An Experimental Approach to CDMA and Interference Mitigation From System Architecture to Hardware Testing through VLSI Design

My first touch with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) was during my early days at the European Space Agency (ESA) when I was involved with the development of an accurate geostationary satellite tracking system exploiting Direct Sequence CDMA. I distinctly recall the surprise to hearfrom my supervisor that “the spread spectrum technique allows transmitting signals below the thermal noise floor”. The statement was intriguing enough for me to enthusiastically accept working on the subject. I immediately fell in love with CDMA systems, as they soon revealed (both to my dismal and to my pleasure) being complex enough to keep me busy for more than a decade.