Covariance-Aware Detection for Single-RF MIMO-OFDM Systems

Tianrui Qiao; Jun Qian; Ross Murch

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arXiv · 2606.03311

Covariance-Aware Detection for Single-RF MIMO-OFDM Systems

Tianrui Qiao·Jun Qian·Ross Murch

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Abstract

We propose the use of a covariance-aware detection method for single-radio-frequency (RF) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. This detection approach enhances bit error rate (BER) performance as compared to conventional detectors. The approach is motivated by the observation that when using reconfigurable antennas (such as electronically steerable parasitic array radiators (ESPARs)) to create a single-RF MIMO system, an additional model error arising from the reconfigurable antennas is introduced. These modeling errors produce colored noise and an irreducible BER (error floor) at high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Simulation results, using ESPAR as an example, validate our error floor analysis and demonstrate that the use of the proposed enhanced detection method can effectively address the error floor and improve the BER at high transmit SNRs.

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Tianrui Qiao, Jun Qian, Ross Murch. 2026-06-02. Covariance-Aware Detection for Single-RF MIMO-OFDM Systems. https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.03311

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