DESCRIPTION

MULTICARRIER COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, AND MULTICARRIER COMMUNICATION METHOD

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a multicarrier communication apparatus, an integrated circuit, and a multicarrier communication method, in which communication is performed by using a plurality of carriers.

Background Art

A transmission method using a plurality of subcarriers, such as an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) method, has a major advantage that high quality communication is possible even when the communication is performed through a rough transmission line, and has been used for not only wireless communication but also wired communication such as power line communication.

A multicarrier communication apparatus, which performs such communication using a plurality of subcarriers, transmits bit data, which are to be transmitted, on a transmitting side by converting the bit data to symbol data; performing a symbol mapping according to the symbol data; converting the data to time-axis data via an inverse FFT transform or an inverse wavelet transform; performing a parallel-serial transform; and converting the data to a base-band analog signal via a DA conversion. The multicarrier communication apparatus obtains reception bit data on a receiving side by converting a received signal to a digital signal via an AD conversion; performing a serial-parallel transform; converting the data to frequency-axis data via an FFT transform or a wavelet transform; and performing a demapping.

Such multicarrier communication apparatus has a carrier detection function that determines whether another apparatus is transmitting a signal to a transmission line, and performs a transmission process when another apparatus is not using the transmission line and when a transmission request is received.

Carrier detection of the multicarrier communication apparatus, as shown in Related Art 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication 2001 - 94527) , for example,

is performed based on an AD converted reception signal. As shown in Related Art 2 (U.S. 20050037722A1 ), carrier detection may also be performed based on a signal obtained by converting AD converted digital data to frequency-axis data.

In the case where carrier detection is performed based on an AD converted reception signal, correlation of a signal in a time domain is used, and carrier detection can be realized generally by using a simple circuit or by performing a simple data processing process. However, noise which has a correlation in a time waveform can be falsely detected as indicating existence of a carrier. On the other hand, carrier detection based on a signal after being converted to frequency-axis data uses correlation between subcarriers in a frequency domain, and therefore has a high detection accuracy. However, since transform (e.g., FFT, Wavelet Transform) of a received signal from a time domain to a frequency domain is always required, an increase in power consumption is unavoidable.

Disclosure of the Invention

Some embodiments described hereinafter address the above-described problems. A purpose of these embodiments is to provide a multicarrier communication apparatus, an integrated circuit, and a multicarrier communication method, which are capable of efficiently performing high-accuracy carrier detection with low power consumption.

The multicarrier communication apparatus is a multicarrier communication apparatus that receives a reception signal and detects a carrier of the reception signal, and includes a first carrier detector that detects the carrier based on first characteristics of the reception signal; a second carrier detector that detects the carrier based on second characteristics of the reception signal; and a controller that selects one of the first carrier detector and the second carrier detector. According to the multicarrier communication apparatus, efficient and high-accuracy carrier detection can be performed with low power consumption.

The multicarrier communication apparatus is a multicarrier communication apparatus that receives a reception signal and detects a carrier of the reception signal, the multicarrier communication apparatus comprising, and includes a detector that has a first function of detecting the carrier based on first characteristics of the reception signal and a second function of detecting the carrier based on second characteristics of the reception signal, and selects one of the first function and the

second function. According to the multicarrier communication apparatus, efficient and high-accuracy carrier detection can be performed with low power consumption.

The integrated circuit is an integrated circuit that receives a reception signal and detects a carrier of the reception signal, the integrated circuit comprising, and includes a first carrier detector that detects the carrier based on first characteristics of the reception signal; a second carrier detector that detects the carrier based on second characteristics of the reception signal; and a controller that selects one carrier detector of the first carrier detector and the second carrier detector. According to the integrated circuit, efficient and high-accuracy carrier detection can be performed with low power consumption.

