A Novel Channel Estimation Method Using Virtual Pilots in MIMO OFDM Systems

Chengyu LIN
Wenjun ZHANG
Feng YANG
Youyun XU

Publication
IEICE TRANSACTIONS on Communications   Vol.E91-B    No.11    pp.3764-3767
Publication Date: 2008/11/01
Online ISSN: 1745-1345
DOI: 10.1093/ietcom/e91-b.11.3764
Print ISSN: 0916-8516
Type of Manuscript: LETTER
Category: Wireless Communication Technologies
Keyword: 
channel estimation,  MIMO-OFDM,  optimal pilot sequences,  virtual pilot,  Wiener filter,  

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Summary: 
To improve the performance of the optimal pilot sequences over multiple OFDM symbols in fast time-varying channels, this letter proposes a novel channel estimation method using virtual pilot tones in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Assuming that the superimposed virtual pilot tones at the data locations over the specific sub-carriers are transmitted from all transmit antennas, the corresponding virtual received pilot signals at the same locations are obtained from the neighboring real received pilot signals over the same sub-carriers by Wiener filter. Based on the least squares (LS) channel estimation, the channel parameters can be obtained from the combination of the virtual and real received pilot signals over one OFDM symbol. Simulation results show that the proposed channel estimation method greatly outperforms the previous method for the optimal pilot sequences over multiple OFDM symbols in fast time-varying channels, as well as approaches the method for the comb-type optimal pilot sequences in performance.