An apparatus and method for detecting a burst signal. The apparatus includes circuitry that concatenates a predetermined number of samples and transmits the samples to a first programmable memory tap of a predetermined number of programmable memory taps. For each memory tap, a corresponding partial correlation is computed. A normalized sum of all the partial correlations is multiplexed and transmitted to a predetermined number of multipliers. A peak of the burst signal is determined by computing a summation of the complex multiplications of each multiplier, wherein the determined peak corresponds to a start of the burst signal.

A device and method for estimating a bias in a frequency estimate of a received signal. Circuitry generates a first signal including a number of sample-blocks, wherein the first signal is shifted in frequency from the received signal by a first frequency shift. Based on the first signal, a second signal and a third signal are generated, by shifting a frequency of each of the samples of the first generated signal by a second frequency shift and a third frequency shift, respectively. For each generated signal, a variance for each sample-block is computed. An average variance of the computed sample-block variances is further calculated and a bias of the received signal is determined as one of the first frequency shift, the second frequency shift, and the third frequency shift, corresponding to the generated signal having the smallest calculated average variance.

A device and method for unwrapping phase samples of a burst signal. The device generates a set of vectors including phase samples. A first mean and a first variance of the vectors is computed, and a set of unwrapped phase samples of the burst signal are computed by rotating phase samples of the vector having a smallest first variance by a first rotation amount. The set of vectors is updated based on a new phase sample and a second mean and a second variance of the updated set of vectors is computed. Differences between unwrapped phase samples and a number of phase samples included in the vector having the smallest computed second variance are computed. A next unwrapped phase sample is generated by rotating the new phase sample by a second rotation amount corresponding to a median value of the computed differences.

A communication unit for performing soft-decision demodulation includes a receiver that receives a transmitted signal conveying a first set of bits including k bits selected from a set of 2.sup.k possible signals. A demodulator includes a bank of 2.sup.k correlators that detects a transmission of each possible transmitted signal, and outputs 2.sup.k magnitudes of correlator outputs, based on the detected possible transmitted signals, as a first set of inputs. A de-mapper circuit receives the first set of inputs and determines derived from a plurality of aggregated correlator output magnitude distributions of the first set of inputs, wherein the plurality of aggregated correlator output magnitude distributions is fewer than 2.sup.2k; and calculates therefrom a first set of aposteriori soft bits including k soft bits. In this manner, high quality soft-decisions can be obtained in a robust and practical manner.

Devices, methods and examples concerning a concept for transmitting an information symbol from a symbol alphabet (I.sub.0; I.sub.1; I.sub.2; I.sub.3). For a first information symbol (I.sub.1) from the symbol alphabet, a first signal sequence (S.sub.1) is transmitted. For a second information symbol (I.sub.2) of the symbol alphabet, a second signal sequence (S.sub.2) is transmitted. A cross-correlation between the first signal sequence (S.sub.1) and the second signal sequence (S.sub.2) is lower than a predetermined cross-correlation threshold (.sub.threshold). For a third information symbol (I.sub.3) of the symbol alphabet, a third signal sequence (S.sub.3) is transmitted such that both a cross-correlation between the third signal sequence (S.sub.3) and the first signal sequence (S.sub.1) and also a cross-correlation between the third signal sequence (S.sub.3) and the second signal sequence (S.sub.2) are above the predetermined cross-correlation threshold (.sub.threshold).

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for modulating a first electrical signal to generate first modulated electromagnetic waves, and transmitting the first modulated electromagnetic waves on a waveguide located in proximity to a transmission medium. In one embodiment, the first electromagnetic waves can induce second electromagnetic waves that propagate on an outer surface of the transmission medium. The second electromagnetic waves can have a first spectral range that is divided into, contains or otherwise includes a first control channel and a first plurality of bands. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A transmitter may be operable to generate a sequence of symbols which may comprise information symbols and one or more pilot symbols. The transmitter may transmit the information symbols at a first power and transmit the one or more pilot symbols at a second power. In instances when a particular performance indicator is below a determined threshold, the first power may be set to a first value and the second power may be set to zero value. In instances when the particular performance indicator is above the determined threshold, the first power may be set to a second value and the second power may be set to a non-zero value. A value of the first power and a value of the second power may be based on an applicable average power limit determined by a communications standard with which the transmitter is to comply.

In one aspect, a wireless device receives a first data transmission from a base station in a first subframe interval and transmits HARQ feedback and/or CSI to the base station in a subsequent subframe interval, within a duration that is less than a maximum transmission duration that is possible within the subsequent subframe interval. In another aspect, a base station transmits a first data transmission to a wireless device in a first subframe interval and receives HARQ feedback and/or CSI from the wireless device in a subsequent subframe interval, within a duration that is less than a maximum transmission duration that is possible within the subsequent subframe interval.

The invention relates to a RFID VHBR receiver comprising a quadrature digital demodulator, a symbol synchronization module at the baud rate and a PSK demodulator. The symbol synchronization module (200) receives the in-phase and quadrature samples from the demodulator and extracts the components of the PSK symbols at the baud rate by selecting a decimation point in time. This synchronization is made by taking advantage of the particular structure of the preamble of the transmission frame in a RFID VHBR receiver.

A quadrature demodulator not requiring analogue mixers. The demodulation is made using a first integrator and a second integrator which are controlled by square logic signals at twice the frequency of the carrier, the received signal being alternatively integrated by the first integrator and the second integrator over periods of time equal to a quarter period of time of the carrier frequency. The samples of the first and second integrators are sampled and subtracted from each other. The successive samples are combined in a first and a second combining module for providing in-phase and quadrature component samples. This demodulator can further be provided with a synchronization module IQ and a symbol synchronization module.