Maximum likelihood carrier frequency offset estimation algorithm with adjustable frequency acquisition region

Abstract This study presents a simple yet effective carrier frequency offset (CFO) estimation algorithm for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. At the transmitter, the proposed algorithm uses null subcarriers to render the OFDM signal periodic in the time domain. At the receiver, these periodic time samples become CFO-bearing signals, which can be adopted to develop the maximum likelihood (ML) CFO estimation algorithm accordingly. In addition to providing reliable and efficient CFO estimation, the proposed algorithm has an adjustable acquisition region linearly proportional to the order of the null subcarrier insertion scheme.