Area-efficient analog decoder design for low density parity check codes in deep-space applications

Area-efficient design methodology is proposed for the analog decoding implementations of the rate-½ accumulate repeat-4 jagged-accumulate (AR4JA) low density parity check (LDPC) code. The proposed approach is designed using optimized decoding architecture and regularized routing network, in such a way that the overall wiring overhead is minimized and the silicon area utilization is significantly improved. The prototyping chip used to verify the approach is fully integrated in a four-metal double-poly 0.35 μm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, and includes an input-output interface that maximizes the decoder throughput. The decoding core area is 2.02 mm² with a post-layout area utilization of 80%. The decoder was successfully tested at the maximum data rate of 10 Mbit/s, with a core power consumption of 6.78 mW at 3.3 V, which corresponds to an energy per decoded bit of 0.677 nJ. The proposed analog LDPC decoder with low processing power and high-reliability is suitable for space- and power-constrained spacecraft system.