JP2012060451A - Determination feedback-type equalizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more reduce error propagation.SOLUTION: A determination feedback-type equalizer feeding back a soft replica signal by a feedback filter includes: a storage device; a logarithm likelihood ratio calculation portion; a logarithm likelihood ratio evaluation portion; an attenuation amount calculation portion and a logarithm likelihood ratio attenuation portion. The storage device holds an input signal for repetitively performing determination feedback circulation for a plurality of symbols. The logarithm likelihood ratio calculation portion calculates a logarithm likelihood ratio of a bit from a signal obtained by subtracting an output of the feedback filter from the input signal which the storage device holds. The logarithm likelihood ratio evaluation portion specifies the symbol to which the bit whose reliability is evaluated to be low from an absolute value of the logarithm likelihood ratio. The attenuation amount calculation portion calculates and holds a logarithm likelihood ratio attenuation amount to the whole or a part of bits of the symbols affecting the symbol via the feedback filter. The logarithm likelihood ratio attenuation portion attenuates the logarithm likelihood ratio in accordance with the logarithm likelihood ratio attenuation amount calculated in the previous determination feedback circulation.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a decision feedback equalizer.

  As a countermeasure technique for inter-symbol interference (ISI) due to multipath fading in communication / broadcast signal receivers, etc., it is a form of nonlinear equalization with characteristics superior to linear equalization. A decision feedback equalizer (decision feedback equalizer) may be used (hereinafter DFE represents a decision feedback equalizer).

  A typical type of decision feedback equalizer is one that operates to feed back hard-decision symbols and eliminate intersymbol interference with subsequent symbols. However, in this type, when an error occurs in the symbol hard decision, not only the inter-symbol interference with respect to the subsequent symbol is removed, but also a new interference component is generated, and the error rate of the subsequent symbol is increased. This is generally called error propagation and causes performance degradation of the decision feedback equalizer.

  As another type of decision feedback equalizer, there is one that reduces the influence of error propagation by feeding back a soft replica that is a probabilistic estimate of a symbol point.

David Falconer, S. Lek Ariyavisitakul, Anader Benyamin-seeyar, Brian Eidson, "White Paper: Frequency Domain Equalization for Single-Carrier Broadband Wireless Systems", 2002 L. Hanzo, T.H. Liew, B.L.Yeap, “Turbo Coding, Turbo Equalisation and Space-Time Coding”, 2005, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

  As for the decision feedback equalizer, it is desired to improve the performance by reducing the influence of error propagation further than the conventional type that feeds back a soft replica.

  An object of the present embodiment is to provide a decision feedback equalizer in which error propagation is further reduced.

  According to the embodiment, a decision feedback equalizer that feeds back a soft replica signal based on a log likelihood ratio of a bit by a feedback filter includes a storage device, a log likelihood ratio calculation unit, a log likelihood ratio evaluation unit, an attenuation amount A calculation unit and a log likelihood ratio attenuation unit are included. The storage device holds an input signal for enabling repeated execution of decision feedback for a plurality of symbols. The log likelihood ratio calculation unit calculates a log likelihood ratio of a plurality of bits based on a signal obtained by subtracting the output of the feedback filter from the input signal read from the storage device. The log-likelihood ratio evaluation unit evaluates the reliability of a plurality of bits based on the absolute value of the log-likelihood ratio, and determines a symbol index that identifies a symbol to which a bit evaluated to have low reliability is transmitted. Output at least. The attenuation amount calculation unit calculates log likelihood ratio attenuation amounts for all or some of the bits of the symbols affected via the feedback filter with respect to the symbols specified by the output symbol index, and Hold for the decision feedback circuit. The log-likelihood ratio attenuating unit calculates the log-likelihood ratio calculated by the log-likelihood ratio calculation unit in the current determination feedback cycle, and the logarithm calculated by the attenuation amount calculation unit in the previous determination feedback cycle. Attenuates according to likelihood ratio attenuation.

The block diagram which shows the structural example of the decision feedback type | mold equalizer which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the decision feedback equalizer according to the first embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the 1st example of the symbol identification method. The figure for demonstrating the 2nd example of the symbol identification method. The figure for demonstrating the 3rd example of the symbol identification method. The figure for demonstrating the 4th example of the symbol identification method. The figure for demonstrating the 5th example of the symbol identification method. The figure for demonstrating the phasor display of a feedback tap coefficient. The block diagram which shows the structural example of the decision feedback type | mold equalizer which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a configuration example of a decision feedback equalizer according to a second embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structural example of the decision feedback type equalizer which concerns on a comparative example. The block diagram which shows the other structural example of the decision feedback type | mold equalizer which concerns on a comparative example. The block diagram which shows the further another structural example of the decision feedback type | mold equalizer which concerns on a comparative example. The figure for demonstrating the IQ component of the symbol point of R-QAM.

