Maximum ratio combining of correlated diversity branches with imperfect channel state information and colored noise

Abstract

Recently, an analytical expression for the mean bit error probability of a binary modulated signal has been derived for a receiver performing maximum ratio combining of correlated diversity branches based on imperfect channel state information. We extend these results to the general case of colored additive noise. Furthermore, an alternative solution is derived which yields numerically stable results also in the case of the respective channel and interference covariance matrices having closely-spaced or multi-fold eigenvalues. Finally, the results are applied to a spatio-temporal W-CDMA RAKE receiver, where the effects of multiple-access-interference (MAI) and interpath interference (IPI), due to multipath propagation, on the mean bit error probability are investigated.