The Effect of Hard Limiting in the Presence of Large Out-of-Band Interfering Signals

The effect of hard limiting on the phase of a test signal was investigated when large out-of-band interfering signals are present at the input to the limiter. First a single and then two discrete interfering signals were considered. The interfering signals and the test signal are restricted to narrow but separated bands. The test signal is recovered after limiting by narrowband filtering. The analysis of the single interfering signal is essentially the same as that performed by Cahn.1 In this correspondence experimental evidence is presented to verify the analysis and, in addition, the case of two interfering signals is considered.     

Hard-Limiter Output Autocorrelation Function: Gaussian & Sinusoidal Input

An expression is derived for the autocorrelation function of the output of a hard limiter whose input is stationary Gaussian noise with zero mean plus independent random-phase sinusoidal signal. The output spectrum may then be evaluated. This spectrum is extremely useful in understanding the properties of a filter-limit-filter-detect signal processor whose signal input is an actual sinusoid, or when a sinusoid is used as a test signal.     

Analysis and Design Considerations of Hard Limiters for LF and VLF Navaid Receivers

Hard limiters, followed by a D-type flip-flop as a digital-signal-polarity detector, are very effective receiver/phase detectors for low frequency (LF) and very low frequency (VLF) navigation receivers. However the performance not only depends on the signal quality, but also on the specifications of the hard limiter and the flip-flop. Analysis of the tracking accuracy is given as a function of the dc offsets of the limiter and the flip-flop, the linear gain of the limiter, the signal-to-noise ratios of one or more input signals, and the power consumption of the limiter. The results are presented in formulas and graphs for application by circuit designers. A design example of a low-power, high-gain limiter is given.     

基于独立成分分析的混合LFM信号检测

混合LFM信号广泛存在于实际信号环境巾,对其检测极其重要。对有严重交叉项的混合LFM信号的检测十分困难,因此提出了一种基于独立成分分析的混合LFM信号检测法。通过盲源分离提取各独立成分,利用时频分布矩阵的联合对角化法抑制交叉项,再由各成分信号自项求和重构Wigner-Ville分布,采用Wigner-Hough检测各LFM成分。分析了Wigner-Hough变换输入信噪比和输出信噪比的关系,仿真验证了算法的有效性,得出随着样本点数的增加,在低信噪比条件下,能获得好的检测性能的结论：     

Analysis of a Class of Nonlinear Sampled-Data Systems with a Gaussian Input Signal

The problem treated here is the analysis of a class of nonlinear sampled-data systems with a Gaussian input signal. The nonlinear element is a symmetrical limiter (memoryless device) that feeds the linear element. Preceding the limiter is a sampler and zero-order hold unit for data reconstruction. The analysis is predicated on finding an equivalent gain for the nonlinear element such that the mean-square error is a minimum. The nonlinearity is thus replaced by a linear component and the system is then analyzed by conventional techniques. It is also shown that for appropriate sampling rates the sampled-data system is equivalent to a continuous system due to the action of the sampler-hold combination. All calculations pertaining to the limiter input signal require the use of a transfer function that is interior to the feedback loop. However, in developing this transfer function, the overall system is considered so that the system output may be evaluated after the value of equivalent gain has been found.     

The Detection Performance of the Siebert and Dicke-Fix CFAR Radar Detectors

The Siebert and the Dicke-fix CFAR radar detectors, used to maintain a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) in radar receivers under very similar circumstances, are considered. The Siebert detector represents the maximum-likelihood detection procedure for a signal in Gaussian noise of unknown power level, whereas the Dicke-fix makes use of a bandpass limiter to normalize the input and thus ensure a constant false alarm rate. The detection performance of the two detectors is determined and a comparison shows that over a wide range of parameters, the Dicke-fix introduces a loss which is approximately 1 B larger than for the Siebert detector.     

一种机动多目标雷达视频信号模拟器的设计

给出了一种机动多目标雷达视频信号模拟器的软硬件设计方案,它可实时输出所需的多个动目标雷达视频信号,雷达信号的类型、目标的数量、目标的回波特性、目标的运动特性、杂波的类型及参数等均可方便地进行设置。该模拟器可满足各种雷达信号处理算法(如杂波抑制、恒虚警检测、动目标跟踪、多基地数据融合等)的测试与效果分析,以及对雷达信号处理机等进行性能调试与测试的需要。     