  Hereinafter, a decision feedback equalizer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the following embodiments, the same numbered portions are assumed to perform the same operation, and repeated description is omitted.

  FF represents feed-forward, and FB represents feedback (feed-back).

  The decision feedback equalizer generally relates to a feedforward filter unit (FF filter unit) that performs a predetermined feedforward filter process and a feedback filter unit (FB filter unit) that performs a predetermined feedforward filter process.

  As an implementation method of the FF filter unit, for example, a method using a time domain equalization filter as has been widely studied, and a frequency domain equalization (frequency domain equalization that has been studied relatively recently). Some use an equalizer filter (hereinafter FDE represents frequency domain equalization). In the following description, in order to explain the principle of the decision feedback equalizer, a frequency domain decision feedback equalizer (FD-DFE) using the latter FDE for the FF filter unit is used as an example. However, the present embodiment is not limited to the frequency domain decision feedback equalizer. The present embodiment obtains characteristic improvements by changing the feedback operation, and can be applied to a decision feedback equalizer in general regardless of the specific configuration of the FF filter unit (of course, the former time domain equalization). It can also be applied to a decision feedback equalizer using a filter).

Similarly, the present embodiment can be applied to a decision feedback equalizer in general regardless of the specific configuration of the FB filter unit. First, referring to FIGS. A feedback equalizer will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the decision feedback equalizer of the comparative example is related to a feedforward filter unit (FF filter unit) 100 and a subsequent feedback filter unit (FB filter unit) 102. A signal obtained by subtracting the output of the FB filter unit 102 from the output of the FF filter unit 100 is given to the symbol hard decision unit 103 from the subtraction unit 108, and the output of the symbol hard decision unit 103 is given to the FB filter unit 102. Become.

In the following, referring to FIG. 12, data symbols {s _m } (m = 0, 1,..., (M−1), E {s _m } = 0, which are single-carrier transmitted at a symbol rate 1 / T, A comparative example will be described using a method of restoring E {| s _m | ² } = 1) by a frequency domain decision feedback equalizer.

  DFT represents discrete Fourier transform, and IDFT represents inverse discrete Fourier transform (or inverse DFT).

  In the frequency domain decision feedback equalizer of FIG. 12, the FF filter unit 100 of FIG. 11 is configured using an FDE including a discrete Fourier transform unit 1001, a tap coefficient multiplication unit 1002, and an inverse discrete Fourier transform unit 1003. is there.

Assume that the number of symbols per DFT block used in the FDE is M (M is an integer of 1 or more), and the number of samples per symbol is I (I is an integer of 1 or more). MI received samples {r _m } (m = 0, 1,..., (MI-1)) is expressed as the following equation (1).

Here, h (t) is an impulse response of the propagation path, and n (mT / I) is an additive white noise having an average of 0 and a variance σ ² .

In the discrete Fourier transform unit 1001, the received samples _{r m} after conversion into a signal in the frequency domain in MI point DFT, in the tap coefficient multiplying unit 1002, the tap coefficients of the frequency domain equalization _{W l} (l = 0,1 ,..., (MI-1)), and the inverse discrete Fourier transform unit 1003 returns the signal to the time domain signal with the MIFT IDFT. Further, the signal is decimated to one sample per symbol to obtain an M sample signal.

The FB filter unit 102 performs a predetermined feedback filter process. Here, as an example, it has a B taps, their tap coefficients ^_{f k *}, and be represented by K∈F _B. Here, the elements of F _B at 1 or more integer representing the delay time of the tap, the unit is a symbol time.

For B = 0, F _B becomes an empty set, a linear equalizer having no FB filter.

  Then, the output of the FB filter unit 102 is subtracted from the FDE output (in the case of FIG. 12, the output of the inverse discrete Fourier transform unit 1003) in the subtraction unit 108.

Therefore, the m-th sample of the DFE output (that is, the output of the decision feedback equalizer) is expressed as the following equation (2).

Then, the FDE tap coefficient {W _l } in the MMSE standard that minimizes the mean square error E {| e _m | ² } = E {| z _m −s _m | ² } between the transmission symbol s _m and the DFE output z _m And the FB tap coefficient {f _k } is expressed by the following equation (3).

  In the following, a comparative example will be described with reference to FIG. 13 using an operation when a soft replica signal is fed back.

  SR represents a soft replica, and LLR represents a log likelihood ratio.

  13 is a signal obtained by subtracting the output of the FB filter unit 202 from the output of the FF filter unit 200, which is the output of the DFE output (that is, the output of the decision feedback type equalizer). A log likelihood ratio calculation unit (LLR calculation unit) 203 that calculates the log likelihood ratio of each bit, and a soft replica generation that generates a soft replica signal from the log likelihood ratio Unit (SR generation unit) 204 and FB filter unit 202.

  The FF filter unit 200 and the FB filter unit 202 may be the same as the FF filter unit and the FB filter unit shown in FIG. 11 or 12, respectively, but are not limited thereto.