The multicarrier communication method is a multicarrier communication method that receives a reception signal and detects a carrier of the reception signal, the multicarrier communication method comprising, and includes detecting the carrier based on first characteristics of the reception signal; detecting the carrier based on second characteristics of the reception signal; and selecting one carrier detector of the first carrier detector and the second carrier detector. According to the multicarrier communication method, efficient and high-accuracy carrier detection can be performed with low power consumption.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exterior perspective view showing a front side of a multicarrier communication apparatus according to an embodiment;

Fig. 2 is an exterior perspective view showing a back side of the multicarrier communication apparatus according to the embodiment; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of hardware of the multicarrier communication apparatus according to the embodiment;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic configuration of the multicarrier communication apparatus according to the embodiment;

Fig. 5 shows a schematic configuration of a digital signal processing unit of the multicarrier communication apparatus according to the embodiment;

Fig. 6 shows an example of a frame format of transmission data processed by the multicarrier communication apparatus according to the embodiment;

Fig. 7 shows an example of a time chart when the multicarrier communication apparatus according to the embodiment performs communication by using a beacon signal;

Fig. 8 shows an example of a carrier detection operation flow of the multicarrier communication apparatus according to the embodiment; and

Fig. 9 shows another, example of a carrier detection operation flow of the multicarrier communication apparatus according to the embodiment.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention In the following, an embodiment is explained with reference to the drawings.

Multicarrier communication apparatus 100 according to the embodiment is a modem, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Multicarrier communication apparatus 100 has chassis 101. On the front side of chassis 101 , as shown in Fig. 1 , display 105 having LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and the like is provided. On the back side of chassis 101 , as shown in Fig. 2, power connector 102, modular jack 103 such as RJ45 or the like for LAN (Local Area Network) connection, and Dsub connector 104 are provided. As shown in Fig. 2, a power line, such as a pair of parallel cables 61 and 62, is connected to power connector 102 (the pair of parallel cables is referred to as "power lines 61 and 62", hereinafter). A LAN cable, which is not shown in the figure, is connected to modular jack 103. A Dsub cable, which is not shown in the figure, is connected to Dsub connector 104. As an example of the multicarrier communication apparatus, a modem is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However, not limited to this specific example, the multicarrier communication apparatus can also be an electrical equipment (for example, a household electrical appliance such as a TV set) equipped with a modem.

As Fig. 3 shows, multicarrier communication apparatus 100 has circuit module 200 and switching regulator 300. Switching regulator 300 supplies different voltages (for example, +1.2V, +3.3V, and +12V) to circuit module 200. Circuit module 200 includes main IC (Integrated Circuit) 201 , AFE IC (Analog Front End IC) 202, low-pass filter (transmission filter) 22, driver IC 203, coupler 206, band-pass filter (reception filter) 25, memory 211 , and Ethernet (registered trademark) PHY IC 212. Power connector 102 is connected to power lines 61 and 62 through plug 400 and outlet 500.

Main IC 201 includes CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 A, PLC MAC (Power Line Communication Media Access Control layer) block 201 C and PLC PHY (Power Line Communication Physical layer) block 201 B. Main IC 201 is an example of an integrated circuit performing a carrier detection process (to be described later). CPU 201 A has a 32-bit RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) processor. PLC MAC block 201 C controls a MAC layer for a transmission signal. PLC PHY block 201 B controls a PHY layer for a transmission signal. AFE IC 202 includes DA converter (DAC) 21a, AD converter (ADC) 21b, and variable gain amplifier (VGA) 26. Coupler 206 includes coil transformer 3 and coupling capacitors 31a and 31b. The multicarrier communication apparatus of Fig. 4 performs communication via a transmission line including power lines 61 and 62. The multicarrier communication apparatus of Fig. 4 includes digital signal processing unit 1 , analog circuit unit 2, and communication transformer 3.

Digital signal processing unit 1 , which includes, for example, one digital LSI or a plurality of digital LSIs, generates a digital transmission signal by modulating digital transmitted data, and generates digital received data by demodulating a digital reception signal. Digital signal processing unit 1 also performs control over a signal path, a gain and the like for each unit of analog circuit unit 2. Analog circuit unit 2 includes an analog chip and a discrete component. Digital transmission signal 1a is transmitted to AD/DA conversion circuit 21 of analog circuit unit 2. Digital reception signal 1a is input from AD/DA conversion circuit 21. Control and status signals 1b are also input to or output from analog circuit unit 2. A modulation or demodulation process of digital signal processing unit 1 uses a plurality of subcarriers, such as OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) using a wavelet transform. The wavelet transform of communication generally includes a cosine modulation filter bank.

