Texas Instruments Corporation

Michael C Stephens

Leslie Alexander Priebe

William Dorsey Daniels

The parameters of a digital signal are extracted by the application of autocorrelation and crosscorrelation techniques to effectively measure the frequency and time behavior of a digital signal. The method employs digital autocorrelation and crosscorrelation to determine these parameters. Autocorrelation allows the measurement of signal frequency by measurement of instantaneous signal phase. Crosscorrelation allows measurement of relative phase between two or more signals in two or more channels by measurement of instantaneous phase and by referencing the instantaneous phase to the autocorrelation function. The autocorrelation function and crosscorrelation function preserve relative amplitude and phase. Measurement of relative amplitude and phase allows direction finding calculation for any current class of system that uses amplitude and/or phase to derive angle or arrival. Signal time and frequency measurement at the output of a correlation receiver result in robust characterization of the parameters of the signal. Digital calculations are superior to current analog or hybrid analog and digital methods because errors due to component aging, drift and temperature effects are easily prevented.

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Lucas, TX, United States of America

Michael C Stephens