An eight-user UMTS channel unit processor for 3GPP base station applications

We present a multi-user W-CDMA baseband channel unit processor for cellular base station applications. The ASIC is compliant with the 3GPP/UMTS standard and exceeds 3GPP minimum requirements for high-speed data by 2.2-6.2 dB. It supports up to eight users simultaneously, with a mix of voice and data services and a maximum uplink data rate of 384 kb/s and maximum downlink data rate of 2 Mb/s. The ASIC implements preamble detection, searching, demodulation RAKE-finger processing, channel coding/decoding for voice and data services, and transmission functions. It is coupled to a DSP to form a complete channel element for eight users.