Two Low Complexity MRC and EGC Based Receivers for SC-FDE Modulations with Massive MIMO Schemes

Abstract

Massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) schemes involving several tens or even hundreds of antenna elements are pointed as one of the key technologies for 5G systems. However the huge capacity gains attainable by these schemes, are only possible with receivers able to cope with the frequency selective fading that may affect the signals. These systems can be combined with single-carrier with frequency domain equalization (SC-FDE) schemes to improve the power efficiency in uplink due to the low envelope fluctuations. However, when more antennas are involved in the communication link, channel matrix size grows and the complexity involved in equalization process can be an obstacle to power consumption and low latency. In this paper we will focus on the equalization applied in massive MIMO schemes, more specifically in two new low complexity receivers based on an iterative block decision feedback equalizer (IB-DFE) that avoid matrix inversion operation by replacing in the equalizer the feedforward part by an equal gain combiner (EGC) or a maximum ratio combiner (MRC) module.