Synthesis and Analysis of Tracking Systems with Optimal Acquisition

The behavior of a tracking system during its acquisition phase is studied in the case where the input signal is a frequency step. The tracking system considered is a generalization of a type-II phase-lock loop where the phase detector characteristic is a general function. In order to improve the acquisition characteristics, the natural evolution of the local oscillator is modified by a command signal chosen in order to minimize the acquisition time, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to maximize the lock-in range and the capture range of the tracking system. The influence of the different parameters (input, damping, natural frequency, pha e characteristic,command signal) on the acquisition of the resulting systems has been précised by means of a theoretical study of the trajectories in the phase plane and by an analog simulation. A simple criterion adopted in order to characterize the acquisition of a system disturbed by noise permits the study of the influence of S/N ratio on acquisition time.