Patent Abstract:
A cross product is determined for a received signal. A dot product is also determined for the received signal. If the cross product is greater than a predetermined threshold, the cross product is decremented by the product of the dot product multiplied by a constant value. If the cross product is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold, the cross product is incremented by the product of the dot product multiplied by the constant value. The incrementing or decrementing is continued until the frequency error approaches a minimum value.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to communications. Particularly, the present invention relates to frequency discrimination in a communications environment.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    CDMA communications systems typically use directional antennas located in the center of a cell and broadcasting into sectors of the cell. The antennas are coupled to base stations that transmit control the cells. The cells are typically located in major metropolitan areas, along highways, and along train tracks to allow consumers to communicate both at home and while traveling.  
           [0005]    Even though both a mobile and a base station are transmitting on a frequency that is known to each, there are factors such as multipath errors and Doppler shift in the frequency that introduce errors in the frequency that is received. For example, if a mobile is approaching a base station, the Doppler effect increases the signal&#39;s frequency as observed by the base station. If the mobile is moving away from the base station, the base station observes a signal having a frequency that is less than the frequency transmitted by the mobile. The amount of frequency shift is a function of the speed of the mobile.  
           [0006]    Another source of frequency error is the fact that the two local oscillators (one at the base station and one at the mobile that are used for generating the “clock” signal) can never be operating at exactly the same frequency. Typically, the mobile uses a less expensive local oscillator that can introduce a frequency error of up to 10 KHz when the carrier frequency is around 2 GHz.  
           [0007]    During communication, the base station transmits a pilot channel that is received by the mobile. The pilot channel, comprised of pilot symbols, contains no information. The mobile utilizes the pilot symbols to generate time, frequency, phase, and signal strength references.  
           [0008]    In some systems, the mobile also transmits a pilot signal. The mobile&#39;s pilot signal is then similarly used by the receiving base station to generate time, frequency, phase, and signal strength references relative to the mobile.  
           [0009]    In order for a base station to communicate with a mobile on a certain frequency, both need to use a frequency discriminator in a frequency-tracking loop.  
           [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 illustrates a typical prior art frequency-tracking loop (FTL)  100 . This figure shows a signal, Δf, entering a summer  101 . Δf represents the frequency error present in an incoming signal of successive pilot symbols. The summer  101  subtracts from Δf an initial estimate Δ{circumflex over (f)}.  
           [0011]    Frequency discriminator  105  is known and operates on the frequency error associated with successive pilot symbols. The value of each pilot symbol is herein represented by variable y k . The period of each symbol y k  is denoted by T S .  
           [0012]    An incoming sequence of pilot symbols are accumulated after input signal rotation to result in a residual frequency error, out of summer  101 , equal to Δf res . A pilot symbol y k  having residual frequency error Δf res   k  may be denoted as:  
           
