Array like runtime reconfigurable MIMO detectors for 802.11n WLAN: A design case study

Future high speed wireless standards such as 802.11n involve multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna systems as a key technology component. Efficient design of the MIMO detector is a challenging task. This is further compounded by the fact that 802.11n standard requires support for runtime switching between different modulation schemes (or modes). While searching for an appropriate architecture attention must be paid to application requirements such as required throughput, limits on latency, and reconfiguration between various modes of operations. Important hardware design metrics such as area/power should be optimized over all the operating modes of the detector. In this paper we carry out extensive architectural space exploration to address the issues of power consumption, area, and reconfigurability between different modes of operation while meeting the standards throughput requirement. Ultimately, we come up with two designs that target low area and low power respectively. We also maintain close to optimum bit error rate(BER), which is vital for any wireless system. The design estimates are based on 45 nm technology library.