Adaptive Interpolation for Pilot-Aided Channel Estimator in OFDM System

In OFDM system, channel estimator with fixed-coefficient interpolation gives rise to significant estimation errors when the estimator mismatches the experienced time-varying channel. This paper presents a pilot-aided channel estimator adopting a double one-dimensional (1-D) polyphase subfilter structure, in which a few interpolating coefficients are applicable to all subcarriers of an OFDM symbol. By analyzing the channel interpolation for OFDM receiver, we propose a two-dimensional (2-D) adaptation scheme of the interpolating coefficient, based on a block least-mean-square algorithm, which requires none of knowledge on channel statistics. The 2-D adaptation scheme is simplified as two types of 1-D schemes respectively for the time and frequency dimensions, based on the known frequency- and time-direction interpolating coefficients. By simultaneously exploiting channel correlation in the time and frequency dimensions, the adaptive interpolators are trained to match channel properties. Furthermore, the proposed schemes of adaptive interpolation demand lower implementation cost, compared with the existing methods. Simulation results show that the adaptive interpolators converge at a high rate, and that the simplified schemes outperform the conventional methods in the high-speed mobile channel and the single-frequency-networks channel with long-delay echoes, while preserving a low implementation complexity.