Digital signal processing unit 1 corresponds to PLC PHY block 201 B of main IC 201 shown in Fig. 3. Analog circuit unit 2 corresponds to AFE IC 202, low- pass filter (transmission filter) 22, driver IC 203, and band-pass filter (reception filter) 25 shown in Fig. 3.

Digital signal processing unit 1 includes time carrier detector 12, frequency carrier detector 13, and controller 11. Time carrier detector 12 detects a carrier by using a time waveform of a reception signal. Frequency carrier detector 13 detects carrier by using frequency characteristics of a reception signal. Controller 11

performs control of the entire multicarrier communication apparatus including carrier detection control for switching between time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13 for activation.

Detection of a carrier by using a time waveform of a .reception signal involves obtaining correlation of a time waveform. Specifically, controller 11 obtains correlation for a shape of a time waveform, and determines that there. is a correlation when a correlation peak (which is "1" for an identical shape of a waveform) is above a predetermined value (for example, "0.7"). "Correlation" in these embodiments means relation between a reception signal and another reception signal or predetermined data stored in the multicarrier communication apparatus. The relation includes time relation based time characteristics (for example, shape of a time waveform ), frequency relation based on frequency characteristics, and phase relation. "Correlation peak" in these embodiments means value indicating degree of the correlation. As shown in Fig. 5, in addition to controller 11 , time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13, digital signal processing unit 1 includes symbol mapper 14, serial-parallel converter (S/P converter) 15, inverse wavelet transformer 16, wavelet transformer 17, parallel-serial converter (P/S converter) 18, and demapper 19. Symbol mapper 14 converts bit data to be transmitted to symbol data and performs symbol mapping (for example, PAM modulation) according to each symbol data. S/P converter 15 converts mapped serial data to parallel data. Inverse wavelet transformer 16 transforms parallel data to an inverse wavelet as time-axis data, and generates a sampling value sequence representing a transmission symbol. The data are transmitted to transmission DA converter 21 a of analog circuit unit 2.

Wavelet transformer 17 transforms reception digital data obtained from reception AD converter 21b of analog circuit unit 2 (a sampling value sequence sampled at the same sampling rate as transmitted) to a discrete wavelet on a frequency axis. P/S converter 18 converts parallel data on the frequency axis to serial data. Demapper 19 obtains received data by calculating an amplitude for each subcarrier and performing a reception signal determination.

Time carrier detector 12 detects a carrier by using a time waveform of a reception signal obtained from AD/DA conversion circuit 21 of analog circuit unit 2. Specifically, time carrier detector 12 detects a carrier by using a correlation of a

signal in a time domain. Since a preamble contained in a transmission frame includes a signal that has a correlation in a time domain (for example, "1" for all subcarriers being used), time carrier detector 12 performs carrier detection by using the preamble, and determines existence of a carrier when there is a correlation. Frequency carrier detector 13 detects a carrier by using frequency characteristics of a reception signal obtained from wavelet transformer 17. Specifically, frequency carrier detector 13 detects a carrier by obtaining complex data of each subcarrier and using a correlation between a plurality of adjacent subcarriers. In the case of using a filter bank of a real coefficient, such as a wavelet, frequency carrier detector 13 uses two subcarriers to form a complex subcarrier and obtains a correlation between the subcarriers. In other words, frequency carrier detector 13 performs a phase difference comparison between adjacent subcarriers, and determines that there is a correlation when a correlation peak is above a predetermined value. Frequency carrier detector 13 may also perform the determination including an amplitude. Also in both cases, frequency carrier detector 13 detects a carrier by using a preamble contained in a transmission frame.

Controller 11 performs control over operations of the entire multicarrier communication apparatus, including carrier detection control for switching between time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13 for operation. The carrier detection control will be described later. Since correlation calculation involved in both time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13 can be performed by using appropriate hardware or software, its explanation is omitted.

