Digital filters for clustered-OFDM-based PLC systems: Design and implementation

Abstract This work aims to investigate the design and implementation of digital filters for separating clusters in a clustered-orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing scheme for power line communication systems. In this regard, we formulate the mathematical problem and present a criterion which is capable of searching for digital filters that maximizes data rate. In the following, several finite impulse response and infinite impulse response digital filters are analyzed in order to validate the proposed criterion and to verify the best one which fulfills the given constraints. Furthermore, regarding only the best digital filters obtained, a finite precision and complexity analyses are carried out by using a field-programmable gate array device. Based on numerical results, we show that finite impulse response equiripple minimum phase and infinite impulse response Chebyshev type II digital filters yield the best data rates among the chosen digital filters. Moreover, we point out that equiripple minimum phase digital filters consume more hardware resources than Chebyshev type II digital filters, although the first one deal better with the field-programmable gate array constraints when more bits are used to implement the digital filter. Due to that, finite impulse response digital filters are more indicated to be implemented in a field-programmable gate array device.