Re-configurable fixed-point implementation of V-BLAST MIMO system

This paper describes the development of a re-configurable fixed-point implementation of a VB-LAST MIMO system that will assist in the development of a hardware implementation for use in future wireless communications systems. Floating point models of the system are constructed to act as performance benchmarks for the fixed point representation. The hardware implementation, based on this fixed point representation, will be described in a Hardware Description Language (HDL) in the form of an Intellectual Property (IP) block for synthesis onto a FPGA or an ASIC. Initial results from the fixed point software model are presented and indicate a good match with floating point performance for several V-BLAST MIMO configurations.