Analog circuit unit 2 includes AD/DA conversion circuit 21 , transmission filter 22, transmission amplifier 23, transmission switch 24, reception filter 25, and reception AGC (Auto Gain Control) amplifier 26.

AD/DA conversion circuit 21 includes transmission DA converter 21a and reception AD converter 21b. Transmission DA converter 21a converts digital transmission signal 1 a from digital signal processing unit 1 to an analog transmission signal. Reception AD converter 21b converts an analog reception signal from reception AGC amplifier 26 to a digital reception signal. Transmission filter 22 is a low-pass filter for eliminating high frequency noise generated by the DA conversion of transmission DA converter 21a. Transmission amplifier 23 amplifies transmission power of an analog transmission signal. Transmission switch 24, which performs

switching of transmission and reception signals, mutes transmission amplifier 23 when receiving, and switches impedances between transmitting and receiving.

Reception filter 25 is a band-pass filter for eliminating noise of frequencies outside a communication band. Reception AGC amplifier 26 amplifies an analog reception signal, and adjusts the analog reception signal to a voltage suited to a resolution of reception AD converter 21b.

Communication transformer 3 performs transmission and reception of signals by insulating communication signals to a primary circuit on the multicarrier communication apparatus side and a secondary circuit on the transmission line side. The following is a simple overview of operations of the multicarrier communication apparatus shown in Fig. 4. When transmitting a signal, DA converter 21a of AD/DA conversion circuit 21 converts a digital transmission signal generated by digital signal processing unit 1 to an analog signal. The analog signal drives communication transformer 3 via transmission filter 22, transmission amplifier 23 and transmission switch 24, and is output to power lines 61 and 62 on the secondary side of communication transformer 3.

When a signal is received, the reception signal from power lines 61 and 62 is transmitted to reception filter 25 via communication transformer 3. After gain adjustment by reception AGC amplifier 26, reception AD converter 21b of AD/DA conversion circuit 21 converts the reception signal to a digital signal, digital signal processing unit 1 converts the digital signal to digital data.

Next, a carrier detection operation is further explained in detail. The transmitted data include: a preamble for carrier detection, synchronization, equalization and the like; a synchronization word for establishing a synchronization; and information to be transmitted as shown in Fig. 6. As described above, the carrier detection involves switching between time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13 for operation and using the preamble and synchronization word contained in the frame. Since the preamble and synchronization word respectively have a continuous data (for example "1 , 1 , 1 , ^{• • •} , 1 "), the preamble and synchronization word enable simple determination of a correlation of a time waveform and a correlation between complex subcarriers. Controller 11 controls the switching of the carrier detection according to a status of a transmission line, according to a content of information to be transmitted (transmission content) that

shows a property of data such as voice data, text data, image data and the like, or according to a connecting appliance which is connected to the multicarrier communication apparatus and utilizes a reception signal. For example, in the case where a connecting appliance connected to a multicarrier communication apparatus or a connecting appliance having a built-in multicarrier communication apparatus requires relatively large power consumption, such as an air conditioner, a refrigerator and the like, connecting appliances are identified by using identification information capable of distinguishing one from other connecting appliances. As a result of the identification, in the case where a connecting appliance requires relatively large power consumption, time carrier detector 12 performs a time carrier detection , thereby preventing an increase in power consumption due to the operation of the connecting appliance which requires large power consumption.

(Switching according to transmission line status) In the case where controller 11 switches between time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13 according to a status of a transmission line, the switching may be performed by detecting or estimating the status of the transmission line in advance, or by estimating a status of the transmission line based on the accuracy of carrier detection and the like during communication. (Detection or estimation before communication) As shown in Fig. 7, in the case where a beacon signal is periodically transmitted (between a base unit and a remote unit or between remote units), controller 11 calculates a carrier detection rate of the beacon signal, and selects one of time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13. Specifically, based on results of detecting a carrier in the received beacon signal by using time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13, controller 11 operates the selected carrier detector out of time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13. In other words, when the detection rate is above a predetermined value, which indicates a good transmission line status, controller 11 operates time carrier detector 12, while when the detection rate is below the predetermined value, controller 11 operates frequency carrier detector 13.