         y 
         k 
         =Ae 
         j2πT 
         
           s 
         
         Δf 
         
           res 
         
         k 
         +n 
         k  
       
           [0013]    where n k  is the additive noise corrupting the k th  symbol and A is a complex amplitude that is a function of, among other things, the current channel attenuation. It is assumed that fading is slow enough so that successive symbols have roughly the same complex amplitude.  
           [0014]    A time constant (τ) is herein defined as the time it takes FTL  100  to converge to 1/e of an initial frequency error. A pull-in range conventionally defines a maximum initial frequency error for which FTL  100  is able to converge. A design goal is to minimize time constant τ, all the while maximizing the pull-in range, to maintain the standard deviation of the frequency error under steady-state conditions to within desirable levels.  
           [0015]    A loop filter L(z)  110 , series coupled to the output of frequency discriminator  105 , is used to adjust the time constant τ, pull-in range, and standard deviation of the frequency error.  
           [0016]    A known type of frequency discriminator  105  is a cross product discriminator, the operation of which may be expressed as Δf res   cp =imag(y k y k-1 *), with * denoting complex conjugation. From the above equation for y k  and Δf res   cp  we get  
           Δ f   res   cp   =|A|   2  sin(2π T   s   Δf   res )+ n,    
           [0017]    with n being a noise component. Thus as Δf res  approaches 1/2T s , the value of sin(2πT s Δf res ) becomes smaller, resulting in the following condition:  
           [0018]    First, the pull-in range of the FTL  100  is smaller than a theoretical pull-in range due to the effects of noise. Second, when the initial frequency error Δf is greater than ½ the theoretical pull-in range, FTL  100  takes a long time to converge to 1/e of an initial frequency error Δf.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0019]    The invention encompasses a process and apparatus for improved frequency discrimination. In particular, the invention provides a frequency tracking loop (FTL) providing a large effective pull-in range and fast convergence characteristics when an initial frequency error greater than ½ a theoretical pull-in range is detected.  
           [0020]    In an embodiment, a cross product is first determined on an input to the FTL. This cross product is of form imag(y k y k-1 *), where y k  is one sample or symbol of the received signal and y k-1  is a preceding symbol. A dot product, expressed as real(y k y k-1 *), is then also determined.  
           [0021]    When the cross product is greater than a predetermined threshold, the cross product is decremented by the product of the dot product multiplied by a predetermined constant value. In a specific implementation, a predetermined threshold of value zero and a predetermined constant value in the range of 0 to 5 are selected.  
           [0022]    Conversely, when the cross product is less than the selected predetermined threshold, the cross product is incremented by the product of the dot product multiplied by the predetermined constant value. The calculation of and incrementing and decrementing of the cross product is generated by a frequency discriminator. The output of the frequency discriminator is used to derive a residual frequency error for an incoming signal comprised of successive pilot symbols. Successive symbols signals are fed into the frequency discriminator and the previously derived residual frequency error used to adjust the output of the frequency discriminator that then provides a new output to the FTL. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a general block diagram of a known frequency-tracking loop (FTL).  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 shows a more detailed block diagram of the frequency discriminator in FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a mobile station incorporating a FTL including the frequency discriminator of the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a base station incorporating a FTL including the frequency discriminator of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 shows a plot of the response of the frequency discriminator of the present invention compared to a known frequency discriminator.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 shows a plot of the residual frequency and a first initial frequency error as a function of time, assuming a first pilot strength, derived using the frequency discriminator of the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 shows another plot of the residual frequency error as a function of time, assuming a second pilot strength and the first initial frequency error, derived using the frequency discriminator of the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 shows a plot of the residual frequency error as a function of time, assuming a second initial frequency error, and the first pilot strength.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 shows a plot of the residual frequency error as a function of time, assuming a second/third initial frequency error, and the second pilot strength.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of a frequency discriminator for use with signals having low signal-to-noise ratios. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0033]    A frequency discriminator characterized by the following description provides a large effective pull-in range and fast convergence in comparison to known cross-product discriminators.  
         [0034]    In accordance with an embodiment, the frequency includes both a simple cross product discriminator and a dot product discriminator. As used above, the cross product discriminator, denoted as cp, is expressed as:  
           cp=imag ( y   k   y   k-1 *)  
         [0035]    where y k  is the k th  pilot symbol in a renewed signal and y* k-1  is the complex conjugate of the k th −1 pilot symbol.  
         [0036]    A dot product discriminator, denoted as dp, by convention is expressed as:  
           dp=real ( y   k y k-1 *)  
         [0037]    From the above, a frequency discriminator in accordance with an embodiment, to be derived in further detail below shall be expressed as:  
                                                                                                               Δ{circumflex over (ƒ)} new    res  = cp           when (dp &lt; θ)                if (cp &gt; 0), then                Δ{circumflex over (ƒ)} new    res  = Δ{circumflex over (ƒ)} new    res  −α · dp                else                Δ{circumflex over (ƒ)} new    res  = Δ{circumflex over (ƒ)} new    res  +α · dp                end                end                      
 
