An improved differential detection scheme based on maximum likelihood sequence estimation

Although differential detection is a suitable demodulation scheme for mobile communications, its bit error rate (BER) performance in an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel is inferior to that of a coherent detection scheme. To remedy this deficiency, Mitsubishi Electric has developed an improved differential detection scheme using maximum likelihood sequence estimation based on the Viterbi algorithm. The resultant scheme achieves good BER performance not only in AWGN channels but also in fast Rician fading channels and slow Rayleigh fading channels.