  The DFE output is output to a subsequent processing block (not shown) such as hard decision or soft decision.

  The LLR calculation unit 203 obtains the LLR from the DFE output as follows.

When the DFE output Z _m is observed, the conditional probability that it is transmitted as the modulation symbol point S _j is obtained by calculating the following equation (5).

Using this result, the LLR of the _nth bit bn of the symbol m is calculated as in the following equation (6).

(First embodiment)
Although the comparative example has been described so far, the first embodiment will be described below.

  Now, it is known that error propagation occurs in a decision feedback equalizer. That is, when the reliability of a certain bit in the equalizer output is lowered, there is a possibility that the intersymbol interference is not correctly removed from the symbol in which the bit is transmitted. This means that a relationship through feedback taps can be found between the reliability of a plurality of symbols and the bits transmitted by the symbols. In this embodiment, the reliability of bits is updated using this relationship to realize repeated equalization.

  In the first embodiment, a decision feedback equalizer of a type that feeds back a soft replica will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a decision feedback equalizer according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the decision feedback equalizer according to the present embodiment includes a storage device 11 that holds the output of the feedforward filter unit (FF filter unit) 10, and a DFE output (that is, reading from the storage device 11). The log likelihood ratio calculation unit (LLR calculation unit) 13 for calculating the LLR from the signal obtained by subtracting the output of the feedback filter unit (FB filter unit) 12 from the obtained signal and the signal output from the subtraction unit 18) A soft replica generation unit (SR generation unit) 14 that generates a soft replica signal from the LLR, an FB filter unit 12 that performs feedback filter processing on the soft replica signal, and evaluates the reliability of bits using the LLR. A log likelihood ratio evaluation unit (LLR evaluation unit) 15 and an FB filter unit 12 for a symbol transmitted with a bit with low reliability. An index / attenuation amount calculation unit (attenuation amount calculation unit) 16 that calculates and holds the LLR attenuation amount of all or some of the bits of the symbol, and calculates the LLR attenuation amount. Each of the bits includes a log likelihood ratio attenuation unit (LLR attenuation unit) 17 that multiplies the LLR calculated by the LLR calculation unit 13 by the LLR attenuation amount.

  The FF filter unit 10, the FB filter unit 12, the LLR calculation unit 13, the SR generation unit 14, and the subtraction unit 18 are the FF filter unit 200, the FB filter unit 202, the LLR calculation unit 203, and the SR generation unit 204 in FIG. The same as the subtracting unit 208 may be used, but is not limited thereto.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the decision feedback equalizer of the present embodiment.

  Here, the operation of executing LLR calculation, SR generation, and FB filter processing for all symbols is referred to as “DFE cyclic” or “determination feedback cyclic”.

In this example, the decision feedback equalizer performs the DFE cyclic processing at least once and at most _Nit times. _Nit may be a predetermined number of times, for example. Note that the DFE cyclic processing may be executed _Nit times without fail, but it is preferable that the subsequent DFE cyclic processing is not interrupted and executed when a predetermined condition is satisfied as will be described later.

  In this example, the DFE input signal in each cycle is the output of the storage device 11 described above. The DFE output after completion of the DFE cyclic processing may be input to, for example, a subsequent processing block (not shown). The subsequent processing blocks are, for example, hard decision processing, (next stage) equalization processing, error correction decoding processing, and the like, but are not limited thereto.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that the decision feedback cycle is performed a plurality of times, and when the symbol soft replica is generated in the (i + 1) -th decision feedback cycle, the reliability is determined in the previous (i-th) decision feedback cycle. If the symbol affects a symbol that has been low, the influence of error propagation can be reduced by reducing the log-likelihood ratio used for generating the soft replica.

Hereinafter, in describing the DFE cyclic processing, the LLR of the n-th bit b _n of the m-th symbol Z _{m, i} after the i-th (i = 1, 2,..., N _it ) DFE circulation is denoted by L _i ( m; represented by n).

  Note that the processing by the LLR attenuation unit 17 in step S3 is not performed in the first DFE cycle, but is performed in each subsequent DFE cycle (see 30 in the figure).

  In step S1, m and M are compared (M is the number of symbols (an integer greater than or equal to 1)). If m <M, the process proceeds to step S2 in that time, otherwise (ie, all If the process for the symbol is completed), the process proceeds to step S1 in the next time.

  In each round of the DFE tour, first, in step S2, the LLR calculation unit 13 calculates and outputs an LLR. For example, the LLR may be calculated in the same manner as the LLR calculation unit 203 in FIG.

  Next, a series of processes in steps S3 to S5 (however, the first process in steps S4 and S5) and a series of processes in steps S6 to S8 are performed. Note that either the processing of steps S3 to S5 and the processing of steps S6 to S8 may be executed first or may be executed concurrently.

  First, processing in steps S6 to S8 that is not in the comparative example of FIG. 13 will be described.