         [0038]    where α and θ are constants whose values are design parameters based on a desired system.  
         [0039]    In a first embodiment, α is in the range of 0 to 5. For α=0 the frequency discriminator collapses to a simple cross product discriminator. This can be seen by substituting 0 for α in the above expression for Δ{circumflex over (f)} res   new .  
         [0040]    In another embodiment, a is chosen to be a power of 2. This is derived in a frequency discriminator hardware-specific implementation where multiplication with α, where α is a power 2, becomes a simple left shift operation.  
         [0041]    In one embodiment, θ is in the range of a real number that is less than 0. However, other ranges for θ can be used as well.  
         [0042]    It should be further appreciated that the frequency discriminator operation described herein maybe implemented by a digital signal processor (DSP). Also, the dot product measurement may be calculated in parallel with the cross product measurements using hardware. The “if” statements can be implemented as multiplexers which use the sign bits of the cp and the dp calculation as output selectors.  
         [0043]    A hardware block diagram of one embodiment of the frequency discriminator is illustrated in FIG. 2. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternate embodiments may encompass different hardware variations to arrive at the same desired result.  
         [0044]    The frequency discriminator of FIG. 2 includes a cross product block  201  and a dot product block  202 . Both blocks  201  and  202  receive as inputs, sequential pilot symbols y k  and y k-1 .  
         [0045]    In the illustrative embodiment, the output cross product generated by cross product block  201  is a real value (as opposed to a complex value). The real value is expressed as cp=real(y k )real(y k-1 )+imag(y k )imag(y k-1 ).  
         [0046]    The output dot product block ( 202 ) also generates a real value. This value is expressed as dp=imag(y k )real(y k-1 )−real(y k )imag(y k-1 ).  
         [0047]    Output cross product (cp) is fed to the new (0) input of the first multiplexer  235 , as shown. In the present example, when α=0, a simple cross product is output by the frequency discriminator  105 .  
         [0048]    Output dot product (dp) is fed to the zero (0) input of a first multiplier  215  where it gets multiplied by α. The output of the first multiplier  215  is input to a second multiplexer  225 . The output of the first multiplier  215  is also input to a second multiplier  220  where the sign of the αdp signal gets inverted by multiplying the input with − 1 . The output of second multiplier  220  is also input to the second multiplexer  225 . A select input of second multiplexer  225  is received from decision block  205 .  
         [0049]    When the output from decision block  205  is true, (i.e., cp&lt;0), a logic high is generated and the non-inverted αdp signal is output from multiplexer  225 . When not true, i.e. cp&gt;0, the inverted αdp signal is output by multiplexer  225 .  
         [0050]    The second multiplexer  225  output is coupled to summer  230  and either αdp or (−αdp) is added to output. The output from summer  230  is input to one (1) input of first multiplexer  235 .  
         [0051]    Referring to the bottom of FIG. 2, the output of decision block  210  outputs a logic high when the condition dp&lt;θ holds true. A logic high signal as a select input to the first multiplexer  235 , will cause the first multiplexer  235 . This is to select the output of summer  230 . When the dot product is 0, the condition is false and the cross product is selected as the output to first multiplexer  235 , and decision block  210  selects the 0 input of the first multiplexer  235 .  
         [0052]    It should be understood that the above-described signal selection process may be implemented in various programming languages. In one embodiment, the process can be implemented in the “C” programming language, and is expressed by:  
                                                                                                               if(dp&lt;θ)                if(cp&gt;0)                cp−=alpha*dp;                else                cp+=alpha*dp;                end                end.                      
 
