Coded MIMO systems with modulation diversity for block-fading channels

We propose a new coded multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) scheme based on modulation diversity technique for block-fading channels. The proposed scheme can achieve both full spatial multiplexing and full diversity of N_tN_rF, i.e., the product of the number of transmit antennas N_t, receive antennas N_r and fading blocks F. The design concatenates a channel code with a space-time code. The channel code is responsible for time diversity and the space-time code is employed to provide space diversity. Since the modulation diversity technique enables full space diversity and full spatial multiplexing at the cost of increased processing complexity at the receiver, sphere decoding is employed to reduce the detection computation. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed schemes in MIMO block-fading channels.