This paper describes the broadband radio access techniques for Universal Mobile Terrestrial Systems (UMTS)/Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)/High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and LTE-Advanced. Major technical pillars are almost identical regardless of the radio access systems of the respective generations. However, the key techniques that provide distinct performance improvements have changed according to the system requirements in each generation. Hence, in this paper, we focus on the key techniques associated with the system requirements. We also describe the requirements, radio access technology candidates, and challenges toward the future 5G systems.

Initial cell search in wideband code-division multiple-access (W-CDMA) systems is a challenging process. On the one hand, channel impairments such as multipath fading, Doppler shift, and noise create frequency and time offsets in the received signal. On the other hand, the residual synchronization error of the crystal oscillator at the mobile station also causes time and frequency offsets. Such offsets can affect the ability of a mobile station to perform cell search. Previous work concentrated on cell synchronization algorithms that considered multipath channels and frequency offsets, but ignored clock and timing offsets due to device tolerances. This work discusses a robust initial cell search algorithm, and quantifies its performance in the presence of frequency and time offsets due to two co-existing problems: channel impairments and clock drift at the receiver. Another desired performance enhancement is the reduction of power consumption of the receiver, which is mainly due to the computational complexity of the algorithms. This power reduction can be achieved by reducing the computational complexity by a divide and conquer strategy during the synchronization process.

In this paper, a single-chip dual-mode 8-band 130 nm CMOS transceiver including A/D/A converters and digital filters with 312 MHz LVDS interface is presented. For a transmitter chain, linear direct quadrature modulation architecture is introduced for both W-CDMA/HSDPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access) and for GSM/EDGE. Analog baseband LPFs and quadrature modulators are commonly used both for GSM and for EDGE. For a direct conversion receiver chain, ABB (Analog Base-Band) blocks, i.e., LPFs and VGAs, delta-sigma A/D converters, and FIR filters are commonly used for W-CDMA/HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and GSM/EDGE to reduce chip area. Their characteristics can be reconfigured by register-based control sequence. The receiver chain also includes high-speed DC offset cancellers both in analog and in digital stage, and the self-contained AGC controller, whose parameters such as time constant are programmable to be free from DBB (Digital Base-Band) control. The transceiver also includes wide-range VCOs and fractional PLLs, an LVDS driver and receiver for high-speed digital interface of 312 MHz. Measured results reveal that the transceiver satisfies 3GPP specifications for W-CDMA/HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) and GSM/EDGE.

This paper proposes a novel crest factor reduction (CFR) algorithm applicable to currently deployed W-CDMA base stations. The peak-to-average ratio (PAR) reduction of the multiple carrier mixed signal, namely CFR, has been an issue in order to convey the benefit of using low-cost power amplifiers. The simple final clipping method (SFCM) as a conventional method has been widely utilized due to its simplicity and effectiveness. However, the SFCM degrades the adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) characteristic as well as the signal quality indicated by either the error vector magnitude (EVM) or the peak code domain error (PCDE). Conventionally, in order to alleviate this undesired deterioration, extra channel filtering and signal quality enhancement followed by CFR might be processed in an open-loop style. Alternatively, to perform CFR by maintaining the PAR as low as possible subject to satisfying the prescribed ACLR and EVM/PCDE performance, this paper introduces the prediction filter dependent peak reduction (PFDPR) process collaboratively working with dynamic waterfilling-based code domain compensation (DWCDC). To verify the superiority of the proposed CFR algorithm, tentative simulations are conducted while maintaining the rules of legitimate W-CDMA base station test specifications.

With the increase of communication demand and the emergence of new services, various innovative wireless technologies have been deployed recently. Free Space Optics (FSO) links combined with Radio over Fiber (RoF) technology can realize a cost-effective heterogeneous wireless access system for both urban and rural areas. In this paper, we introduce a newly developed advanced DWDM Radio-on-FSO (RoFSO) system capable of simultaneously transmitting multiple Radio Frequency (RF) signals carrying various wireless services including W-CDMA, WLAN IEEE802.11g and ISDB-T signals over FSO link. We present an experimental performance evaluation of transmitting RF signals using the RoFSO system over a 1 km link under different deployment environment conditions. This work represents a pioneering attempt, based on a realistic operational scenario, aiming at demonstrating the RoFSO system can be conveniently used as a reliable alternative broadband wireless technology for complementing optical fiber networks in areas where the deployment of optical fiber is not feasible.