It is also possible to calculate a carrier detection rate in a test data, instead of a beacon signal, transmitted from a remote unit to a base unit, and to select one of time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13 to operate, based on the result of the calculation.

(Detection or estimation during communication)

Controller 11 determines a status of a transmission line during communication, for example, by calculating a CNR (Carrier to Noise Ratio) for each subcarrier. Or, as a measure of the status of the transmission line, a CNR and an can be used. SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio), CINR (Carrier to Interference Noise Ratio) can be used instead of CNR. Specifically, controller 11 calculates a CNR after equalization. In the case where time carrier detector 12 or frequency carrier detector 13 does not perform carrier detection in a correct timing, the CNR characteristics degrades. Therefore, in the case where the CNR degrades, controller 11 switches to frequency carrier detector 13. For example, when a test signal is received, controller 11 performs an equalization process by switching between time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13 for operation and calculates a CNR of each subcarrier in each case. In the case where a CNR calculated by using time carrier detector 12 degrades, controller 11 operates frequency carrier detector 13. Therefore carrier detection can be switched without directly calculating the status of the transmission line. For example, at beginning of communication, time carrier detector 12 operates, and in the case where time carrier detector 12 has failed carrier detection in a predetermined number of times during a certain period of time (for example, in the case where time carrier detector 12 detects noise as a carrier or in the case where time carrier detector 12 detects a carrier but finds a synchronization word), controller 11 operates frequency carrier detector 13 instead. Whether carrier detection by using time carrier detector 12 has failed the predetermined number of times can be determined by simultaneously operating time carrier detection and frequency carrier detection for a certain period of time. Time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13 can use a received beacon signal or a received signal of a test data for carrier detection.

(Switching according to content of information to be transmitted) In the case where the content of information to be transmitted is already known, controller 11 determines, according to the content, whether time carrier detector 12 or frequency carrier detector 13 is to be used. Specifically, in the case where the information to be transmitted is an application that is sensitive to a system delay, such as an AV (audio-visual) signal or a VoIP (Voice over IP) signal, controller 11 operates frequency carrier detector 13. In the case where the information to be

transmitted is an application that is not necessarily sensitive to a system delay, such as a data transmission or a control signal, time carrier detector 12 is used.

As describe above, in the case where controller 11 performs switching according to the status of the transmission line, when the status degrades, controller 11 operates frequency carrier detector 13. However, at the beginning of the carrier detection, it is preferable that time carrier detector 12 be operated. In other words, not only when the multicarrier communication apparatus is turned on to operate, but also when the carrier detection operation is performed after the multicarrier communication apparatus has terminated communication with another multicarrier communication apparatus, controller 11 operates time carrier detector 12 first. This is because operating time carrier detector 12 can reduce power consumption. Further, to perform such operation reduces the necessity to determine a condition for switching from frequency carrier detector 13 to time carrier detector 12. However, in the case where frequent switching from time carrier detector 12 to frequency carrier detector 13 is to be reduced, it is only necessary to activate time carrier detector 12 for a predetermined period of time when the frequency of switching is high. By performing such switching, it is possible to perform a carrier detection that is efficient and of low power consumption even when fluctuation of the status of a transmission line, such as a power line, is large. Fig. 8 shows an operation flow for the case where controller 11 operates time carrier detector 12 first, and controller 11 operates frequency carrier detector 13 when the status of the transmission line degrades.

At the beginning of a carrier detection operation in an initial stage of an operation of a multicarrier communication apparatus or after a communication operation with another multicarrier communication apparatus, first, time carrier detector 12 performs a time carrier detection (step S801 ). Next, in step S802, time carrier detector 12 obtains a carrier detection rate. The carrier detection rate is, for example, the rate of successful carrier detection during a predetermined period of time. In step S803, controller 11 determines whether the carrier detection rate is greater than a predetermined threshold. In the case where the carrier detection rate is greater than the predetermined threshold, the process returns to step S801 , and time carrier detector 12 repeats the time carrier detection. As the carrier detection rate, it is also possible to use the number of detection failures during a predetermined period of time. In this case, when the number of failures during the predetermined

period of time is below a predetermined value, the process returns to step S801 , and time carrier detector 12 performs the time carrier detection.