The LLR evaluation unit 15 and the index / attenuation amount calculation unit 16 operate at times other than the last time of the DFE cycle. If this decision feedback equalizer is terminated N _s times (N _s <N _it ) before the DFE cyclic processing reaches N _it times, the processes in steps S6 to S8 are i = 1,. N _s −1 operation is performed in each DFE cycle (when the DFE cyclic processing is performed N _it times, the processes in steps S6 to S8 are performed as i = 1,..., N _it −1th time. Will work in DFE patrol).

  In step S6, the LLR evaluation unit 15 evaluates the absolute value of the LLR according to a predetermined standard, and detects a bit with low reliability.

  When the LLR evaluation unit 15 detects a bit with low reliability, for example, the following reference can be used as the predetermined reference (but is not limited thereto).

According to the first criterion, a bit _satisfying | L _i (m; n) | <L _th is detected and set as a bit with low reliability. However, L _th is a predetermined threshold value.

In the second criterion, a bit that satisfies | L _i (m; n) | <MA (| L _i (m; n) |, N _MA ) is detected, and this is a bit with low reliability. However, MA (·, N _MA ) is a moving average value at a predetermined section length N _MA .
The LLR evaluation unit 15 outputs an index (bit index) that identifies the detected bit and an index (symbol index) that identifies the symbol in which the bit was transmitted.

  In the i-th DFE cycle, if no low-reliability bit is detected at the end of the i-th DFE cycle, the i-th cycle is executed without performing the subsequent DFE cycles (after i + 1-th cycle). It is preferable that the DFE output of the cycle is input to a subsequent processing block (eg, hard decision, equalization in the next stage, error correction decoding, etc.).

  Next, when a bit with low reliability is detected in the i-th DFE cycle, in step S7, the index / attenuation amount calculation unit 16 applies an FB filter to the symbol to which the detected bit is transmitted. The index of the affected symbol is obtained via the unit 12, and the attenuation amount of the LLR used for soft replica generation in the next DFE cycle (the (i + 1) th cycle) is determined for all or some of the bits of the symbol. calculate.

  In step S8, the calculated LLR attenuation amount is held in a predetermined memory (for example, an internal memory of the index / attenuation amount calculation unit 16 or an external memory) (not shown) for the next DFE cycle. Is done.

The index / attenuation calculation unit 16 has an influence on the symbol Z _{m, i} (where m = 0,..., M−1) in which the bit determined to have low reliability is transmitted. The specified symbol is specified according to a predetermined standard.

Hereinafter, some examples of the predetermined criterion for specifying the symbol index that causes error propagation will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7 (however, the present invention is not limited thereto). 3 to 7 show the soft replica signal and the FB tap generated in the past from the output time m of Z _{m and i} , respectively. For convenience of explanation, the time axis of the FB tap is inverted.

In the first criterion, as shown in FIG. 3, indexes m−k (k∈F _B ) of all times at which FB taps exist from the output time m of Z _{m, i} have the above influence. Specified as a symbol index.

In the second criterion, as shown in FIG. 4, N _t taps are selected in descending order of the absolute value of the FB tap coefficient | f _k | (N _t is a predetermined upper limit number), and they exist. The index m−k (k is N _t from the largest | f _k |) obtained from the output time m of Z _{m, i} as the starting point is specified as the symbol index having the effect.

According to the third criterion, as shown in FIG. 5, the time point when the absolute value | f _k | of the FB tap coefficient is larger than a predetermined threshold value f _th is found from the output time point m of Z _{m, i.} The index m−k (| f _k |> f _th ) is specified as the symbol index that exerts the above influence.

In the fourth criterion, as shown in FIG. 6, N _t taps are selected in order from the FB taps with the smallest delay time (N _t is a predetermined upper limit number), and the time points at which they are present are determined as Z _The index m−k (k is N _t from the smallest value) obtained from the output time point m of _{m and i} is specified as the symbol index having the above influence.

In the fifth criterion, as shown in FIG. 7, an index m− obtained by using a time point Z _{m and} an output point m of _i as a starting point when a tap having a delay time smaller than a predetermined threshold k _th exists among FB taps. k (k <k _th ) is specified as the symbol index that exerts the influence.

  The above criteria may be appropriately selected according to the channel path, the required hardware scale, and the like. Among the above standards, the first standard is expected to obtain the maximum performance, but when the dominant path exists, the third standard is also expected to obtain high performance. The second and fourth standards have the advantage that the hardware scale is small.

Next, a method of calculating the target bit and the LLR attenuation amount in the index / attenuation amount calculation unit 16 will be described. The FB tap coefficient is represented by f _k = | f _k | exp (jθ _k ) as shown in FIG.

In the first method, among the bits transmitted with the symbol index mk obtained above, the bit mapped to the same IQ axis as the bit whose reliability is determined to be low by the LLR evaluation unit 15 1− | f _k || cos (θ _k ) | is calculated as the LLR attenuation amount, and for the bit mapped to the IQ axis different from the bit whose reliability is determined to be low by the LLR evaluation unit 15 1− | f _k || sin (θ _k ) | is calculated as the LLR attenuation amount.

