Methods for receiving diversity transmissions including prefiltering to provide minimum phase channel characterstics and related receivers

A receiver for receiving transmissions from a diversity transmitter, the receiver comprising:

• an antenna that receives a first symbol-spaced baseband signal corresponding to first portions of first and second encoded data sequences transmitted over first and second baseband channels, and that receives a second symbol-spaced baseband signal corresponding to second portions of the first and second encoded data sequences transmitted over the first and second baseband channels;
• a 2-input filter that combines the first and second symbol-spaced baseband signals to provide a combined baseband signal;
• a prefilter that prefilters the combined baseband signal to provide minimum phase channel characteristics;
• and
• an equalizer that equalizes the prefiltered combined baseband signal to provide an estimate of the data sequence.

A receiver for receiving transmissions from a diversity transmitter, the receiver comprising:

• means for receiving a first symbol-spaced baseband signal corresponding to first portions of first and second encoded data sequences transmitted over first and second baseband channels;
• means for receiving a second symbol-spaced baseband signal corresponding to second portions of the first and second encoded data sequences transmitted over the first and second baseband channels;
• means for combining the first and second symbol-spaced baseband signals to provide a combined baseband signal;
• means for prefiltering the combined baseband signal to provide minimum phase channel characteristics;
• and
• means for equalizing the prefiltered combined baseband signal to provide an estimate of the data sequence.