Channel Estimation and Synchronization with Sub-Nyquist Sampling and Application to Ultra-Wideband Systems

We consider the problem of low-complexity channel estimation and timing in digital ultra-wideband receivers. We extend some of our recent results on sampling of certain classes of parametric non-bandlimited signals and develop a frequency domain framework that yields high-resolution estimates of all relevant channel parameters by sampling a received signal below the traditional Nyquist rate. In particular, we show that the minimum required sampling rate in an UWB receiver is determined by the so-called {\em innovation rate}, which corresponds to the number of degrees of freedom of the received UWB signal. Our framework allows for faster acquisition compared to current digital solutions and potentially reduces power consumption and complexity of digital UWB receivers significantly. It is particularly suitable in applications such as ranging or positioning and can also be used for identification of more realistic UWB channel models, where different propagation paths undergo different frequency-selective mitigation.

Sampling methods for parametric non-bandlimited signals

Irena Maravic

Sampling theory has experienced a strong research revival over the past decade, which led to a generalization of Shannon's original theory and development of more advanced formulations with immediate relevance to signal processing and communications. For example, it was recently shown that it is possible to develop exact sampling schemes for a large class of non-bandlimited signals, namely, certain signals with finite rate of innovation. A common feature of such signals is that they have a parametric representation with a finite number of degrees of freedom and can be perfectly reconstructed from a finite number of samples. The goal of this thesis is to advance the sampling theory for signals of finite rate of innovation and consider its possible extensions and applications. In the first part of the thesis, we revisit the sampling problem for certain classes of such signals, including non-uniform splines and piecewise polynomials, and develop improved schemes that allow for stable and precise reconstruction in the presence of noise. Specifically, we develop a subspace approach to signal reconstruction, which converts a nonlinear estimation problem into the simpler problem of estimating the parameters of a linear model. This provides an elegant and robust framework for solving a large class of sampling problems, while offering more flexibility than the traditional scheme for bandlimited signals. In the second part of the thesis, we focus on applications of our results to certain classes of nonlinear estimation problems encountered in wideband communication systems, most notably ultra-wideband (UWB) systems, where the bandwidth used for transmission is much larger than the bandwidth or rate of information being sent. We develop several frequency domain methods for channel estimation and synchronization in UWB systems, which yield high-resolution estimates of all relevant channel parameters by sampling a received signal below the traditional Nyquist rate. We also propose algorithms that are suitable for identification of more realistic UWB channel models, where a received signal is made up of pulses with different pulse shapes. Finally, we extend our results to multidimensional signals, and develop exact sampling schemes for certain classes of parametric non-bandlimited 2-D signals, such as sets of 2-D Diracs, polygons or signals with polynomial boundaries.

EPFL2004

Low-Sampling Rate UWB Channel Characterization and Synchronization

Irena Maravic, Martin Vetterli

We consider the problem of low-sampling rate high-resolution channel estimation and timing for digital ultra-wideband (UWB) receivers. We extend some of our recent results in sampling of certain classes of parametric non-bandlimited signals and develop a frequency domain method for channel estimation and synchronization in ultra-wideband systems, which uses sub-Nyquist uniform sampling and well-studied computational procedures. In particular, the proposed method can be used for identification of more realistic channel models, where different propagation paths undergo different frequency-selective fading. Moreover, we show that it is possible to obtain high-resolution estimates of all relevant channel parameters by sampling a received signal below the traditional Nyquist rate. Our approach leads to faster acquisition compared to current digital solutions, allows for slower A/D converters, and potentially reduces power consumption of digital UWB receivers significantly.

2003

Sampling methods for parametric non-bandlimited signals

Irena Maravic

EPFL2004