Channel estimator

A method for channel estimation in a radio communications system, comprising:

• subjecting a received radio signal to antenna switching, wherein a processing unit comprises a selector switch configured to selectively switch between a plurality of antennas, and outputting an antenna-switched digital radio signal based on an output of the selector switch;
• generating a control signal indicative of antenna switching between said plurality of antennas;
• and
• estimating channel parameters to provide adjusted channel parameters based on the antenna-switched digital radio signal and on the control signal received at the channel estimator from a control unit.

A multi-carrier radio receiver comprising:

• a receiver input unit comprising an antenna switch for switching between multiple antennas,
• a multi-carrier demodulator coupled to an output of the receiver input unit,
• a channel estimator coupled to an output of the multi-carrier demodulator and operable to compute channel parameters indicative of a channel transfer function, and
• an equalizer coupled to an output of the multi-carrier demodulator and to an output of the channel estimator, and operable to equalize a signal received from the output of the multi-carrier demodulator in response to the channel parameters, wherein
• the receiver input unit is configured to output a control signal indicative of antenna switching between said multiple antennas using the antenna switch, and
• the channel estimator is configured to compute the channel parameters to provide adjusted channel parameters based on the signal received from the output of the multi-carrier demodulator and on the control signal received at the channel estimator.

A radio receiver comprising:

• a processing unit configured to subject a received radio signal to antenna switching, wherein the processing unit comprises a selector switch configured to selectively switch between a plurality of antennas, and wherein the processing unit is configured to output an antenna-switched digital radio signal based on an output of the selector switch,
• a control unit configured to output a control signal indicative of antenna switching between said plurality of antennas, and
• a channel estimator coupled to an output of the processing unit, wherein the channel estimator comprises a programmable interpolation filter, and wherein the channel estimator is configured to provide adjusted channel parameters based on the control signal received from the control unit;
• and
• a programming unit configured to provide a set of filter coefficients to the programmable interpolation filter, wherein the set of filter coefficients is based on the control signal, wherein the programming unit comprises a selection unit configured to select a subset of filter coefficients from a predetermined set of filter coefficients in response to the control signal.

A radio receiver comprising:

• a processing unit configured to subject a received radio signal to antenna switching, wherein the processing unit comprises a selector switch configured to selectively switch between a plurality of antennas, and wherein the processing unit is configured to output an antenna-switched digital radio signal based on an output of the selector switch,
• a control unit configured to output a control signal indicative of antenna switching between said plurality of antennas, and
• a channel estimator coupled to an output of the processing unit, wherein the channel estimator comprises a programmable interpolation filter, and wherein the channel estimator is configured to provide adjusted channel parameters based on the control signal received from the control unit;
• and
• a programming unit configured to provide a set of filter coefficients to the programmable interpolation filter, wherein the set of filter coefficients is based on the control signal, wherein the programming unit comprises a look-up table configured to store a plurality of sets of filter coefficients, wherein the look-up table is configured to provide the set of filter coefficients responsive to the control signal.