Distributed Video Coding (DVC) is an emerging video coding approach, particularly attractive due to its flexibility to implement low complex encoders. This feature could be very effectively utilized in a number of video sensor based application scenarios. However, DVC is still in the process of development and currently available codec implementations are based on a number of hypothetical models and assumptions. In DVC, the effects of noise and fading on the compressed payload (parity bit stream) in real video communications and the resultant modified channel model scenario have not been discussed in literature. In this paper, a solution to the above problem in turbo coding based DVC is discussed incorporating a novel dual channel model for the maximum a-posteriori (MAP) algorithm for turbo decoding. The simulations for AWGN and wireless channels at different group of picture (GOP) sizes show that the proposed algorithm improves the rate distortion performance compared to the existing decoding algorithm. It also outperforms the H.264/AVC I-P-I-P codec (v10.1/baseline profile); particularly at low Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) levels of the channel, thus enabling DVC as a viable and efficient option for video communications.

The thermal gain variation of a high-power amplifier (HPA) module for a wide-band code division multiple access (W-CDMA) system application was reduced to within 1 dB by applying a thermistor to compensate the gain variation. Two techniques for gain variation compensation with respect to temperature were investigated: base bias control according to temperature, and use of a thermistor in a matching network. Experimental comparison of two techniques indicated that the thermistor-based technique was more effective in reducing the gain variation without affecting linearity. A fabricated two-stage HPA module with a thermistor in its input matching network achieved a small gain variation within 1 dB and 5 MHz offset adjacent channel leakage power ratio (first ACLR) below -36 dBc over the temperature range from -10 to +85C, where the first ACLR was measured under a load-mismatched condition with a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of 1.4:1.

There have been many theoretical and experimental investigations on polarization diversity reception characteristics at base stations. The diversity gain was evaluated based on the distribution of the instantaneous received power in these investigations. The mainstream mobile communication systems are shifting to standardized IMT-2000 systems and the W-CDMA system is one of them. The effect using base station polarization diversity in W-CDMA must be evaluated by considering not only antenna diversity, but also RAKE reception/path diversity. Furthermore, Transmit Power Control (TPC) is applied to overcome the near-far problem of mobile units that maintain a fixed reception power level in W-CDMA systems. Therefore, traditional diversity gain cannot be used as an evaluation metric. This paper proposes a theoretical analysis method for diversity gain using base station polarization diversity in W-CDMA. The evaluation model used for theoretical analysis is verified based on a comparison with the experimental results and the analytical results of the practical diversity gain are clarified.

Adaptive hybrid genetic algorithm concatenated with improved parallel interference cancellation, i.e. adaptive hybrid genetic algorithm parallel interference cancellation (AHGAPIC) was proposed. A study is conducted on the application of AHGAPIC to soft decoding high rate multi-user detection with diversity reception for dual-rate wideband DS-CDMA spread spectrum communications, aiming to mitigate the effect of multiple access interference. The relevant research has revealed that the local search capability of hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) is still not good enough. Therefore, first, two evolutionary operations, i.e. inversion and insertion are merged into HGA to constitute a novel algorithm. With its moderate local search capability, this new algorithm can search for the global optimum region according to the information entropy, and then it is made adaptively vary its probabilities of crossover and mutation depending on the fitness values of the solutions to form the adaptive hybrid genetic algorithm (AHGA). Second, AHGA is utilized to effectively identify the better and better binary string to maximize the log-likelihood function of dual-rate multi-user detection. As AHGA converges to the optimum region, the control factor of the improved parallel interference cancellation (IPIC) detector is set to be the ratio of the average fitness value to the maximum fitness value of the population of AHGA. Finally, equipped with both the control factor and the binary string with the maximum fitness value as the initial data, the IPIC detector can rapidly find out the approximately optimum soft decoding vector. Then, it can obtain the approximately global optimum estimate point on the basis of the soft decoding rule, corresponding to the transmitted data bits. A lower bound of computational complexity has been achieved through simulations and qualitative analyses. The property of the proposed algorithm to converge rapidly leads to lower computational complexity. Emulation results have shown that the AHGAPIC soft decoding high rate multi-user detector is superior to other suboptimum detectors considered in this paper in terms of two points. They are the mitigation of multiple access interference and the resistance to near-far effects. Its performance is close to the sequential group optimum multi-user detector but with a shorter time delay.