Data quantization effects in CFAR signal detection

In this paper, we investigate data quantization effects in constant false alarm rate (CFAR) signal detection. Exponential distribution for the input data and uniform quantization are assumed for the CFAR detector analysis. Such assumptions are valid in the case of radar for a Swerling I target in Gaussian clutter plus noise and a receiver with analog square-law detection followed by analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion. False alarm and detection probabilities of the cell averaging (CA) and order statistic (OS) CFAR detectors operating on quantized observations are analytically determined. In homogeneous backgrounds with 15 dB clutter power fluctuations, we show analytically that a 12-bit uniform quantizer is sufficient to achieve false alarm rate invariance. Detector performance characteristics in nonhomogeneous backgrounds, due to regions of clutter power transitions and multiple interfering targets, are also presented and detailed comparisons are given     

Output Signal-to-Noise Ratios for Amplitude-Modulated Noise-Like Lasers

A general expression of the output SNR of a photodetector is derived for a noise-like laser amplitude-modulated by a stationary Gaussian random modulating signal in the presence of a background light. The electric field Vx(t) of the noise-like laser is assumed to be a stationary narrowband Gaussian random process with zero mean. Two types of modulating signal are considered, the baseband and bandpass modulating signals. More specifically, the effects of the center frequency of the modulating signal, the modulating degree, the bandwidth ration of the noise-like laser to the modulating signal, the effective average quantum rate, and input CNR on output SNR are studied. The detection characteristics of the noise-like laser are also made clear by comparison with the case of a coherent laser.     

Receiver operating characteristics for the coherent UWB randomnoise radar

An ultrawideband (UWB) random-noise radar operating in the 1-2 GHz frequency band has been developed and held-tested at a 200 m range at the University of Nebraska. A unique heterodyne correlation technique based on a delayed transmitted waveform using a photonic delay line has been used to inject coherence within this system. The performance of this radar, assuming a point target, has been investigated from a statistical point of view by developing the theoretical basis for the system's receiver operating characteristics (ROC). Explicit analytical expressions for the joint probability density function (pdf) of the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components of the receiver output have been derived under the assumption that the input signals are partially correlated Gaussian processes. The pdf and the complementary cumulative distribution function (cdf) for the envelope of the receiver output are also derived. These expressions are used to relate the probability of detection (P_d) to the probability of false alarm (P_f ) for different numbers of integrated samples, and the results are analyzed     

Excitation control of a synchronous generator using a lookup table

A scheme involving the use of a lookup table is developed for the excitation control of a synchronous generator. The proposed control scheme, generator speed deviation, and acceleration deviation are taken as the input signals. These input signals are sampled and converted to linguistic terms before they are fed into the controller. The controller generates the desired output (control) signal by using a set of production rules (if-then rules) that are based on previous experience to relate the input signals to the output. The output signal is converted from linguistic terms to a numerical value before it is sent to the excitation system of the synchronous machine. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme, digital simulations of a synchronous generator subject to a three-phase fault under different operating conditions were performed. It was found that the controller can improve the dynamic performance of a synchronous generator over a wide range of operating conditions. Since the controller does not require model identification, it is computationally efficient and is suitable for online excitation control, using a microcomputer     

Energy Detection of a Random Process in Colored Gaussian Noise

A likelihood receiver for a Gaussian random signal process in colored Gaussian noise is realized with a quadratic form of a finite-duration sample of the input process. Such a receiver may be called a "filtered energy detector." The output statistic is compared with a threshold and if the threshold is exceeded, a signal is said to be present. False alarm and detection probabilities may be estimated if tabulated distributions can be fitted to the actual distributions of the test statistic which are unknown. Gamma distributions were fitted to the conditional probability densities of the output statistic by equating means and variances, formulas for which are derived assuming a large observation interval. A numerical example is given for the case in which the noise and signal processes have spectral densities of the same shape or are flat. The optimum filter turns out to be a band-limited noise whitener. The factors governing false alarm and detection probabilities are the filter bandwidth, the sample duration, and the signal level compared to the noise. Two sets of receiver operating characteristic curves are presented to complete the example.     

Performance Degradation of MTI Circuits Due to Amplitude Limiting

The loss in output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) due to amplitude limiting is obtained for a radar circuit consisting of a bandpass limiter, coherent demodulator, matched filter, and moving-target-indicator (MTI) filter. The circuit is used in scanning MTI radars. The tandem connection of the limiter and coherent demodulator is a model for the saturation of the intermediate-frequency (IF) demodulator of an MTI radar. Results on special functions are used to obtain simple formulas for the loss in output SNR relative to a linear IF demodulator when the input SNR is less than -15 dB and the number of hits per 3-dB beamwidth exceeds 15.     