In the second method, among the bits transmitted at the symbol index mk obtained above, the bits mapped to the same IQ axis as the bits whose reliability is determined to be low by the LLR evaluation unit 15 Calculates 1 / exp (| f _k || cos (θ _k ) |) as the LLR attenuation amount, and the bit mapped to the IQ axis different from the bit whose reliability is determined to be low by the LLR evaluation unit 15 On the other hand, 1 / exp (| f _k || sin (θ _k ) |) is calculated as the LLR attenuation amount.
According to these first and second methods, the softness is considered in consideration of the contribution of the FB tap with respect to one of the I and Q axes to which the bit having low reliability is mapped. The attenuation rate of the I-axis and Q-axis signals of the replica signal can be determined.

In the third method, 1− | f _k | is calculated as the LLR attenuation for all the bits transmitted with the symbol index m−k obtained above.

In the fourth method, 1 / exp (| f _k |) is calculated as the LLR attenuation amount for all the bits transmitted with the symbol index m−k obtained above.

In these third and fourth methods, the attenuation rate can be determined with a simpler configuration than in the first and second methods.
As a fifth method, among the bits transmitted with the symbol index mk obtained above, the bit mapped to the same IQ axis as the bit whose reliability is determined to be low by the LLR evaluation unit 15 1− | f _k || cos (θ _k ) | is calculated and then quantized, for example, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8,. Among the coefficients, a coefficient close to the quantization value is used as the LLR attenuation amount, and for a bit mapped to an IQ axis different from the bit whose reliability is low by the LLR evaluation unit 15, 1− After calculating | f _k || sin (θ _k ) |, this is quantized, for example, among coefficients that are easy to implement in hardware, such as 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8,. A coefficient close to the quantization value is used as the LLR attenuation amount.

As a sixth method, after calculating 1− | f _k | for all bits transmitted with the symbol index m−k obtained above, this is quantized, for example, 1, 1/2, Of the coefficients that can be easily realized by hardware, such as / 4, 1/8,..., 0, a coefficient close to the quantization value is used as the LLR attenuation amount.

Further, as a seventh method, among the bits transmitted at the symbol index mk obtained above, the bits mapped to the same IQ axis as the bits whose reliability is determined to be low by the LLR evaluation unit 15 Thus, as the LLR attenuation amount (regardless of | f _k |), for example, a coefficient that is easy to implement hardware such as 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8,. A coefficient of 1 is used for a bit mapped to an IQ axis that is different from the bit whose reliability is low at 15. Note that the LLR attenuation used for the bits mapped to the same IQ axis may be set at the time of manufacture, for example.

As an eighth method, the LLR attenuation amount (regardless of | f _k |) is set to, for example, 1, 1/2, 1/4 for all bits transmitted at the symbol index m−k obtained above. , 1/8,..., 0, etc., coefficients that are easy to implement in hardware are used. The LLR attenuation amount may be set at the time of manufacture, for example.

  These fifth to eighth methods are particularly effective when the FB tap coefficient is a real value.

With the above processing, for the bit b _n of the symbol Z _{m, i determined} to be low in reliability, the set {lm _{, n} } = (l _{m, n)} of the index of the bit subject to LLR attenuation in the next round (0), l _{m, n} (1),..., L _{m, n} (L _{m, n} −1)) (where l _{m, n} (•) is an integer from 0 to MR−1) and its bits A set of attenuations {g _{m, n} } = (g _{m, n} (0), g _{m, n} (1),..., G _{m, n} (L _{m, n} −1)) is obtained.

All the bits (index k = 0, 1,..., MR-1 LLR attenuation {g} = (g (0), g (1),..., G (MR-1)) are, for example, When the same bit is specified as an LLR attenuation target (a target for calculating the LLR attenuation amount) in duplicate, the LLR attenuation amount of the bit is determined by a plurality of calculated LLR attenuation amounts. The product of the LLR attenuation amount is adopted, and the LLR attenuation amount {g} is held until the next DFE cycle.

Instead, for example, the LLR attenuation amount {g} can be determined as in the following equation (11). When the same bit is duplicated and designated as an LLR attenuation target (a target for calculating the LLR attenuation amount), the LLR attenuation amount of the bit is the largest among the plurality of LLR attenuation amounts calculated for the bit. Use a smaller value. The LLR attenuation amount {g} is held until the next DFE cycle.

  Next, the process of steps S3 to S5 will be described. The process of step S3 is a process that is not in the comparative example of FIG.

In the second and subsequent DFE cycles (i = 2,..., N _it ), the LLR attenuation unit 17 operates in step S3 (see 30 in the figure). L _i ′ (m; n) is obtained by multiplying LLR L _i (m; n) input from the LLR calculator 13 by the LLR attenuation {g} calculated in the previous round.

