DECISION TIMING CONTROL CIRCUIT

Abstract: A circuit which controls the decision timing of an A/D converter (2) so that error rate becomes small by obtaining error rate information based on the converted digital signal from the A/D converter (2) which decides a multi-level sig­ nal and converts it into digital signal.

Description: The present invention relates to a decision timing control circuit comprising: demodulation means arranged to demodulate a multi-level modulated receiving signal and to output a multi-level signal; A/D converting means, operatively connected with said demodulating means, for converting multi-level signal input into corresponding digital signal; clock recovery means, operatively connected with said demodulating means, for recovering the clock from said multi-level signal; and variable phase shifting means, operatively connected with said clock recovery means and said A/D converting means, for outputting the phase of said recovered clock to said A/D conversion means by shifting it with the control signal applied. Such a circuit is known from EP-A-0 170 225. The invention can be applied to control of decision timing of a decision circuit to be used for demodulating operation of multi-level QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) system. EP-A-0 163 196 discloses a multi-state signal monitor circuit which includes a pseudo-error detector having logic and integrator circuits. In the field of digital radio communication, development of multi-level demodulation systems such as 16-QAM, 64-QAM and 256-QAM, etc. is continued in view of improving efficiency of frequency application. With such development, the decision error rate of received signal rises and therefore a decision circuit must be much improved. In the existing decision circuit, the I (inphase) signal and Q (quadrature) signal obtained by demodulating the received signal are respectively amplified and then decided by an A/D converter as the decision circuit depending on the clock which is recovered from the demodulated signal by the clock recovery circuit, and finally converted into the decision data of I signal and Q signal. In this case, 2 bits in the case of 16-level QAM, or 3 bits in the case of 64-level QAM, or 4 bits in the case of 256-level QAM become the decision data bit output from the A/D converters for the single channel of the I or Q signal. These A/D converters allows input of the clock through the phase shifter for adjustment of decision timing but this timing is respectively initially set by manual operation for I signal and Q signal depending on accuracy of decision of the test signal. As explained above, since the decision circuit of the prior art has fixed the decision timing with the initially set clock phase shifter, the clock timing error becomes large and decision data error is generated even with a little fluctuation of power supply, temperature change of receiver or deviation between the demodulated signal and recovered clock due to deterioration of line condition, because the sampling time is comparatively narrow in the multi-level QAM system where band limitation is effectuated by the roll-off filter. Accordingly, the prior art has following serious problem that line quality is deteriorated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a decision timing control circuit which assures the accurate clock timing for signal decision in spite of fluctuation of power supply, temperature fluctuation of the receiver or deterioration of line condition. It is another object of the present invention to provide a decision timing control circuit which can directly obtain the information to be used for decision timing control from the decision circuit. It is further object of the present invention to provide a decision timing control circuit which stops useless control under good decision condition. According to the invention, the decision timing control circuit initially defined is characterized in that error rate detection means is operatively connected with said A/D conversion means, for outputting a value corresponding to actual error rate as the error rate information by obtaining such value based on the digital signal; phase control means is operatively connected with said error rate detection means and said variable phase shift means, for varying amount of phase shift at said variable phase shift means with the control signal so that error rate becomes small on the basis of said error rate information; said A/D conversion means is arranged to output a plurality of data bits corresponding to the decision level and two extra bits indicating four ranges divided further from the range decided at each decision level, and said error rate detection means is arranged to integrate an exclusive NOR function of said two extra bits and to output an integrated value as a pseudo error rate; and said phase control means comprises: a delay circuit arranged to delay said error rate information; a first comparator arranged to judge whether error rate is larger than the reference value or not on the basis of the input error rate information; a second comparator arranged to judge whether or not the error rate information is increasing by comparing input error rate information with error rate information through said delay circuit; a variation direction inverter arranged to invert the phase variation direction when the error rate is higher than the reference value and is increasing, on the basis of the output of said first and second comparators; and a phase variation controller arranged to control said variable phase shifter so that the phase variation is in the direction indicated by said variation direction inverter when the error rate is higher than the reference value, on the basis of output of said first comparator. The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, from the following details of construction of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a basic block diagram of the present invention; Fig. 2A is an eye pattern diagram of the 16-level QAM; Fig. 2B is a clock waveform; Fig. 2C is an eye pattern diagram of the 64-level QAM; Fig. 2D is an eye pattern diagram of the 256-level QAM; Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 indicates relation between the input and output of the