Introduction to OFDM - Orthogonal Frequency

Division Multiplexing
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a digital multi-carrier modulation
scheme that extends the concept of single subcarrier modulation by using multiple
subcarriers within the same single channel. Rather than transmit a high-rate stream
of data with a single subcarrier, OFDM makes use of a large number of closely
spaced orthogonal subcarriers that are transmitted in parallel. Each subcarrier is
modulated with a conventional digital modulation scheme (such as QPSK, 16QAM, etc.) at
low symbol rate. However, the combination of many subcarriers enables data rates similar
to conventional single-carrier modulation schemes within equivalent bandwidths.

OFDM is based on the well-known technique of Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM). In

FDM different streams of information are mapped onto separate parallel frequency
channels. Each FDM channel is separated from the others by a frequency guard band to
reduce interference between adjacent channels.

The OFDM scheme differs from traditional FDM in the following interrelated ways:

1. Multiple carriers (called subcarriers) carry the information stream

2. The subcarriers are orthogonal to each other

3. A guard interval is added to each symbol to minimize the channel delay spread and
inter symbol interference.

The following figure illustrates the main concepts of an OFDM signal and the inter-
relationship between the frequency and time domains. In the frequency domain, multiple
adjacent tones or subcarriers are each independently modulated with complex data. An
Inverse FFT transform is performed on the frequency-domain subcarriers to produce the
OFDM symbol in the time-domain. Then in the time domain, guard intervals are inserted
between each of the symbols to prevent inter-symbol interference at the receiver caused
by multi-path delay spread in the radio channel. Multiple symbols can be concatenated to
create the final OFDM burst signal. At the receiver an FFT is performed on the OFDM
symbols to recover the original data bits.
Understanding OFDM
Simple Analog OFDM system Implementation
We will use a simple analog based implementation to show the basic principles of
generating an OFDM signal. In this simple OFDM system there are N sinusoidal input
signals. Each subcarrier transmits one bit of information (N bits total) as indicated by its
presence or absence in the output spectrum. The frequency of each subcarrier is selected
to form an orthogonal signal set. These frequencies are also known at the receiver for
signal recovery. Note that the output is updated at a periodic interval T that forms the
symbol period. To maintain orthogonality, T must be the reciprocal of the subcarrier
spacing.
Understanding Orthogonality – The Importance of
Orthogonally Spaced Subcarriers?
The OFDM signal can be described as a set of closely spaced FDM subcarriers. In the
frequency domain, each transmitted subcarrier results in a sinc function spectrum with
side lobes that produce overlapping spectra between subcarriers, see "OFDM Signal
Frequency Spectra" figure below. This results in subcarrier interference except at
orthogonally spaced frequencies. At orthogonal frequencies, the individual peaks of
subcarriers all line up with the nulls of the other subcarriers. This overlap of spectral
energy does not interfere with the system’s ability to recover the original signal. The
receiver multiplies (i.e., correlates) the incoming signal by the known set of sinusoids to
recover the original set of bits sent.

The use of orthogonal subcarriers allows more subcarriers per bandwidth resulting in an
increase in spectral efficiency. In a perfect OFDM signal, Orthogonality prevents
interference between overlapping carriers. In FDM systems, any overlap in the spectrums
of adjacent signals will result in interference. In OFDM systems, the subcarriers will
interfere with each other only if there is a loss of orthogonality. For example, frequency
error will cause the subcarrier frequencies to shift so that the spectral nulls will no longer
be aligned resulting in inter-subcarrier-interference.

Simple Digital OFDM system Implementation using FFT

transforms
The concepts used in the simple analog OFDM implementation can be extended to the
digital domain by using a combination of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Inverse Fast
Fourier Transform (IFFT) digital signal processing. These transforms are important from
the OFDM perspective because they can be viewed as mapping digitally modulated input
data (data symbols) onto orthogonal subcarriers. In principle, the IFFT takes frequency-
domain input data (complex numbers representing the modulated subcarriers) and
converts it to the time-domain output data (analog OFDM symbol waveform).

In a digitally implemented OFDM system, the input bits are grouped and mapped to
source data symbols that are a complex number representing the modulation constellation
point (e.g., the BPSK or QAM symbols that would be present in a single subcarrier
system). These complex source symbols are treated by the transmitter as though they are
in the frequency-domain and are the inputs to an IFFT block that transforms the data into
the time-domain. The IFFT takes in N source symbols at a time where N is the number of
subcarriers in the system. Each of these N input symbols has a symbol period of T
seconds. Recall that the output of the IFFT is N orthogonal sinusoids. These orthogonal
sinusoids each have a different frequency and the lowest frequency is DC.

The input symbols are complex values representing the mapped constellation point and
therefore specify both the amplitude and phase of the sinusoid for that subcarrier. The
IFFT output is the summation of all N sinusoids. Thus, the IFFT block provides a simple
way to modulate data onto N orthogonal subcarriers. The block of N output samples from
the IFFT make up a single OFDM symbol.

After some additional processing, the time-domain signal that results from the IFFT is
transmitted across the radio channel. At the receiver, an FFT block is used to process the
received signal and bring it into the frequency domain which is used to recover the
original data bits.