L _i ′ (m; n) = g (m · log ₂ (R) + n) L _i (m; n)
In step S4, the SR generation unit 14 generates a soft replica signal from the LLR. For example, a soft replica signal may be generated in the same manner as the SR generation unit 204 in FIG.

  However, in the present embodiment, the input to the SR generation unit 14 differs between the first DFE tour (i = 1) and the second and subsequent DFE tours.

That is, in the first DFE cycle (i = 1), the LLR attenuation unit 17 is not yet operated, and the SR generation unit 14 obtains L ₁ (m; n) = L (m; n) from the LLR calculation unit 13. The soft replica signal is generated with reference to the reference.

  The generated soft replica signal is input to the FB filter unit 12.

  Note that the function of the switch 30 in the figure may be inside or outside the LLR calculator 13.

  Next, in step S <b> 5, the FB filter unit 12 performs feedback filter processing on the soft replica signal generated by the SR generation unit 14. The FB filter unit 12 may be the same as the FB filter unit 102, but is not limited thereto.

  The output of the FB filter unit 12 is given to the subtracting unit 18. As described above, the subtracting unit 18 outputs a signal (that is, DFE output) obtained by subtracting the output of the FB filter unit 12 from the signal read from the storage device 11, and this is input to the LLR calculating unit 13. The process proceeds to the next DFE cyclic process, or is input to a subsequent processing block (for example, hard decision, equalization in the next stage, error correction decoding, etc.).

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the symbol soft replica is generated in the (i + 1) th decision feedback cycle, the symbol whose reliability is low in the previous (i) decision feedback cycle If the symbol affects the error, the log likelihood ratio used for generating the soft replica is reduced to reduce the effect of error propagation. At this time, in this embodiment, as will be described in detail later, even if the bit is specified as an attenuation target bit by introducing a threshold determination in the LLR attenuation unit 17, the reliability of the bit is sufficiently high. Avoids the LLR from being attenuated. That is, in a noise environment, even if intersymbol interference is well removed, it is possible that a bit with low reliability occurs due to the influence of noise, and the bit ahead is designated as the bit to be attenuated. In the present embodiment, reliability determination is introduced so as not to mitigate the removal of intersymbol interference in such a situation.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the second embodiment will be described by taking a decision feedback equalizer of the type that feeds back a soft replica as an example.

  The second embodiment will be described with a focus on differences from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a decision feedback equalizer according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the decision feedback equalizer of the present embodiment includes a storage device 11 that holds the output of the FF filter unit 10, and an FB filter from a DFE output (that is, a signal read from the storage device 11). (The signal obtained by subtracting the output of the unit 12 and the signal output from the subtracting unit 18), the LLR calculating unit 13 for calculating the LLR, the SR generating unit 14 for generating the soft replica signal from the LLR, and the soft replica signal An FB filter unit 12 that performs feedback filter processing, an LLR evaluation unit 15 that evaluates the reliability of bits using the LLR, and a symbol transmitted with a bit with low reliability is affected via the FB filter unit 12. An index that calculates and holds the LLR attenuation of all or some of the bits of the symbol Among the bits for which the attenuation amount calculation unit 16 and the LLR attenuation amount are calculated, the LLR attenuation amount is calculated for the LLR for each bit for which the LLR calculated by the LLR calculation unit 13 is less than a predetermined threshold. And an LLR attenuation unit 17 for multiplication.

  The FF filter unit 10, the storage device 11, the FB filter unit 12, the LLR calculation unit 13, the SR generation unit 14, the LLR evaluation unit 15, the index / attenuation amount calculation unit 16, the subtraction unit 18, and the subsequent processing blocks of the present embodiment are This is the same as in the first embodiment.

The calculation itself by the LLR attenuation unit 17 of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Further, in the first DFE cycle (i = 1), the LLR attenuation unit 17 is not yet operated, and the SR generation unit 14 refers to L ₁ (m; n) = L (m; n) and performs a soft replica. The point of generating a signal is the same as in the first embodiment.

In the second and subsequent DFE cycles (i = 2,..., N _it ), the LLR attenuation unit 17 according to the first embodiment, for each bit for which the LLR attenuation is calculated, for the LLR, In contrast to multiplying the amount of attenuation, the LLR attenuation unit 17 of the present embodiment, for the bits for which the LLR attenuation is calculated, for each bit for which the LLR is less than a predetermined threshold, To multiply the LLR attenuation amount (see 32 in the figure).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the decision feedback equalizer of the present embodiment.

  This flowchart is different from the flowchart of FIG. 2 in the part corresponding to the difference related to the LLR attenuation unit 17.

