Method and apparatus for a digital peak detection system including a

Abstract

A digital peak detection system digitizes analog signals and provides absolute values to a series of one cycle delays, and to a sequence of comparator stages. Each digital sample is parallel compared to a number of preceding samples equal to the number of active comparator stages. Control signals activate comparator stages to determine sample comparison window length, including lengths exceeding the number of samples between recorded peaks. Peak detection is optimized using a variable gain amplifier whose gain is updated based upon amplitude difference between actual and desired peak samples. When sample amplitudes are smaller than a qualifier threshold, a countdown timer increases amplifier gain after lapse of a programmed time without detecting a qualified pulse. Gain is also updated when the analog to digital converter saturates. Initial gain values can be programmed, and gain stored at the end of a servo mode for future use in reducing gain control loop convergence time.