ASIC Implementation of Low Power Cordiac Processor for Modulation and Demodulation

Abstract

The ongoing evolution of high-speed communication systems, particularly with the advent of 5G technology, necessitates the development of efficient hardware solutions capable of handling complex modulation and demodulation tasks while adhering to stringent power constraints. This thesis presents a comprehensive approach to designing a low-power Coordinate Rotation Digital Computer (CORDIC) processor specifically tailored for 5G applications. By harnessing the multiplier-free architecture of the CORDIC algorithm, the proposed processor significantly reduces hardware complexity and power consumption, making it ideal for energy-constrained environments such as mobile devices and small-cell base stations. The implementation utilizes advanced techniques such as pipelining, fixed- point arithmetic, and dynamic voltage scaling to optimize performance metrics including area, power, and timing. Utilizing the Cadence Genus synthesis tool, the results demonstrate that the CORDIC processor occupies an area of approximately 2177.856 units, with a total of 780 standard cells, while effectively managing power consumption at an optimal level relevant for 5G applications. Detailed synthesis and validation processes further ensure compliance with industry standards for error vector magnitude (EVM), establishing the processor\'s reliability for high-order Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) schemes. Timing analyses indicate that the design meets stringent latency requirements essential for real-time signal processing. Through rigorous testing and analysis, this research not only demonstrates the processor\'s capabilities but also highlights its versatility across a broad spectrum of digital signal processing applications. The findings underscore the CORDIC processor\'s potential as a foundational component in the next generation of energy-efficient communication systems, paving the way for innovations that enhance throughput, reduce latency, and improve overall system reliability. As the demand for smart communication technologies escalates, the insights derived from this study will contribute significantly to the ongoing development of energy-efficient accelerators that meet the computational challenges posed by future wireless standards.

Introduction

The increasing demand for high-speed, low-latency 5G communication requires efficient hardware for complex modulation and demodulation. Traditional digital signal processing methods use power-hungry multipliers, unsuitable for energy-limited devices. The CORDIC algorithm offers a low-power alternative by performing trigonometric calculations using only shift-and-add operations, reducing hardware complexity and power consumption. Implementing CORDIC in ASICs can meet 5G's strict performance and efficiency needs.

This work focuses on designing and optimizing a low-power, pipelined CORDIC processor for 5G modulation/demodulation, using fixed-point arithmetic and advanced low-power techniques. The design is verified through simulation and synthesis with industry-standard EDA tools (Genus, Innovus, Vivado), ensuring compliance with 5G standards and demonstrating predictable, low-latency performance suitable for real-time applications.

Key objectives include accurate phase rotation using shift-add, functional verification via simulators, hardware synthesis with optimized area and power, and physical layout implementation. Power and area reports show the design achieves significant energy efficiency and compactness, with detailed timing analysis highlighting critical paths and the need for proper timing constraints to guarantee reliable operation.

Overall, this research presents a scalable, energy-efficient ASIC implementation of the CORDIC algorithm that can enhance 5G base stations, small cells, and IoT devices, offering a promising alternative to traditional DSP approaches for next-generation wireless communication systems.

Conclusion

This research successfully demonstrates the design and implementation of a low-power CORDIC processor tailored for 5G modulation and demodulation. By leveraging the inherent efficiency of the CORDIC algorithm, which employs shift-and-add operations, the proposed ASIC implementation achieves significant reductions in power consumption while maintaining high performance and accuracy needed for complex tasks associated with high- order modulation schemes. The results highlight the processor\'s potential in not only minimizing hardware complexity but also enhancing energy efficiency, making it an ideal solution for modern communication systems and portable devices that demand reliable and efficient signal processing. Through rigorous validation and optimization techniques, this work contributes to the ongoing advancement of energy-efficient solutions in the rapidly evolving landscape of 5G technology.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Roselin ., Madhuri Vemuluri . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.