On the implementation of a space time block coded transmitter in an FPGA platform

This paper presents the implementation of a digital communications transmitter that includes a space time block encoder in an APEX20KE FPGA device from Altera. The developed transmitter includes oscillators that provide passband I-Q modulation. The complete transmitter design is appropriate for evaluation of space time block codes as well as different digital passband modulation schemes. With the reconfigurable properties of FPGA´s, evaluations and new designs can be developed easily in a hardware platform. The implementation of the proposed transmitter is described, as well as the tools used in its development. The transmitter can be used as a standalone unit in a single FPGA, or as an element of a complete communication system for on-chip emulation.