Simple 802.11a OFDM Signal Implementation

An 802.11a OFDM carrier signal (burst type) is the sum of one or more OFDM symbols
each comprised of 52 orthogonal subcarriers, with baseband data on each subcarrier being
independently modulated using quadrature amplitude modulation (available formats:
BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, or 64-QAM). This composite baseband signal is used to modulate a
main RF carrier.

To begin the OFDM signal creation process, the input data bit stream is encoded with
convolutional coding and Interleaving. Each data stream is divided into groups of "n" bits
(1 bit -BPSK, 2 bits -QPSK, 4 bits -16QAM, or 6 bits -64QAM) and converted into complex
numbers (I+jQ) representing the mapped constellation point. Note that the bit-rate will be
different depending on the modulation format, a 64-QAM constellation (6 bits at a time)
can have a bit rate of 54 Mbps while a QPSK constellation (2 bits at time) may only be 12
Mbps.

Then 52 bins of the IFFT block are loaded. 48 bins contain the constellation points which
are mapped into frequency offset indexes ranging from -26 to +26, skipping the 4 Pilot
and zero bins. There are 4 Pilot subcarriers inserted into frequency offset index locations
-21, -7, +7, and +21. The zero bin is the Null or DC subcarrier and is not used; it contains
a 0 value (0+j0).

When the IFFT block is completely loaded, the Inverse FFT is computed, giving a set of
complex time-domain samples representing the combined OFDM subcarrier waveform. The
samples are clocked out at 20 Msps to create a 3.2 us (20Msps/64) duration OFDM
waveform. To complete the OFDM symbol, a 0.8 us duration Guard Interval (GI) is then
added to the beginning of the OFDM waveform. This produces a "single" OFDM symbol
with a time duration of 4 us in length, (3.2 us + 0.8 us). The process is repeated to create
additional OFDM symbols for the remaining input data bits.

To complete the OFDM frame structure, the single OFDM symbols are concatenated
together and then appended to a 16 us Preamble (used for synchronization) and a 4 us
SIGNAL symbol (provides Rate and Length information). This completes the OFDM frame
and is ready to be transmitted as an OFDM Burst.
Shows what the differences between the. FDM and OFDM spectral
efficiencies are [16]. 

At this point only one sub carrier has peak value and no other sub carrier have its peak value.

• Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a type of frequency division

multiplexing that there is Orthogonality between sub carriers in OFDM system.

• Rather than transmit a high rate stream of data with a single subcarrier, OFDM makes use
of orthogonal subcarriers that are transmitted in parallel.

• This multi carrier modulation technique uses Quadrature shift keying or Phase shift keying
modulation techniques for achieving Orthogonality between sub carriers in OFDM system.

• The OFDM scheme differs from traditional FDM

1. Multiple carriers (called subcarriers) carry the information stream
2. The subcarriers are orthogonal to each other
3. A guard interval is added to each symbol to minimize the channel delay spread and
inter symbol interference.

• The signals generated using OFDM methodology is in the form of slowly modulated
narrowband signals due to the property of channel equalization method.

• Forward Error Correction (FEC) is integrated with OFDM system in order to reduce the error
rate of the symbol data transmission and reception.
 OFDM is very similar to the well-known and used technique of FDM. OFDM uses the principles of FDM to
allow multiple messages to be sent over a single radio channel. It is however in a much more controlled manner,
allowing an improved spectral efficiency.
A simple example of FDM is the use of different frequencies for each FM radio stations. All stations transmit at
the same time but do not interfere with each other because they transmit using different carrier frequencies.
Additionally they are bandwidth limited and are spaced sufficiently far apart in frequency so that their
transmitted signals do not overlap in the frequency domain. At the receiver, each signal is individually received
by using a frequency tunable band pass filter to selectively remove all the signals except for the station of
interest. This filtered signal can then be demodulated to recover the original transmitted information.
OFDM is different from FDM in several ways. In conventional broadcasting each radio station transmits on a
different frequency, effectively using FDM to maintain a separation between the stations. There is however no
coordination or synchronization between each of these stations. With an OFDM transmission the information
signals from multiple stations is combined into a single multiplexed stream of data. This data is then transmitted
using an OFDM ensemble that is made up from a dense packing of many subcarriers.
All the subcarriers within the OFDM signal are time and frequency synchronized to each other, allowing the

There are many air interface technologies in modern mobile communication. The well known modern
interface technologies is Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) System. OFDM system is
designed to withstand with interference and fading in communication channel.

OFDM is very similar to the well-known and used technique of FDM. OFDM uses the principles of FDM to allow
multiple messages to be sent over a single radio channel. In conventional broadcasting each radio station
transmits on a different frequency, effectively using FDM to maintain a separation between the stations. There
is no coordination or synchronization between each of these stations. With an OFDM transmission the
information signals from multiple stations are combined into a single multiplexed stream of data. This data is
transmitted using an OFDM ensemble that is made up of many subcarriers.

Differences between the FDM and OFDM spectral efficiencies

 Concept of OFDM signal

Merits:
Bandwidth Efficient – No Guard band becoz Bandwidth is divided into small sub bands
Enable parallel transmission
High data rate

Each of the carriers in a FDM transmission can use an analogue or digital modulation scheme. There is no
synchronization between the transmission and so one station could transmit using FM and another in digital
using FSK. In OFDM transmission all the subcarriers are synchronized to each other, restricting the
transmission to digital modulation schemes. OFDM is symbol based and large number of low bit rate carriers
transmitting in parallel.

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