Regularity Aspects of OFDM Based Power Line

Applications
Tobias Giebel Hermann Rohling
Department of Telecommunications, Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg
EiDendorfer StraDe 40,21073 Hamburg, Germany
email: giebel@tu-harburg.de

1 Abstract
This paper gives an overview of regularity aspects for power line (PL) applications. It describes the definitions
of the limiting values as well as the assumed detector circuits that are used in an analytical proof to validate the
limits. As an example an OFDM transmission system is considered a real candidate for PL applications. This
paper shows in a detailed analysis how an OFDM signal fulfils the above mentioned regularity requirements.
Keywords: power line communication, EMC, regulator, EN 55022, EN 50065, peak detector, quasi-peak
detector, average detector, OFDM, power spectral density, channel capacity.

Introduction

The idea to transmit information using power line networks has a long history. Nowadays the almost global
liberalisation of the telecommunication market and the increasing interest in wide band services induce various
activities in telecommunications. Particularly the aim to cover the last mile quickens interests. One concept in
this context is data transfer using PL. The advantages of this medium are conspicuous especially in Europe as a
consequence of the special European structure of residential power circuit implementation.
The technical behaviour of the power line channel is important for a system design. Additionally the
requirements described by the regulator must be take into account. Therefore this paper is focused on the
regularity aspects only and neglects all detailed technical channel behaviour.
This paper is organised as follows: Section 3 describes the current regularity limits. In section 4 and 5
appropriated detectors are introduced. In section 6 the results of the previous sections are summarised. A
conclusion and the references follow in the last sections.

Regularity limits

In the legal point of view the question of limitation of the transmit-signal behavior for power line
communication (PLC) is also a question of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Generally EMC is managed
by national institutions. But national lawgivers in Europe are oriented by European organisations like
CENELEC' or ETSI~to provide the harmonisation of the European telecommunications standards.
Hence, the European Standard [l] published by CENELEC regulates actually PLC in Germany. But in this
norm, just a small frequency band is provided for data transmission. This band contains frequencies in the range
of 3 kHz to 148,5 kHz. It is currently allocated to narrow band PLC applications. Beyond 150 kHz EMC aspects
are significant in consequence of wavelength in the dimension of power networks. Therefore the standard
defines radio disturbance limits for higher frequencies. Up to 30 MHz restrictions of conduction-bound noise
signals are defined. Above 30 MHz the norm defines criterions for the maximum electromagnetic field strength
in a default distance. By the way, these limitations are obligatory for all telecommunication devices [5].
The standardised limits of the transmit signal up to 148,5 kHz are shown in Figure 1. In this frequency band the
standard does not primarily specify the power spectral density spectrum, it reveals just properties of the time
domain signal. These criterions define the maximum transmit voltages. In few words, in case of frequencies
below 148,5 kHz regularising restrictions are independent of any band limitation, with the exception of the band
from 9 kHz to 95 kHz. In this band a peak limit implying a narrow band filtering is required additionally for
broad band signals. But section 6 shows that this additional criterion is irrelevant to broad band OFDM systems.

Comite Europeen de Normalisation Electrotechnique (CENELC)

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation
2
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)

maximum
voltage

voltage
broad band signals

class 134
devices

89 dB(pV)

..

Pe*

class 122
122 dB(pV) .. .: . . . . .
120dB(pv)

--

: . . . . .

Figure 1: Regularity limits for maximum

transmit-voltages (11.

Figure 2: Conduction-bound regularity limits for

radio-disturbance levels [I] 151.

The conduction-bound radio disturbance restrictions up to 30 MHz are based on band limited detectors in
opposite to the standard above. The time domain signal that leaves the fiont-end filters of the detectors must be
complied with the restrictions as illustrated in Figure 2. These limits are specified as peak, quasi-peak and
average values. It is important to notice that above 150 kHz the quasi-peak and the average limits are valid
simultaneously.
In the context of EMC and PLC the lawgivers in Germany are actually discussing an ordinance. It will define
limits of the field strength in the whole frequency range of 9 kHz to 3 GHz in a default distance of 3 m [2]. The
proposed limits are collected in Figure 3.
field strength

Figure 3: Maximum field strength in a distance of 3 m (21.