         [0053]    The exemplary frequency discriminator can be used in any situation that requires a low-complexity frequency estimator, such as in the frequency-tracking loop of FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the frequency discriminator is used in a FTL in a mobile communication device such as a mobile telephone. In a mobile telephone, the frequency discriminator is used on the downlink direction of the communication, i.e. the base station to mobile link.  
         [0054]    Because the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a downlink pilot is relatively high, a frequency discriminator as described above is particularly desirable.  
         [0055]    The above frequency discriminator can also be used on the uplink direction, i.e., the mobile-to-base station link. In the uplink, the SNR of a pilot is very low. For example, a pilot SNR (E c /I O ) might be as low as −38 dB. Frequency discriminators described above may be used in a low SNR uplink.  
         [0056]    However, compensating for the low SNR to adjust lower SNR, it might be desirable to increase the accumulation length of the pilot symbols (i.e., increase Ts). Alternatively, low-pass filtering the cross product and the dot product will also work. Using such an embodiment changes the above equations. Factoring in a low SNR, a frequency discriminator for use in an uplink for example may be expressed as follows:  
                                                                                                               cp 0  = imag(y k y *   k−1 )           dp 0  = real(y k y *   k−1 )           cp = (1 − β)cp + βcp 0             dp = (1 − β)dp + βdp 0             Δ{circumflex over (ƒ)} new    res  = cp           if (dp &lt; θ)                if(cp &gt; 0)                Δ{circumflex over (ƒ)} new    res  = Δ{circumflex over (ƒ)} new    res  −α · dp                else                Δ{circumflex over (ƒ)} new    res  = Δ{circumflex over (ƒ)} new    res  +α · dp                end                end                      
 