A Superlimiting Phased-Array Receiving System in a Two-Source Environment

The performance of a uniformly spaced phased-steered line array with element channel superlimiting is studied for far-field sources consisting of 1) two sinusoidal signals with different frequencies and angular locations, and 2) a sinusoid and a noise signal at different angular locations. Attention is focused on the nonlinear case where internal noise is negligible compared to both input signals. The analysis for the two-sinusoid case gives the precise frequencies, positions, and amplitudes of all apparent sources. In addition to the two active sources, the array output has an array of images arranged symmetrically in sine space about the larger input, at intervals equal to the spacing between the two active sources. For the case of a separated sinusoid and a noise source, the analysis shows that the angular positions and average powers of the array outputs duplicate the double-sinusoid results, but the images have noise-like spectra. The analyses are confirmed by experimental results obtained with a 60-element superlimiting X-band array.     

Coherent Square Wave Demodulation of Ideal Limiter Output

An ideal limiter may be used to single-bit quantize a noisy sinusoidal signal. This digitization is particularly economical if the signal is to be recorded. lt might then be desired to obtain phase coherence with the limited input signal. A single-bit digital phase-locked loop. utilizing a square wave reference, could be used for this purpose. The effects of coherent square wave demodulation on the signal-to-noise ratio and the (signal-to-noise spectral density) ratio are discussed. The latter result is directly applicable to the performance of the digital phase-locked loop.     

Analog clutter cancellation algorithms for dynamic range reduction

A technique that effectively reduces the dynamic range of the input signal in a radar receiver prior to digitization is presented. The dynamic range reduction is accomplished through a process that predicts the next radar return signal from the previous return signals, generates a replica waveform, and subtracts this replica waveform from the radar return signal prior to digitization. This process allows the radar return signal to be digitized without distortion by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having a limited dynamic range. The full dynamic range of the radar return signal is then restored by adding the replica waveform to the ADC output. Test and evaluation results using both synthetic and recorded radar data demonstrate in excess of a 30-dB reduction in the dynamic range of the signal at the ADC input when strong clutter is present     

The Response of Hard-Limiting Bandpass Limiters to PM Signals

The signal-to-noise ratio of the output of a hard-limiting bandpass limiter to a PM signal is calculated by using the probability density function of the random phase variable. The signal-to-noise ratio transfer characteristics are plotted for comparison.     

分布式接收宽带多目标信号盲检测迭代处理方法

随着软硬件技术的飞速发展和宽带接收机的广泛使用,频谱检测向着高瞬时带宽的方向发展,传统基于信道化处理的频谱检测方法存在搜索速度慢、处理效率低下的问题。文章提出了 1种新的分布式接收宽带多目标信号盲检测迭代处理方法,在无须预先知道信号数目及信号频谱位置的情况下,能够实现特定虚警概率多信号盲检测,具备较高的灵活性和稳健性。首先,在对信号特征进行分析的基础上,通过构造线性模型,将分布式接收多目标信号检测转化为线性模型求解问题进行处理;然后,基于贝叶斯多参数联合求解模型,在对未知参数先验分布进行合理假设的基础上,推导了各未知参数变分分布及信号检测门限的解析表达式,采用变分分布软信息迭代的方式实现多传感器信号、多参数联合估计,并利用每次迭代参数估计结果,对信号检测门限进行更新,通过置零操作实现预设虚警概率下的多信号盲检测;最后,通过仿真实验对所提方法性能进行了分析,并与相关方法进行了对比。仿真结果表明,所提方法能够有效利用多路接收信号信息,实现宽带未知多目标信号的盲检测,有效提升短数据下的算法处理效能,与现有方法相比,在接收单元数目较多以及信噪比较低时具有明显优势。     

Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio for Amplitude and Intensity Modulated Laser

General expressions are obtained for output SNR for both amplitude- and intensity-modulated lasers, where bandlimited Gaussian noise has been chosen as a modulating signal, and in the presence of background light. Two types of modulating signals are considered: the baseband and bandpass modulating signals. Detailed calculations are made for output SNR when an ideal narrowband optical filter is used. The dependence of output SNR on several parameters, such as the center frequency of the modulating signal, the effective average quantum rate, and input SNR, are discussed. In addition, the difference in performance between amplitude and intensity modulation is discussed. The detection characteristics of the homodyne system are also considered.     

Signal Resolution via Digital Inverse Filtering

Research in numerous areas is directed toward the resolution of multiple overlapping signals in a noisy environment. These areas include radar, sonar, speech, seismology, and electrophysiology. Sometimes matched filters are used; other times inverse filters are employed. This paper discusses one approach to the analysis of the resolution of inverse filters. Our method is to compromise the trade-off between signal resolution and the output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A performance measure for the inverse or deconvolution filter is defined as a quantity proportional to the harmonic mean of the resolution and the SNR. An optimum output pulse duration is obtained using this criterion, where the pulse shape has been previously selected and the input signal waveform is known. In addition, upper and lower bounds for the output pulse duration are presented. Graphs are given which allow the designer to select the optimum inverse filter output pulse duration for a desired signal resolution and an estimated SNR.