Due to the problematical mapping of the conduction-bound signal parameters to the behavior of the radiated
emission especially in the near field region a comparison of this limits with the above mentioned conductionbound restrictions is quite difficult. An approximated solution of this problem is given in [7]. But this
approximation is based on a far field argumentation. In our case the resulting error could exceed an acceptable
level.
There is no doubt that OFDM tr~smissiontechnique is a candidate for broad band power line application.
Before this background we analyse the OFDM signal which must fulfil the introduced limits in the following
sections. That needs an analyse of the detector structures which are considered in [I] for the validation of the
limits above.

Detectors

As noted above the regularising standard is based on different measurement principals. This section gives an
overview of fundamental properties of these measurements. It studies in detail the situation if an OFDM signal is
analysed. In order to link the limits of section 3 with physical parameters of an OFDM communication system
the definitions of the preconditioned noise detectors are characterised.

In Figure 4 the general structure of these detectors is shown. A noise detector has a bandpass input filter
characteristic. The centre frequency of this bandpass is variable. As noticed above, the detector reading must
fulfil the limits of section 3 for each frequency. The actual analyse frequency is defined by the centre frequency
of the bandpass filter.

centre frequency

Figure 4: General structure of a noise detector.

Additional attention should be paid to the detector relation. In other words, some detector readings don't base on
the signal x(t) itself, but on its envelope xe(t). We have to keep this relation in mind during further investigations.

Filter Characteristic
Generally the detectors get a band limitation input characteristic. That means these measuring instruments
extracts in the first step spectral segments from the input signal using a bandpass filter. The resulting time
domain signal x(t) must be complied with the quoted limits as noted above. This filter is specified in [4]. The
equivalent low pass is defined as

Where Go is real, positive and it will be adjusted using a calibration as explained in section 5. In case of the
transmit levels pictured in Figure 1 the pass band of the input filter is generally wider than the signal band.
Hence, filtering has no effect on these signals. As noticed above in the band from 9 kHz to 95 kHz is additionally
demanded a restriction which base on a band limited detector [I].
Table 1 contains detailed information about the standardised filter bandwidths. These 6 dB bandwidths define
with

the cut-off frequencies&.

Table 1: 6dB bandwidths of quasi-peak (QP), average (AV), peak (P) and root-mean-square (RMS)
detectors in the different frequency bands [4].

9-150 kHz
0,15-30 MHz
30- 1000 MHz

6dB-bandwidth (fs)
AV,P,RMS
0,22 kHz
100-300 HZ
8-10 kHz
120 kHz
100-500 kHz

Detector Relation
The peak, average and root-mean-square detector readings depend on the envelope x,(t) of the filtered input
signal and not on the filtered signal x(t) itself. But the quasi-peak detector output is defined in relation to the
filtered signal x(t) [3].
We use the Hilbert- transformation to calculate the envelope xe(Q of a bandpass signal x(t)

4.1

Quasi-peak Detector

The quasi-peak value appraises psychophysic3impression of a disturbed signal. The quasi-peak detector
primarily was intended to be used for impulse signals or impulse noise, because the quasi-peak value effects a
compromise between the outsized peak value and the infinitesimal average value of such signals. The described
appraisal is based on the circuit shown in Figure 5 which is characterised with a large discharge time TD = RDC
in comparison to the charge time which is proportional to TO= ROC.The expectation value of the resulting
voltage yQP(t)defines the quasi-peak voltage UQp.

non-linearity

R,

Figure 5: Quasi-peak detector circuit.

This shows that quasi-peak detection is a generalisation of peak or a special average detection. A quasi-peak
detector with an infinite discharge time and an infinitesimal charge time realises a peak detector. And a
quasi-peak detector with an infinitesimal discharge time and an infinitesimal charge time realises a half cycle
rectifier followed by an average detector.

But this generalisation is not in conformity with [4] because of the different considerations of x(f) and x,(t). In
the next section a detailed study of the response of the quasi-peak detector to signals with a Gaussian probability
density function will follow.

Gaussian Signals
The samples of an OFDM time signal are describable as a summation of random values. The number of these
terms depends on the number of OFDM subcarriers. On the base of the central limit theorem the distribution of
OFDM signal amplitudes approximatesthe Gaussian probability density function. Therefore the density function
p(x) of the filter response x(t) in the case of an OFDM input signal is describable with a Gaussian density
function, too.