That is, also in the present embodiment, the LLR attenuation unit 17 operates in the second and subsequent DFE cycles (i = 2,..., N _it ), but in the present embodiment, in the second and subsequent DFE cycles, Following the calculation of the LLR by the LLR calculation unit 13 in step S2, prior to the process of step S3, in step S21, the LLR attenuation unit 17 and the LLRL _i (m; n) input from the LLR calculation unit 13 are predetermined. threshold _{L th, and} compares the magnitude relation between _att, determines whether the following conditions are satisfied.
| L _i (m; n) | <L _{th, att}
If | L _i (m; n) | <L _{th, att} , the process proceeds to step S3. Otherwise, the process skips step S3 and proceeds to step S4 (see 32 in the figure).

That is, the LLR attenuation unit 17 obtains L _i ′ (m; n) by multiplying the bit satisfying the above condition by the LLR attenuation amount {g} calculated in the previous round.
L _i ′ (m; n) = g (m · log ₂ (R) + n) L _i (m; n)
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the SR generation unit 14 generates a soft replica signal with reference to L ₁ (m; n) = L (m; n) in the first DFE cycle (i = 1). In the second and subsequent DFE cycles (i = 2,..., N _it ), when | L _i (m; n) | <L _{th, att} holds, L _i ′ (m; n) = g ( m · log ₂ (R) + n) A soft replica signal is generated with reference to L _i (m; n), and when | L _i (m; n) | <L _{th, att} does not hold, L ₁ ( The soft replica signal is generated with reference to m; n) = L (m; n).

  Note that the function of the switch 30 in the figure may be inside or outside the LLR calculator 13.

  Further, the function of the switch 32 in the figure may be inside or outside the LLR attenuation unit 17.

  In this embodiment as well, if no low-reliability bit is detected at the end of the i-th DFE cycle, the subsequent DFE cycles are executed (after the i + 1-th cycle). Instead, it is preferable to input the DFE output of the i-th cycle to a subsequent processing block (for example, hard decision, equalization in the next stage, error correction decoding, etc.).

  According to the present embodiment, in addition to the effect obtained by the first embodiment, when the bit reliability is reduced by noise rather than by error propagation from the preceding symbol, soft replica generation of the preceding symbol is performed. It is possible to prevent the log likelihood ratio used from being lowered.

The instructions shown in the processing procedure shown in the above embodiment can be executed based on a program that is software. A general-purpose computer system stores this program in advance and reads this program, so that the same effect as that obtained by the decision feedback equalizer of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. The instructions described in the above-described embodiments are, as programs that can be executed by a computer, magnetic disks (flexible disks, hard disks, etc.), optical disks (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD). ± R, DVD ± RW, etc.), semiconductor memory, or a similar recording medium. As long as the recording medium is readable by the computer or the embedded system, the storage format may be any form. When the computer reads the program from the recording medium and causes the CPU to execute instructions described in the program based on the program, the same operation as the decision feedback equalizer of the above-described embodiment is realized. Can do. Of course, when the computer acquires or reads the program, it may be acquired or read through a network.
In addition, the OS (operating system), database management software, MW (middleware) such as a network, etc. running on the computer based on the instructions of the program installed in the computer or embedded system from the recording medium implement this embodiment. A part of each process for performing may be executed.
Furthermore, the recording medium in the present embodiment is not limited to a medium independent of a computer or an embedded system, and includes a recording medium in which a program transmitted via a LAN, the Internet, or the like is downloaded and stored or temporarily stored.
Further, the number of recording media is not limited to one, and when the processing in this embodiment is executed from a plurality of media, it is included in the recording medium in this embodiment, and the configuration of the media may be any configuration.

The computer or the embedded system in the present embodiment is for executing each process in the present embodiment based on a program stored in a recording medium. The computer or the embedded system includes a single device such as a personal computer or a microcomputer. The system may be any configuration such as a system connected to the network.
In addition, the computer in this embodiment is not limited to a personal computer, but includes an arithmetic processing device, a microcomputer, and the like included in an information processing device, and is a generic term for devices and devices that can realize the functions in this embodiment by a program. ing.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,100,200 ... Feedforward filter part, 11 ... Memory | storage device, 12,102,202 ... Feedback filter part, 13,203 ... Log-likelihood ratio calculation part, 14,204 ... Soft replica production | generation part, 15 ... Logarithmic likelihood Frequency ratio evaluation unit, 16 ... index / attenuation amount calculation unit, 17 ... log likelihood ratio attenuation unit, 18, 108, 208 ... subtraction unit, 103 ... symbol hard decision unit, 1001 ... discrete Fourier transform unit, 1002 ... tap coefficient Multiplication unit, 1003... Inverse discrete Fourier transform unit.

