Architecture of WLAN channel estimators

Channel estimation is an important issue in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems to improve the performance of system. For OFDM based IEEE 802.11ad wireless local area network (WLAN), two types of symbols, training symbols and pilot symbols, can be used for channel estimation in the OFDM receiver. We analyze the algorithms of channel estimation methods based on symbol types, training symbols and pilot symbols respectively, under variation of channel environment. Basing on the simulation results, the performance evaluation for channel estimation methods is performed. These estimation methods are applied to design hardware architectures for channel estimators and implemented using a 65-nm CMOS standard library. The channel estimation field based channel estimator uses the training symbols for estimation, and the pilot-based channel estimation uses the pilot symbols for estimation. The hardware cost of estimators are performed in this work.