In the case where the carrier detection rate is below the predetermined threshold, controller 11 determines that the status of the transmission line has degraded, and frequency carrier detector 13 performs frequency carrier detection(step S804). Thereafter, until communication with another multicarrier communication apparatus terminates (step S805), frequency carrier detector 13 performs the frequency carrier detection at a predetermined timing.

(Switching according to appliance connected to multicarrier communication apparatus)

Controller 11 determines whether time carrier detector 12 or frequency carrier detector 13 is to be used, according to a connecting appliance that connects to the multicarrier communication apparatus and utilizes a reception signal. For example, controller 11 receives from the connecting appliance information, which indicates attribute such as a type of the appliance, a manufacturer of the appliance.

Specifically, frequency carrier detector 13 is used for an appliance with emphasis on communication performance such as a DVD device, a TV set, an audio device, an IP telephone, while time carrier detector 12 is used for an appliance with emphasis on power consumption. A DVD device, a TV set, an audio device, an IP telephone and the like are examples of appliances with emphasis on communication performance. A refrigerator, an air conditioner and the like are examples of appliances with emphasis on power consumption.

Controller 11 performs at least one of the above-described types of switching. Further, in the case where an error rate of carrier detection by using time carrier detector 12 is high, controller 11 may stop using time carrier detector 12.

Controller 11 can determine whether a carrier detection is in error by the following procedure. When a frame is received, time carrier detector 12 detects a carrier in the preamble upon normal reception, and controller 11 performs synchronization and equalization thereafter. Upon completing preparation for reception, time carrier detector 12 detects a synchronization word, and after a correct detection, controller 11 demodulates actual information. However, since time carrier detector 12 can not detect a synchronization word in the case of a false carrier detection, it is considered as a false detection when a carrier detection was correctly performed but time carrier detector 12 could not detect a synchronization word.

Controller 11 obtains a rate of the false carrier detection for a carrier detection by using time carrier detector 12. When the rate of the false carrier detection is above a predetermined rate, controller 11 stops the carrier detection of time carrier detector 12. (Combination of time carrier detection and frequency carrier detection)

In the above example, carrier detection is performed based on a detection result of one of time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13. It is also possible to perform carrier detection based on detection results of both time carrier detector 12 and frequency carrier detector 13. To perform a carrier detection, as shown in Fig. 9, time carrier detector 12 operates first, and time carrier detector 12 performs a time carrier detection (step S901). Then, controller 11 determines whether time carrier detector 12 detects a carrier (step S902). The time carrier detection is repeated until time carrier detector 12 detects a carrier. Upon determining in step S902 that time carrier detector 12 detects a carrier, frequency carrier detector 13 operates and frequency carrier detector 13 performs frequency carrier detection in step S903. Then, controller 11 determines whether frequency carrier detector 13 detects a carrier (step S904). In the case where frequency carrier detector 13 detects a carrier, controller 11 initiates other communication processes (step S905). In the case where controller 11 determines in step S904 that frequency carrier detector 13 does not detect a carrier, the process returns to step S901 and time carrier detector 12 repeats the time carrier detection.

As described above, other communication processes are performed when a carrier is detected by both a time carrier detection and a frequency carrier detection. Therefore, even in the case where a reaction to noise occurs in a time carrier detection, since a frequency carrier detection, which has a high accuracy for the frame, is performed, the number of processes due to false detection can be reduced. Further, when there is no carrier, a time carrier detection is first executed. Therefore, the frequency of frequency carrier detection can be lowered, thereby further reducing power consumption.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention is useful as a multicarrier communication apparatus capable of efficiently performing a high-accuracy carrier detection with low power consumption.