This paper describes a high power GaN-FET amplifier which is developed for wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) base stations. We design a bias network which is symmetrically arranged to the RF line (two way bias network) in order to reduce impedance at a baseband frequency of the multi-carrier W-CDMA signal. As a result, the amplifier with the two way bias network successfully suppressed memory effects. Therefore, the application of a DPD technique to the GaN-FET amplifier with the two way bias network demonstrates almost 20 dB linearity improvement in IM3 and considerable improvement in higher order IMD, resulting in low IMD of less than -50 dBc at the highest ever reported W-CDMA average output power of 76 W.

The downlink call admission control (CAC) scheme we call the combined CAC scheme is proposed to improve the call blocking for the 3rd (3G) generation W-CDMA system. The blocking probability of attempted calls would increase if a large number of users tries to place calls in a hot spot area. In this situation, the proposed scheme can mitigate the degradation of the GoS (grade of service) of multiple services by using the available radio channels of the neighboring cells and enhance the channel capacity by about 20% for the blocking probability of 1% under the given example condition of voice service.

Recently, the Doherty amplifier technique has been the focus of attention not only for base stations but also for mobile terminals because of its high power-added efficiency in the large back-off region. In this paper, we present a miniaturized Doherty power amplifier (PA) module for W-CDMA mobile terminals. The developed Doherty PA module consists of a 4-mm-square ceramic substrate (4.0 mm4.0 mm1.5 mm, alumina, dielectric constant = 8.8), a 1-mm-square GaAs MMIC (1.0 mm1.0 mm0.1 mm), and 0603-size SMD passive components. To miniaturize the module size, the optimal designed quarter-wavelength transmission lines, which are used for impedance conversion for carrier amplifier output and phase compensation for peak amplifier input, are embedded in the ceramic module substrate. Two GaAs HBTs for a carrier amplifier and a peak amplifier and base bias circuits for each amplifier are integrated onto a single-chip GaAs MMIC. Measurement results at 1950 MHz in a W-CDMA uplink signal indicate that 27 dBm of the maximum output power, 45% of the power-added efficiency (PAE), 11 dB of power gain, and 43% of PAE at 6 dB back-off, i.e. 24 dBm output power, are obtained with the developed Doherty PA. In other words, the PAE is improved from the theoretical PAE of a conventional class B amplifier, namely, from 23% to 43%. This is the smallest Doherty amplifier developed in the form of a module for mobile terminals.

A high efficiency SiGe HBT differential power amplifier with an open collector adaptive bias was successfully demonstrated. A novel linearizer consists of an open collector heterojunction bipolar transistor bias circuit and an MOS feedback diode was proposed, which achieved better power added efficiency (PAE) than that of traditional adaptive bias circuits. The size effect of linearizer was investigated and the impedance ratio (R1/R2) between the linearizer and the main amplifier was optimized by the factor of 3. The measured differential power amplifier achieved an output 1-dB compression point (P1 dB) of 18.7 dBm with PAE of 31.2%, the output second order intermodulation point (OIP2) of 59 dBm, and third-order intermodulation point (OIP3) of 28 dBm. Compared to traditional adaptive bias technique, the proposed linearizer power amplifier effectively improved the PAE. The fabricated die size including pads is less than 0.925 mm2 and suitable for highly integrated linear drive amplifier.

