RAPID PROTOTYPING - Re-scalable V-BLAST MIMO system for FPGA

The development of a re-scalable hardware implementation of a V-BLAST (Vertical Bell Labs Space-Time) multiple input multiple output system for future wireless communications systems is described. Re-scalability will support rapid prototyping of such systems. A floating-point model of the re-scalable system is constructed to guide the development of a fixed-point model, and subsequently a re-scalable hardware implementation. The system uses the Gauss-Jordan elimination method to perform channel matrix inversion and altering the division-by-zero threshold in this matrix inversion process is shown to have a significant effect on bit error rate performance results. The re-scalable hardware implementation is described in a hardware description language in the form of an intellectual property block and several V-BLAST systems are synthesised onto field programmable gate arrays