OFDM & QAM

Submitted by
Chhandarani meher
14mtesd01,ESD

Outline
Background, history
Review of digital modulation
FDMA vs. Multi-carrier modulation
Theory of OFDM an QAM
Advantages and disadvantages
Conclusion

History

The first QAM-related so-called orthogonal frequency

division multiplexing (OFDM) schem was proposed by
Chang in 1966 for dispersive fading channels.
OFDM was standardised as the European digital audio
broadcast (DAB) as well as digital video broadcast (DVB)
scheme.
It constituted also a credible proposal for the recent thirdgeneration mobile radio standard competition in Europe.
The systems operational principle is that the original
bandwidth is divided in a high
the original bandwidth is divided in a high number of
narrow sub-bands, in which the mobile channel can be
considered non-dispersive.

QAM

Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, QAM is a

signal in which two carriers shifted in phase
by 90 degrees are modulated and the
resultant output consists of both amplitude
and phase variations.

In view of the fact that both amplitude and

phase variations are present it may also be
considered as a mixture of amplitude and
phase modulation.

What Is Orthogonal Frequency

Division Multiplexing (OFDM)?

Multi-carrier Amplitude modulation

scheme
Each Carriers amplitude is modulated

Well-suited for Wireless Communication

Multi-carrier modulation

Use multiple channel (carrier frequency)

for one data transmission
LPF

cos(2f 1t )
LPF

cos(2f 2 t )

cos(2f 2 t )

MULTIPLEX

DEMULTIPLEX

data

cos(2f 1t )

data

LPF

cos( 2f N t )

cos(2f N t )
System Arch 2007 (Fire Tom
Wada)

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Digital modulation basics

Digital modulation modulates three
parameters of sinusoidal signal.
A, fc,
k

s(t ) A cos(2 f c t k )

Three type digital modulation:

ASK : Amplitude Shift Keying
PSK : Phase Shift Keying
FSK : Frequency Shift Keying

OFDM uses combination of ASK and PSK such as QAM, PSK

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Symbol Waveform
Digital Information

carrier

ASK

PSK

FSK

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Symbol length

Ofdm /qam system

OFDM/QAM & Cyclic prefix

The main idea behind OFDM is to partition the

frequency selective fading channel into a large
number of parallel sub channels.
which are flat fading and there fore transform a
very high data rate transmission in to a set of
parallel transmission with very low data rate.
The problem of high data rate transmission
over frequency selective channel has been
transformed into a set of simple problem,
which don't require complicated time domain
equalization.

OFDM Transmitter Block

Diagram

Serial
Data
Sourc
e

Serial
To
Parall
el

Encodin
g Bank

IFFT

Parall
el To
Serial

Cycli
c
Prefi
x

Channe
l

Advantages &
Disadvantages
Advantages
Very easy and efficient in dealing with multipath
Ofdm/qam provide high data rate.
communication and effectively remove ISI.
Disadvantages
Sensitive to frequency offset and phase noise
Peak-to-average problem reduces the power
efficiency of RF amplifier at the transmitter.

Feature of OFDM/QAM
1. High Frequency utilization by the square
spectrum shape
2. Multi-path problem is solved by GI
3. Multiple services in one OFDM by sharing
sub-carriers
4. Implementation was complicated but
NOW possible because of LSI technology
progress

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CONCLUSION

Performs better than a single

modulated carrier in multipath fading

With a properly implemented guard

interval:
Time waveform appears periodic
orthogonality of subcarriers is
ensured
ISI and ICI are eliminated

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THANK YOU