A simple algorithm for the reduction of the peak power in a many carrier AM-OFDM signal

There are no known techniques for the real-time generation of OFDM signals with low peak values when the number of carriers is large and the data rates are high. This paper presents an heuristic algorithm that reduces the peak power to mean power ratio of a 256 carrier AM-OFDM signal to typically less than 2.5 dB and always less than 4.2 dB. This algorithm can be implemented in real time using commercially available FFT/IFFT integrated circuits. Furthermore, AM-OFDM results in receiver simplification. The low peak power to mean power ratios achieved offset the S/N disadvantage of AM.