A/D converter; Fig. 5 is a graph showing relation between output voltage of an integral circuit and BER; Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the clock recovery circuit; Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a variable phase shifter; Figs. 8A and 8B are waveforms at the points A and B in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the present invention. Description of the Preferred Embodiments Fig. 1 is a basic block diagram of the present invention. In Fig. 1, a demodulator 1 inputs and demodulates the receiving signal and outputs a multi-level signal to an analog-to-digital converter (A/D converter) 2 and a clock recovery circuit 3. The clock recovery circuit 3 recovers the clock from the demodulated multi-level signal and applies it to the A/D converter 2 through the variable phase shifter 4. The A/D converter 2 decides the multi-level signal which is input at the timing of given clock, converts it into the digital signal and outputs the converted digital signal. The error rate detector 5 obtains the information corresponding to error rate based on the converted digital signal and outputs error rate information to the phase control circuit 6. The phase control circuit 6 controls amount of shift of the variable phase shifter 4 so that error rate becomes good, based on the error rate information. As the receiving signal, the signal which changes status digitally such as the ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying), PSK (Phase Shift Keying), FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) and QAM can be used. In the case of 16-level QAM, the 4-level I signal and Q signal are output respectively from the demodulator. Fig. 2A is an eye pattern diagram of the demodulated multi-level signal, while Fig. 2B is the decision clock. In Fig. 2A, A is an eye aperture. The eye aperture opens when the multi-level signal is converged to the decision level V₀ - V₃ at the specified timing. In Fig. 2B, an arrow mark indicates the decision timing in the A/D converter. When this decision timing is within the range of time T1 where the eye opens, decision error rarely occurs, but when the timing is out of the range, decision error often occurs. Fig. 2C, Fig. 2D respectively inindicate the demodulated multi-level signal in case the 64-level QAM, 256-level QAM are used. As is indicated in these figures, the ranges of time T2, T3 where the eyes open become narrow with increase of a number of decision levels up to 8 or 16. Accordingly, in the case of 16-level QAM, influence of variation after the initial setting may be a little even when the decision timing for the initial setting is used, but in the case of 64-level QAM or 256-level QAM, such influence becomes large. Therefore, in the present invention, the decision timing is controlled to the optimum condition even after the initial setting, on the basis of the error rate information. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. The QAM demodulator 11 inputs the receiving signal, ouptuts the demodulated multi-level signals of the I channel and Q channel and then applies such signals respectively to the I-channel and Q-channel signal processors 100, 200 of the same structure. Typical operations in the I channel will be explained hereinafter in details. The A/D converter 2 outputs, in the case of the 64-level QAM, the data bits D₁- D₃ of 3 bits and the extra bits D₄, D₅ of 2 bits from the input 8-level signal as indicated in Fig. 4. The data bits has the value corresponding to the decision levels V₀- V₇ and the extra bits represent the four divided ranges of the range decided at each decision level. The exclusive NOR circuit 51 and the integral circuit 52 correspond to the error rate detector 5 in Fig. 1. The range where the exclusive NOR of D₄ and D₅ among the outputs of A/D converter 2 indicates the peripheral range of the range decided at each decision level. The output of exclusive NOR circuit 51 is integrated by the integral circuit 52 and is then output as pseudo error rate. Fig. 5 shows relation between an output voltage V of integral circuit 52 and actual bit error rate BER. As indicated in Fig. 5, the pseudo error rate can be used as the error information corresponding to error rate. The part consisting of a delay circuit 61 and a compartor 62 and the part consisting of a phase variation controller 64 and a variation direction inverter 65 respectively correspond to a phase control circuit 6 of Fig. 1. The comparator 62 compares pseudo error rate from the integral circuit 52 with the reference voltage and outputs result of such comparison. The comparator 63 compares pseudo error rate from the integral circuit 52 with pseudo error rate delayed through the delay circuit 61 and judges whether or not pseudo error rate has increased. The phase variation control circuit 64 varies amount of shift of the variable phase shifter 4 in the direction indicated by the variation direction inverter 65, when pseudo error rate is higher than the reference value, on the basis of an output of the comparator 62 and changes clock phase to the A/D converter 2. The variation direction inverter 65 judges that the preceding variation direction is inversed in such a case that pseudo error rate is higher than the reference value and is increasing, on the basis of an outputs of the comparators 62 and 63 and applies inversed variation direction to the phase change controller 64. Fig. 6 is a block diagram indicating an example of the clock recovery circuit 3. In Fig. 6, a rectifier 31 rectifies the demodulated signal of the QAM demodulator 11 to generate the clock compoment. A mixer 32 detects phase difference between output of the VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) 34 and output of rectifier 31. The detected phase difference is applied to VCO 34 through a filter 33. With this structure, VCO 34 outputs the sine wave synchronized with the demodulated signal to the variable phase shifter 4. Fig. 7 is a block diagram indicating an example of the variable phase shifter 4. In Fig. 7, an amplifier 41 inputs the sine wave from the clock recovery circuit 3 and outputs such sine wave and inverted sine wave. The direct sine wave is combined through a resistance R₁, while the inverted sine wave is combined through a capacitor