The current demonstrator: The Lyrtech Platform

Objectives:

• Implementation of a real-time LTE transmission chain related to 3GPP Release 8 in Downlink

Working tasks (currently):

• Transmitter as a real-time implementation on FPGAs and DSPs
• Offline processing receiver in MATLAB

With the Lyrtech Hardware Demonstrator it is possible to implement Real Time Processing algorithms for communication technolog. For this, the environment consists of multiple programable elements (four Xilinx Virtex-4 FPGAs and four TI DSPs C6416). Under using the simulation tool Simulink from Mathworks Inc. algortihm will be designed in a  model-based description, after that hardware files will be generated.

Technical details: 

• 8 channel AD converter with up to 125MSPS as well as 8 channel DA Converter with up to 500MSPS
• Real-Time Processing with four Xilinx Virtex - 4 FPGAs and four TI DSPs C6416
• 4x4 MIMO RF Frontend at 2,4GHz and 5GHz
• memory: 128MB per FPGA and 128MB per DSP
• algorithm in madel-based description
• fast interfaces: RAPIDchannel, FastBus und RTDEx
• standalone system

The Precursor: The MASI system concept

MASI is our Multiple Antenna System for ISM-Band Transmission.
One motivation to built a MIMO hardware demonstrator is that the assumptions made about real channels may be incorrect, and the behavior of MIMO systems should be investigated under realistic conditions. Therefore it is sufficient to transmit and receive over a real channel and process the received data offline at the workstation environment. This basic idea roots in our single antenna system.

• transmission frequency in 2.4 GHz ISM-band
  (5 MHz channel stepsize / 8 frequencies possible)
• transmission power: +17 dBm (50 mW)
• direct conversion transmitter and receiver (AD 8346/8347)
• analog I/Q-bandwidth: +-16 MHz (depending on receive filters)
• 12 bit D/A converter (AD 9765)
• sampling frequencies: 10 MHz, 40 MHz, 50 MHz, PLL and external input
• maximum memory depth 512k (Tx) resp. 1024k (Rx) I/Q-samples
• PC connection (data and control) using the USB interface, supports Windows and Linux
• external connectors for the 2.4 GHz carrier frequency and 10MHz reference frequency
• control software for data transfers and settings (used memory depth, sampling frequency, automation of multiple measurements)
• binary file for each channel: alternating I/Q-samples as 16 bit integers

          --> easy interfacing with Matlab or other tools

Some more detailed information can be found on the MASI project website.

Contact

Feel free to contact us for further information: Matthias Woltering.

Details