This bandpass signal x(t) is assumed as a stochastic process at the filter output of G f ) . The average power of
this output signal is equivalent with the variance a -of the Gaussian random variable and can be calculated as
follows:

where S, represents the constant power spectral density of the signal x(t) and Gfl is the spectrum of the
bandpass filter. With equation ( 1 ) the variance q2becomes

where

psycho optical and psychoacoustic

The signal x(t) is the input of the circuit in Figure 5. From an analysis of this circuit follows

and the average currents are

E {io( t ) } = E {i, ( t )+ i, ( t ) } = E {iD( t ) )+ E {i, ( t ) }

In the steady state net charge of the capacitor C must be constant. Therefore the average current E{ic(t)} must be
zero.
E {i, ( t ) } = 0

Elio(t)} = E {iD( t ) }

E { ~ Q P ( t )-} E{uo(t)}
RD

47

The Voltage uo(t) is always greater or equal zero in consequence of the characteristic of the ideal diode. And in
case of uo(t)>O the voltage is uo(t) = x(t) - yQp(t)=x(t) - UQpwith duo/& = 1 andp(ua)=p(x).

with

where the functionf '(Ro/RD)is the inverse function ofJN) which is shown in Figure 4. Hence, the quasi-peak
,
value of a Gaussian random signal is approximately straight proportional to its variance o,

'[_ _ _ _ _ _ i,_ _ _ _\,

_ _ _ _ kHz-,50
'\o.MHz~L
.

0.5 - - - - - . - ' - - - - I -

- - 2I :T .- - -

kHz
1ooo MHz

N
Figure 6: The funetionfo supplements by values stated in CISPR16 [4].

4.2

Average, Peak and RMS Detector

In this context the average value also known as field intensity is defined as the arithmetic mean of the absolute
value of the envelope xe(t) [3]

The peak value represents the maximum of the absolute value of the envelope xe(Q

For the stake of generality, the root-mean-square value of the envelope is defined in the norm [4]

For Gaussian signals these values are well known, because a Rayleigh probability density function follows the
absolute value of the Gaussian envelope xe(t)

with a mean value

and the root-mean-square of the envelope

From a theoretical point of view the peak value of a Rayleigh signal is not limited. But the clipping effects in
real amplifiers bound the output voltage of an OFDM transmitter. The back-off describes the ratio between the
maximal output voltage and the root-mean-square value of the output signal. The maximum output voltage of an
assumed a back-off of Bods = 6dB is twice the root-mean-square of the transmit signal, BO = 2. If the input filter
of the detector has a broad band characteristic, the ratio between peak and root-mean-square is non-varying. And
the peak value of the signal x(t) respectively of the envelope x,(t) is
upBo
=B

O . =BO.
~
JW.4

( 5 )

In the case of OFDM signals the four detector readings are summarised in Table 2.
Table 2: Detector readings in case of OFDM input signals.

Quasi Peak

uQ! &!-oxf-'(%lRD)

Average

U,, =

RMS

U-

Peak (6dB back-off)

Upso= BO .ox

= &-ox

Calibration

In [4] a calibration procedure of the detectors is prescribed. The base of the calibration is a sine wave signal with
a defined amplitude. In the following section it is shown that in case of a sine wave input signal all introduced
detectors respond with the same voltage.
If oxdescribes the power of the input sine wave signal, the filter output signal x(Q

follows. This signal x(t) has the constant envelope x,(t)

That's why the reading of average, peak or root-mean-square detector is equal.

The reading of the Quasi-peak detector follows the differential equation [4] [6]

where 0 describes the conduction angle of the current io(t) flowing through the diode. Because this equation
doesn't have a closed solution, a high ratio of RDto Ro is assumed, to the consequence that the frequency of x(t)
is very high in comparison to the discharge time and very low in comparison to the charge time. It follows that
the reading of the quasi-peak detector is approximately equal to the Peak value of x(t).

All detector readings of the analysed detectors are equal using a sine wave input signal.
In the case of a sine wave reference signal, all detectors are calibrated with the same value. Therefore it is
possible to fix the filter gain and we assume Go=l in consideration to [4]. It can be shown that the ratios of the
different detector readings UQp,UAv, Upand Urn are not varied by any calibrations.