C₁, variable capacitance diode VC and capacitor C₂ and then applied to a comparator 42. The comparator 42 converts the combined signal to a rectangular wave and outputs to the A/D converter as the clock for decision. Fig. 8A and 8B are waveforms at the points A and B in Fig. 7. The variable capacitance diode VC of Fig. 7 changes capacitance depending on control voltage V c to be applied. Thereby, phase of combined signal changes and the waveform at the point A changes, for example, to the waveform indicated by a broken line from that indicated by a solid line in Fig. 8A. With such change of waveform, the waveform at the point B also changes to the waveform indicated by a broken line from that indicated by a solid line in Fig. 8B. The phase control circuit of Fig. 1 can mainly be realized with a microcomputer. Fig. 9 is a flowchart in such a case that a microcomputer is used. In Fig. 9, when operation is started with setting ON of the power switch (91), pseudo error rate is measured next time(92). Next, it is judged whether pseudo error rate is larger than the specified value or not (93). When it is under the reference value, pseudo error rate is measured (92). When it is larger than the reference value, it is then judged whether pseudo error rate has increased or not than the value of preceiding measurement (94). When it has increased, the variation direction is inversed (95) and phase is varied (96), and pseudo error rate is measured next time (92). When it does not increase, phase is varied in the same direction as that in the preceding measurement (96) and pseudo error rate is measured next time (92). As the error rate information, an error rate based on parity check or error rate based on error corrected decoding can be used in place of pseudo error rate. However, since pseudo error rate can be obtained on the basis of pseudo error signal obtained for each A/D conversion directly, pseudo error rate can more quickly follow the change of receiving condition in comparison with the parity check and error corrected code obtained for each frame. Moreover, control may be done in case pseudo error rate is under the specified value. But, in this case, the clock changes remarkably more than required, giving influence on other controls, for example, signal equalization or carrier recovery. Therefore, it would be better, for example, to elongate the control period. The decision timing control circuit herein described ensures optimum decision timing by changing the decision timing in such a direction as the decision error rate becomes small, based on the information about the decision error rate of the decision circuit. As the information about decision error rate, for example, pseudo error signal generation rate generated using the lower two bits than the decision data, namely the pseudo error rate is used. If the pseudo error rate is within the allowable range, any control is not carried out.

Claims: A decision timing control circuit comprising: demodulation means (1) arranged to demodulate a multi-level modulated receiving signal and to output a multi-level signal; A/D converting means (2), operatively connected with said demodulating means (1), for converting multi-level signal input into corresponding digital signal; clock recovery means (3), operatively connected with said demodulating means (1), for recovering the clock from said multi-level signal; and variable phase shifting means (4), operatively connected with said clock recovery means (3) and said A/D converting means (2), for outputting the phase of said recovered clock to said A/D conversion means (2) by shifting it with the control signal applied, characterized in that: error rate detection means (5) is operatively connected with said A/D conversion means (2), for outputting a value corresponding to actual error rate as the error rate information by obtaining such value based on the digital signal; phase control means (6) is operatively connected with said error rate detection means (5) and said variable phase shift means (4), for varying amount of phase shift at said variable phase shift means (4) with the control signal so that error rate becomes small on the basis of said error rate information; said A/D conversion means (2) is arranged to output a plurality of data bits corresponding to the decision level and two extra bits indicating four ranges divided further from the range decided at each decision level, and said error rate detection means is arranged to integrate an exclusive NOR function of said two extra bits and to output an integrated value as a pseudo error rate; and said phase control means (6) comprises: a delay circuit (61) arranged to delay said error rate information; a first comparator (62) arranged to judge whether error rate is larger than the reference value or not on the basis of the input error rate information; a second comparator (63) arranged to judge whether or not the error rate information is increasing by comparing input error rate information with error rate information through said delay circuit (61); a variation direction inverter (65) arranged to invert the phase variation direction when the error rate is higher than the reference value and is increasing, on the basis of the output of said first and second comparators (63,65); and a phase variation controller (64) arranged to control said variable phase shifter (4) so that the phase variation is in the direction indicated by said variation direction inverter (65) when the error rate is higher than the reference value, on the basis of output of said first comparator (62). A decision timing control circuit according to claim 1, wherein said demodulating means (1) demodulates a multi-level QAM signal. A decision timing control circuit according to any preceding claim where said phase control means comprises a microprocessor programmed to fetch said error rate information and to vary the amount of phase shift of said variable phase shifter in a direction opposed to that of the preceding measurement where the error rate is higher than the reference value or in the same direction where the error rate is not increasing.

Inventors: NOBORU, IIZUKA, TAKANORI, IWAMATSU, TOSHIAKI, SAKANE
Applicants: FUJITSU LIMITED
Application year: 1987
Main classification: H04L7
IPC codes: H04L27, H04L7