Low-complexity space-time processor for DS-CDMA communications

A novel wideband beamforming technique for cellular CDMA systems is presented in this paper. The proposed algorithm asymptotically provides the maximum SINR estimate of the signal with the desired code (SDC) by optimally combining desired signals from different paths and canceling strong multiuser access interference (MUAI). A two-dimensional (2-D) matched filter structure is used where not only different temporal samples of the matched filter output are processed but where those from matched filters connected to different antennas are processed as well. In contrast to previously proposed techniques, an exact code synchronization for the SDC is not required. The algorithm presented herein asymptotically provides the arrival time of the multipaths within a bit period and the optimum beamformers for extracting each of them. Space-time filters for combining the fingers across both space and time while canceling the MUAIs are constructed correspondingly. The instrumental property exploited by this technique is the fact that although the respective spectra of the SDC and MUAI components at the matched filter output are statistically identical, the respective spectra of their squared values differ. A simplified RAKE structure-based receiver is also proposed. The 2-D RAKE receiver considerably decreases the computations but requires a coarse SDC code synchronization. A technique to achieve coarse SDC code synchronization is also proposed