Summary

Up to now the current regulatory limits are introduced, and the meanings of these criterions for OFDM signals
are detailed. But one motivation of the proposed analyses is the question of the resulting signal to noise ratio
using OFDM for PLC. And that needs a quantitative predication of the transmit power in the whole frequency
band. The results of the sections above are surnmarised in this section to calculate the prediction.
Before we ascertain the transmit-power using voltage levels we have to detect the impedance of the power line.
Measurements show that the impedance Z varies approximately from 10 R to 300 Q [7] subject to the frequency
and the locality. In the standard [4] a detector-input resistance of 50 R is preconditioned. Before this background
we assume an impedance of Z=50 R.
In the frequency range of 3kHz to 148,5kHz peak criterions are formulated. The power spectral density soFD; of
the OFDM signal follows from equation ( 5 ) and the impedance Z if we assume a back-off

The bandwidth of the signal defines the value Af in this frequency range. Therefore the limit of the power
spectral density SoFDM
depends on the bandwidth of the signal. Or in other words the mean power PoFDM
of the
signal is independent on the bandwidth of the signal. The requirements in this band define implicitly a mean
power limit and not a maximal power spectral density.

In the frequency band from 9kHz to 95kHz the above-mentioned additional criterion is formulated which is
based on the filter bandwidthh = 200Hz respectively Af = 167 Hz. The assumed back-off of 6dB is followed by
a maximal power spectral density SoFDM= -18dB(mW/Hz) in addition to a maximal power of
POFDpl8dB(mW). It can be shown that these boundaries are equivalent in the case of an OFDM system with a
bandwidth of 5 kHz. Hence, the mean power criterion dominates if broadband OFDM systems are used.
In the frequency range of 150 kHz to 30 MHz average and quasi-peak criterions are valid simultaneously.Figure
2 shows the requirements in this frequency range. It also shows the ratio between maximum quasi-peak and
maximum average level, which should be 10 dB. From the above analysis follows that the ratio between
quasi-peak and average value is

in the case of an OFDM input signal. This ratio is less then 6dB using the specified detector in this frequency
range (Figure 6). Hence, an OFDM signal that fulfilsthe average limit also fulfils the quasi-peak criterion. Or in
other words, an OFDM signal that fulfils the maximum quasi-peak level exceeds the average requirement.
Therefore we have to analyse the signal behavior with equation ( 3 ). The power spectral density Sm of the
OFDM signal can be calculated as follows:

The solutions of this equation for the requirements of Figure 2 are shown in Figure 7.
power spectral density

Figure 7: Power spectral density limits for an OFDM signal in conformity with [I] respectively [5].

Conclusion

The performed analysis is important for channel capacity estimation and system design concerning the
regulatory background. The current standards define maximum levels for the behaviour of the transmit signal.
But these boundaries do not reveal limits for transmit power spectra density which are necessary for the
1
calculation of the signal to noise ratio in the receiver.
This paper doesn't only give an overview of the current regulatory limits, it also gives a characterisation of the
meaning of the standardised limits. It is shown on the one hand that the mean power and not the power spectra
density is limited for frequencies up to 150kHz. On the other hand implicit criterions for the power spectra
density exist in the frequency range of 150kHz to 30MHz. Our results indicate in addition that the maximum
average value is the dominant requirement for an OFDM application in this band. With this conclusion we have
calculated the maximum transmit power spectra density in this frequency range. It is noteworthy that the solution
is in the range of measurements of the channel noise.

References

[I] CENELEC. Part 1: General requirements, frequency bands and electromagnetic disturbances. In Signalling
on low-voltage electrical installations in thefiequency range 3 kHz to 148,5 kHz. 1999. prEN 50065-1.
[2] RegTP. Anhorung zum Entwurf der Frequenzbereichszuweisungsplanverordnung.In Amtsblatt der
Regulierungsbehorde Jirr Telekommunikationund Post. Mitteilung Nr. 111999, January 1999.
[3] D. B. Geselowitz. Response of ideal radio noise meter to continuos sine wave, recurrent impulses and
random noise. IRE Transactions on radiofiequency interference, 3:2--11, May 1961.
[4] IEC-CISPER 16-1. Part 1: Radio disturbance and immunity measuring apparatus. In Specification for radio
disturbance and immunity measuring apparatus and methods. 1993. VDE 0876.
[5] IEC-CISPER 22. In Limits and methods of measurement of radio disturbance characteristics of information
technology equipment. 1994. EN 55022.
[6] Y. Peless. Design of quasi-peak detectors with specified constants. IRE Transactions on radiofiequency
interference, 3 :18--23, May 1961.
[7] David Lauder, Dr Yichuang Sun. Modelling and Measurement of Radiated Emission Characteristics of
Power Line Communications Systems for Standards Development. In 3rd~nternationalSymposium on
Power-Line Communications and its applications, Lancaster UK, March 1999.