Highly reliable GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) are demonstrated for 3G-wireless base station applications. A state-of-the-art 250-W AlGaN/GaN-HEMTs push-pull transmitter amplifier operated at a drain bias voltage of 50 V is addressed with high efficiency under W-CDMA signals. The amplifier, combined with a digital pre-distortion (DPD) system, also achieved an adjacent channel leakage power ratio (ACLR) of less than -50 dBc for 4-carrier W-CDMA signals. Memory effect and temperature characteristics are also discussed. A stable operation including gate leakage current under RF stress testing for 1000 h is demonstrated at a drain bias voltage of 60 V. AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on an n-type doped 3-inch SiC substrate is introduced towards low cost manufacturing for the first time.

A direct conversion receiver for W-CDMA, which consumes extremely low power, is presented. The receiver consists of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) IC, a receiver IC and other passive components such as an RF-SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) filter. The receiver IC includes a quadrature demodulator (QDEM) with a local oscillator (LO) divider, low-pass filters (LPFs) for channel selection, variable gain amplifiers (VGAs) with dynamic range of 80 dB, and a fractional-N synthesizer. The power consumption for the entire receiver chain was only 30.8 mA at supply voltage of 2.7 V.

A dual-mode, triple-band RF front-end receiver for GSM900, DCS1800 and WCDMA is presented in this paper. This chip uses low-IF and zero-IF receiver architectures for GSM and WCDMA respectively to fulfill the entirely different system requirements of the two standards. It consists of three parallel LNAs and down-conversion mixers with on-chip LO I/Q generations. The receiver front-end is implemented in a standard 0.25 µm CMOS process and consumes about 30-mA from a 2.7-V power supply for all modes. The measured double-side band noise figure and voltage gain are 3 dB, 36 dB for the GSM900, 5.9 dB, 31 dB for the DCS1800, and 4.3 dB, 29.6 dB for the WCDMA, respectively.

A novel bias circuit providing a stable quiescent current for temperature and supply voltage variations is proposed and implemented to a W-CDMA MMIC power amplifier. The power amplifier with the proposed bias circuit has the quiescent current variation of only 6% for the -30 to 90 temperature change, and 8.5% for the 2.9 V to 3.1 V supply voltage change, and the variation of the power gain at the 28 dBm output power is less than 0.8 (0.05) dB for the 0.1 V of supply voltage (60 of temperature) variation.

This paper describes a second-order continuous-time ΔΣ modulator for a W-CDMA receiver, which operates at a supply voltage of 0.9 V, the lowest so far reported for W-CDMA. Inverter-based balanced OTAs without using differential pair are proposed for a low-voltage operation. Circuit parameters are optimized by system simulations. The modulator was implemented in a 0.13-µm CMOS technology. It consumes only 1.5 mW. The measured SNDR is 50.9 dB over a bandwidth of 1.92 MHz.

In W-CDMA systems, distributions of the interference power and the total transmit power both measured at base stations are respectively used for capacity analysis in the uplink and downlink. For accurate capacity analysis, these quantities must be in proportion to the traffic amount. However, these quantities are no longer in proportion to the traffic amount since the transmit power control maintains the signal to interference power ratio at a constant level. Although the relationship between these measurements and the traffic amount has been investigated, there are still challenges to calculate the statistics such as the blocking probability or the outage probability accurately. This paper proposes a method to calculate the blocking probability by transforming the distributions of these measurements into distributions that are referred to as "traffic equivalent distributions," where the distributions are automatically adjusted according to the traffic amount. The calculated results show good agreement with the results obtained by dynamic computer simulations in the uplink, and show good agreement in the downlink as well when the traffic load is light. Accurate calculation of the blocking probability using a feedback loop and the observation of the traffic equivalents is also reported.

In this paper, a sub-optimal Rake receiver combined with a Wiener Filter is investigated for use in an indoor environment. Inner-Chip-interference is dominant when the application is indoors, so the inner-chip-interference rejection function becomes critical for the receiver. Pilot symbols in each slot are used for channel estimation and weight calculation of Rake combining through Wiener Filter. Compared to conventional combining which uses maximum ratio combining, Wiener combining using IRC (Interference rejection combining) achieves better ICI (Inner-chip-Interference) rejection. This paper clarified that the sub optimal Rake receiver using Wiener Filter is 4 dB better than the conventional Rake receiver under the indoor application.