A Novel OFDM-FMCW Waveform for Low-Complexity Joint Sensing and Communication

Abstract

With the advent of 6th Generation (6G) wireless networks, integrating Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) waveforms presents a promising solution for simultaneous communication and sensing. While OFDM offers high communication performance, it requires complex transceivers for sensing applications. Conversely, FMCW is easily implemented for sensing but provides low data rates for communication. This letter derives the mathematical relationship between OFDM and FMCW, showing how FMCW can be generated from the diagonal elements of the OFDM modulator (i.e.ifnextchar.gobble, the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) matrix). We propose a novel approach that leverages the DFT matrix to seamlessly integrate these two waveforms, minimizing interference and enabling high data rate communication alongside low-complexity sensing receiver design. Extensive simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique in achieving simultaneous sensing and communication.