A new time synchronization algorithm for multi-carrier CDMA signals

This paper discusses the effects of a time synchronization error on multi-carrier CDMA signals. The time synchronization consists of FFT symbol time recovery and sampling clock recovery. In general, symbol time recovery is carried out before sampling clock adjustments. The problem for the time synchronization errors is the sample rob/stuff phenomenon due to symbol time offset. Thus a more efficient synchronization algorithm is required. This paper introduces a new time synchronization algorithm for multi-carrier CDMA signals, which consists of symbol time recovery and sampling clock adjustment using the pilot symbols. Our algorithm is performed, and validated by computer simulation under both AWGN and multipath fading channel. We demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can obtain two time synchronization errors simultaneously.