:
TCP=αTCP
where α is the CP duration factor (e.g., 1/4).

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3.Total Duration (T_total): The total duration of an OFDM symbol including the cyclic
prefix is:

For example, if you have a bandwidth of 10 MHz and use a subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, the
OFDM symbol duration would be approximately 66.67 microseconds. If you include a 1/4 CP,
the total duration would be:

Adjust the parameters based on your specific OFDM system for accurate results!

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OFDM Transceivers
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https://medium.com/@ezeuko.arinze/ofdm-orthogonal-frequency-division-
multiplexing-dc027be46ef2
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OFDM Block Diagram
CDMA Vs OFDM
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OFDM: Example
A 64 kbps voice frame is to be modulated by OFDM scheme. The duration of OFDM symbol
is 10 µs. Total of 32 subcarriers are to be assigned to this frame. Find out
a. The null-to-null subchannel bandwidth assuming square signal
b. the total bandwidth occupied
Solun:
c. Ts = symbol duration = 10 µs.
Δf =sub carrier spacing = 1/Ts = 1/ 10 µs = 0.1 MHz = 100 kHz null-to-null subchannel
bandwidth
b. Nc = Number of subcarriers = 32
Transmission bandwidth = Nc x Δf = 3200 kHz
Example-2
Consider a 4G wireless WiMAX standard with fixed profile. The numbers of subcarriers are
36 and the bandwidth associated with each subcarrier is 10.25 KHz. Assume the cyclic prefix
(CP) duration in WiMAX is 8.5% of the OFDM symbol duration without the CP. Calculate
the following!
a. Bandwidth of broadband WiMAX system
b. Symbol duration of OFDM signal without CP
c. Duration of CP
d. Total duration of OFDM with CP
e. How many samples in CP
f. How many samples in OFDM with CP
g. Loss in efficiency.

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Given N = 36, Bs = 10.25 KHz.
a. B = Bs * N = 369 KHz
b. To= N/B = 36/369 KHz = 97 µsec
c. Tcp = 8.5% * To = (8.5/100) * 97 µsec = 8.245 µsec
d. T = To+Tcp = 97 µsec + 8.245 µsec = 105.245 µsec
e. Samples in CP (L-1) = CP duration/sample time
= (8.245 * 10-6)/(1/B) = (8.245 * 10-6) / (1/369 KHz) = 3.042
f. Total samples = 3.042 + 36 = 39.042
g. Loss in efficiency = (L-1) / (N+L-1) = (3.042 / 39.042) = 7.79%

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