Claims (15)

A decision feedback equalizer that feeds back a soft replica signal based on a log likelihood ratio of a bit with a feedback filter,
A storage device that holds an input signal for enabling repeated execution of decision feedback cycles for a plurality of symbols;
Based on a signal obtained by subtracting the output of the feedback filter from the input signal read from the storage device, a log likelihood ratio calculation unit that calculates a log likelihood ratio of a plurality of bits;
Log likelihood ratio evaluation that evaluates the reliability of a plurality of bits based on the absolute value of the log likelihood ratio and outputs at least a symbol index for identifying a symbol to which a bit evaluated to have low reliability is transmitted And
For the next decision feedback cycle by calculating the log likelihood ratio attenuation for all or some of the bits of the symbol affected by the feedback filter with respect to the symbol specified by the output symbol index An attenuation calculation unit to be stored in
The log-likelihood ratio calculated by the log-likelihood ratio calculation unit in the current determination feedback round is attenuated according to the log-likelihood ratio attenuation amount calculated by the attenuation-value calculation unit in the previous decision feedback round A decision feedback equalizer comprising a log-likelihood ratio attenuation unit.   When the absolute value of the log likelihood ratio calculated by the log likelihood ratio calculation unit is less than a predetermined threshold, the log likelihood ratio attenuating unit performs a previous decision feedback circuit with respect to the log likelihood ratio. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 1, wherein the log likelihood ratio attenuation amount calculated in the step is multiplied.   The attenuation amount calculation unit obtains all the past symbol indexes where the feedback filter taps exist as targets for calculating the log likelihood ratio attenuation amount, starting from the output symbol index. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 1 or 2.   The attenuation amount calculation unit starts with the output symbol index as a starting point, and from among the past symbol indexes where the taps of the feedback filter exist, up to a predetermined upper limit number in descending order of the absolute value of the tap coefficient. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 1, wherein the logarithmic likelihood ratio attenuation is calculated as a target for calculating the log likelihood ratio attenuation amount.   The attenuation amount calculation unit uses, as a starting point, the log likelihood of the symbol index whose absolute value of the tap coefficient is larger than a threshold among the past symbol indexes where the tap of the feedback filter exists, starting from the output symbol index. 3. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 1, wherein the specific attenuation is obtained as an object to be calculated.   The attenuation amount calculation unit starts with the output symbol index, and from among the past symbol indexes where the taps of the feedback filter exist, those having a delay time from the smallest to a predetermined upper limit number. 3. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the logarithmic likelihood ratio attenuation is obtained as an object to be calculated.   The attenuation amount calculation unit calculates a log likelihood ratio attenuation amount of a past symbol index having a tap of the feedback filter from which the delay time is smaller than a threshold, starting from the output symbol index. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 1, wherein the decision feedback equalizer is calculated as an object to be calculated.   The attenuation amount calculation unit calculates a predetermined log likelihood ratio attenuation amount for the bits transmitted by the symbol specified by the obtained past symbol index regardless of the tap coefficient of the feedback filter. The decision feedback equalizer according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that:   The attenuation amount calculation unit includes the same IQ axis as the bit evaluated by the log likelihood ratio evaluation unit as having low reliability among the bits transmitted by the symbol specified by the obtained past symbol index And the bit mapped to the IQ axis different from the bit evaluated to be low in reliability by the log likelihood ratio evaluation unit, respectively, according to the tap coefficient of the feedback filter. 8. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 3, wherein a predetermined log likelihood ratio attenuation amount is calculated.   The attenuation calculation unit is configured to calculate a predetermined logarithmic likelihood based on a tap coefficient of the feedback filter or a value obtained by quantizing the bit transmitted in a symbol specified by the obtained past symbol index. The decision feedback equalizer according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein a degree-of-degree attenuation is calculated.   The attenuation amount calculation unit includes the same IQ axis as the bit evaluated by the log likelihood ratio evaluation unit as having low reliability among the bits transmitted by the symbol specified by the obtained past symbol index And the tap coefficient of the feedback filter, respectively, for the bit mapped to the IQ axis different from the bit mapped to the IQ axis different from the bit mapped to the log likelihood ratio evaluation unit. 8. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 3, wherein a predetermined log likelihood ratio attenuation amount is calculated based on a value obtained by quantizing.   When the same bit overlaps the log likelihood ratio attenuation amount, the attenuation amount calculation unit calculates the log likelihood ratio attenuation amount for the bit. 12. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 8, wherein a product of a plurality of log likelihood ratio attenuation amounts is employed.   When the same bit overlaps the log likelihood ratio attenuation amount, the attenuation amount calculation unit calculates the log likelihood ratio attenuation amount for the bit. 12. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 8, wherein a minimum value of a plurality of log likelihood ratio attenuation amounts is employed.   The log likelihood ratio evaluation unit evaluates that the reliability of the bit is low when the absolute value of the log likelihood ratio calculated by the log likelihood ratio calculation unit is less than a predetermined threshold. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 1, wherein:   The log likelihood ratio evaluation unit is configured such that the absolute value of the log likelihood ratio calculated by the log likelihood ratio calculation unit is less than the moving average value of the absolute value of the log likelihood ratio calculated in the decision feedback cycle 3. The decision feedback equalizer according to claim 1, wherein the reliability of the bit is evaluated as being low.

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