         [0057]    where β is constant between 0 and 1 and the cp and dp terms are outputs of one-tap IIR filters. For very low pilot SNRs, a β closer to 0 is best. For β=1, the above expression yields the same discriminator result as the high SNR frequency discriminator expression described earlier.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 10 illustrates a frequency discriminator in an embdodiment of the present invention as might be found on the uplink of a communication system. This block diagram is not discussed in detail since it is substantially similar to the frequency discriminator of the downlink as illustrated in FIG. 2. However, the frequency discriminator for the uplink incorporates a one-tap IIR filter  1001  at the output of the cross product generator and a second one-tap IIR filter  1005  at the output of the dot product generator. Filters  1001  and  1005  are responsible for low-pass filtering the cross products and dot products, respectively.  
         [0059]    A block diagram of a mobile station incorporating the frequency discriminator of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. The mobile station includes of a transmitter  302  and receiver  301  coupled to an antenna  303 . Transmitter  302  modulates the aural signals from the microphone  305  for transmission. Depending on the type of communication device, transmitter  302  or like device may digitize the aural signal from a microphone  305  prior to modulation. Antenna  303  then radiates the signal to the intended destination.  
         [0060]    Receiver  301  incorporates an FTL  301 ′ constructed as described herein. Receiver  301  is responsible for receiving and demodulating signals received over antenna  303 . FTL  301 ′ is used within receiver  301  to lock the receiver on to a desired received frequency. In some communication devices, the receiver may be responsible for converting received digital signals into their analog equivalent for transmission by a speaker  306 .  
         [0061]    The communication device is controlled by a controller  304  such as a microprocessor or other controlling device. The controller is coupled to and controls the transmitter  302  and receiver  301  functions.  
         [0062]    A display  307  and keypad  308  are coupled to the controller  304  for displaying information entered by a user on the keypad  308 . For example, the user may enter a telephone number using the keypad  308  that is displayed on the display  307  and subsequently transmitted to a base station using the transmitter  302 .  
         [0063]    In one embodiment, the communication device is a cellular radiotelephone incorporating the frequency discriminator of the present invention. Alternate embodiments include personal digital assistants with communication capabilities and computers with communication capabilities such that they are required to lock on to a desired frequency using an FTL.  
         [0064]    A block diagram of a base station incorporating the frequency discriminator as described herein is illustrated in FIG. 4. The base station is comprised of a transmitter  401  that receives a signal from the network to which the base station is coupled. The transmitter  401  modulates the signal and transmits the signal, at the proper power level, over the antenna  405 .  
         [0065]    A received signal is received by the antenna  405  and distributed to the receiver  403  having a frequency discriminator  403 . Receiver  403  tracks the frequency of the received signal using FTL  403  and demodulates any appropriate signals. The demodulated signals are sent over the network that is coupled to the base station to the appropriate destination.  
         [0066]    In one embodiment, the base station illustrated in FIG. 4 operates in a cellular environment. Alternate embodiment base stations can be any base station that allows a mobile, wireless communication device to communicate with a fixed infrastructure.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 5 illustrates a plot of the frequency response of a frequency discriminator in accordance with an embodiment operation under various values of a. More specifically a plot of Δ{circumflex over (f)} res   new  is shown using T s = 256 /3.84×10 6  sec. and assuming no noise. The curve corresponding to α=0 represents a regular cross-product discriminator. It can be seen from FIG. 5 that when α=2, the discriminator output closely approximates f(2πT s Δf res )=2πT s Δf res  and can be assured from this that we have a very efficiently performing frequency-tracking loop. For each of the curves of FIG. 5, θ is assumed to be of value zero (0).  
         [0068]    The output of the illustrative embodiment frequency discriminator is large for values of Δf res  larger than half a pull-in range. The small value cross discriminator results of conventional solutions are ignored. The present frequency discriminator provides a larger effective pull-in range while also converging very fast when an initial frequency error is large.  
         [0069]    FIGS.  6 - 9  illustrate results from simulations using a frequency discriminator as described herein. In each simulation, the pilot symbol accumulation length is assumed to be N=256 chips. This results in a T s = 256 /3.84×10 6  seconds, which is equivalent to a theoretical pull-in range of ±7.5 kHz.  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 6 illustrates a plot of residual frequency error, f, as a function of time generated by each of two different frequency discriminators, one a conventional cross product frequency discriminator and the other a frequency discriminator as described herein. An initial frequency error of 7.4 kHz and pilot SNR of E C /I O =−26 dB is assumed.  
         [0071]    It can be seen that, with the assumed initial frequency error, a conventional cross product discriminator will cause the FTL output to diverge. On the other hand, an FTL using a frequency discriminator of a present embodiment converges relatively quickly.  
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 7 illustrates what happens when the pilot strength is increased to E C /I O =−20 dB. While both present invention and prior art FTLs eventually converge, the presently disclosed frequency discriminator converges substantially faster than a cross product discriminator.  
         [0073]    The plots of FIGS. 8 and 9 are similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively. FIG. 8 better illustrates residual frequency error as a function of time with a pilot SNR of E C /I O =−26 dB. FIG. 9 illustrates frequency error with a pilot SNR of E C /I O =−20 dB. In both FIGS. 8 and 9, the initial frequency error is changed to 7.0 kHz. From these plots, it can be quickly seen how present embodiment frequency discriminator yields converges results that are substantially faster than conventional cross product discriminators.  
         [0074]    The frequency discriminator of the present invention is not limited to any various embodiments of the specific air interface. One implementation utilizes an embodiment in a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system. One skilled in the art would readily recognize that the invention has utilized any number of varying air interfaces such as general CDMA system, cdma2000, FDMA, and TDMA.  
         [0075]    In summary, the frequency discriminator of the presently described embodiment is a relatively low complexity frequency estimator that can be used in any system requiring frequency estimation. By using dot product calculations, either in isolation or in combination with dot product measurements, results in an improved solution requiring only comparisons, additions, and simple multiplications at best.  
         [0076]    It should be noted that in all the embodiments described above, method steps can be interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0077]    Those of skill in the art will understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.  
         [0078]    Those of skill will further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0079]    The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.  
         [0080]    The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal.  
         [0081]    In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal. The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded with widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7