Apparatus and method for reducing the peak-to-average power ratio of OFDM/OFDMA signals

A wireless network base station comprising:

• a transmitter capable of transmitting multicarrier signals to subscriber stations in a wireless network;
• and
• an apparatus associated with the transmitter for reducing the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the multicarrier signals, the apparatus comprising:
• a detector for receiving a plurality of symbols to be transmitted and determining a peak amplitude of the plurality of symbols;
• a controller for determining if the peak amplitude associated with the plurality of symbols exceeds a predetermined threshold and, in response to a determination that the peak amplitude exceeds the predetermined threshold, generating at least one correction pulse;
• and
• a PAPR reduction block for generating at least one correction carrier signal from the at least one correction pulse, wherein the at least one correction carrier signal is combined with a plurality of modulated carrier signals associated with the plurality of symbols to thereby reduce a peak-to-average power ratio associated with the plurality of modulated carrier signals.

A subscriber station capable of communicating with a wireless network, the subscriber station comprising:

• a transmitter capable of transmitting multicarrier signals to the wireless network;
• and
• an apparatus associated with the transmitter for reducing the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the multicarrier signals, the apparatus comprising:
• a detector for receiving a plurality of symbols to be transmitted and determining a peak amplitude of the plurality of symbols;
• a controller for determining if the peak amplitude associated with the plurality of symbols exceeds a predetermined threshold and, in response to a determination that the peak amplitude exceeds the predetermined threshold, generating at least one correction pulse;
• and
• a PAPR reduction block for generating at least one correction carrier signal from the at least one correction pulse, wherein the at least one correction carrier signal is combined with a plurality of modulated carrier signals associated with the plurality of symbols to thereby reduce a peak-to-average power ratio associated with the plurality of modulated carrier signals.

A method for reducing the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of a multicarrier transmission system, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of symbols to be transmitted;
• determining a peak amplitude of the plurality of symbols;
• determining if the peak amplitude associated with the plurality of symbols exceeds a predetermined threshold;
• in response to a determination that the peak amplitude exceeds the predetermined threshold, generating at least one correction pulse;
• generating at least one correction carrier signal from the at least one correction pulse;
• and
• combining the at least one correction carrier signal with a plurality of modulated carrier signals associated with the plurality of symbols to thereby reduce a peak-to-average power ratio associated with the plurality of modulated carrier signals.