A carrier frequency offset estimation algorithm for OFDM systems

This paper addresses the carrier frequency synchronization problem in OFDM systems. A data-aided carrier frequency offset (CFO) estimation algorithm is proposed. A well-designed training sequence provides the algorithm immunity to the effect of multipath channel, so that the algorithm can be applied without any channel knowledge. A smart iterative procedure is designed for the algorithm to achieve good estimation accuracy. Moreover in depth performance analysis for the algorithm is presented. An upper bound on the probability of unacceptable estimation error (UEE) and a lower bound on mean square error (MSE) are derived, which evaluate the algorithm performance from different points of view. Finally, the proposed algorithm and the performance analysis results are verified by simulation results.