On the Fast Convergence of DD-LMS DFE Using a Good Strategy Initialization

In wireless communication system, a Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) to cancel the intersymbol interference (ISI) is required. In this paper, an exact convergence analysis of the (DFE) adapted by the Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm during the training phase is derived by taking into account the finite alphabet context of data transmission. This allows us to determine the shortest training sequence that allows to reach a given Mean Square Error (MSE). With the intention of avoiding the problem of ill-convergence, the paper proposes an initialization strategy for the blind decision directed (DD) algorithm. This then yields a semi-blind DFE with high speed and good convergence.

Analysis of Blind Decision Feedback Equalizer Convergence: Interest of a Soft Decision

In this paper the behavior of the decision feedback equalizers (DFEs) adapted by the decision-directed or the constant modulus blind algorithms is presented. An analysis of the error surface of the corresponding criterion cost functions is first developed. With the intention of avoiding the ill-convergence of the algorithm, the paper proposes to modify the shape of the cost function error surface by using a soft decision instead of the hard one. This was shown to reduce the influence of false decisions and to smooth the undesirable minima. Modified algorithms using the soft decision during a pseudo-training phase with an automatic switch to the properly tracking phase are then derived. Computer simulations show that these modified algorithms present better ability to avoid local minima than conventional ones.

NonStationary CMA for Decision Feedback Equalization of Markovian Time Varying Channels

In this paper, we propose a modified version of the Constant Modulus Algorithm (CMA) tailored for blind Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) of first order Markovian time varying channels. The proposed NonStationary CMA (NSCMA) is designed so that it explicitly takes into account the Markovian structure of the channel nonstationarity. Hence, unlike the classical CMA, the NSCMA is not blind with respect to the channel time variations. This greatly helps the equalizer in the case of realistic channels, and avoids frequent transmissions of training sequences. This paper develops a theoretical analysis of the steady state performance of the CMA and the NSCMA for DFEs within a time varying context. Therefore, approximate expressions of the mean square errors are derived. We prove that in the steady state, the NSCMA exhibits better performance than the classical CMA. These new results are confirmed by simulation. Through an experimental study, we demonstrate that the Bit Error Rate (BER) is reduced by the NSCMA-DFE, and the improvement of the BER achieved by the NSCMA-DFE is as significant as the channel time variations are severe.