Method for combining data from phase indeterminate data streams for raking

Abstract

A received wireless signal contains a plurality of path components, each having a phase indeterminate data stream derived from an original data stream. The receiver splits the received signal into N signal copies for N raking channels, which correlate each of the N signal copies with N locally generated signals, respectively, to generate N correlated signals. Each of the N correlated signals carries an estimated phase indeterminate data stream. The raking channels then synchronize each of the correlated signals to a system clock in phase and frequency to generate N synchronized signals. The N raking channels then align the N synchronized signals to generate N aligned signals, each of which carries an aligned path data stream that is normalized in time with respect to the other aligned signals. Finally the receiver combines the aligned signals to produce an estimated original data stream.