Low-density parity-check code constructions for hardware implementation

We present several hardware architectures to implement low-density parity-check (LDPC) decoders for codes constructed with a hierarchical structure. The proposed hierarchical formulation of the LDPC code allows a structured hardware realization of the decoder. For a fully-parallel implementation, there is a reduced routing congestion that allows implementations for blocks sizes up to 1024 bits in 0.13/spl mu/m technology. Partially and fully serial implementations benefits greatly from the structure of the code as well, leading to several flexible, efficient architectures. In a general purpose 0.13/spl mu/m technology, the approximate area required by a 1024-bit fully-parallel LDPC decoder is found to be 12.5 mm/sup 2/ while a serial decoder can be implemented in an area of 0.15 mm/sup 2/.