Massive Machine-Type Communication Pilot-Hopping Sequence Detection Architectures Based on Non-Negative Least Squares for Grant-Free Random Access

User activity detection in grant-free random access massive machine type communication (mMTC) using pilot-hopping sequences can be formulated as solving a non-negative least squares (NNLS) problem. In this work, two architectures using different algorithms to solve the NNLS problem is proposed. The algorithms are implemented using a fully parallel approach and fixed-point arithmetic, leading to high detection rates and low power consumption. The first algorithm, fast projected gradients, converges faster to the optimal value. The second algorithm, multiplicative updates, is partially implemented in the logarithmic domain, and provides a smaller chip area and lower power consumption. For a detection rate of about one million detections per second, the chip area for the fast algorithm is about 0.7 mm2 compared to about 0.5 mm2 for the multiplicative algorithm when implemented in a 28 nm FD-SOI standard cell process at 1 V power supply voltage. The energy consumption is about 300 nJ/detection for the fast projected gradient algorithm using 256 iterations, leading to a convergence close to the theoretical. With 128 iterations, about 250 nJ/detection is required, with a detection performance on par with 192 iterations of the multiplicative algorithm for which about 100 nJ/detection is required.