A novel approach to design convolution encoder using quantum-dot cellular automata

Quantam-dot cellular automata is a promising nano electronic computational architecture which can be used to process binary information. It performs binary operation using single electrons in arrays of quantum dots. The basic building block in QCA design is a QCA cell which can be used to build basic gates, as well as combinational and sequential circuits. In this paper, design of a real time application of processing information bits in a serial manner, i.e. a convolution encoder is proposed. Convolution codes are the most powerful and widely used class of codes used in today's popular wireless standard (such as IEEE 802.11) along with variety of other systems. Convolution encoder works on serial data and uses shift registers and associated combinational logic that performs modulo-2-addition. In this paper, a novel design of ½ rate and 1/3 rate convolution encoder is proposed using QCA and simulation results are shown.