US 11,874,394 B2
System and method for improving signal qualification
Anthony Szymanski, Lucas, TX (US); and Clint W. McLaughlin, Allen, TX (US)
Assigned to Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US)
Filed by Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/196,435.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/004,223, filed on Apr. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0311163 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. G01S 7/292 (2006.01); G01S 7/41 (2006.01); G01S 13/524 (2006.01); H04B 17/345 (2015.01)
CPC G01S 7/2927 (2013.01) [G01S 7/414 (2013.01); G01S 13/5244 (2013.01); H04B 17/345 (2015.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a digital pulse analyzer unit (DPAU), the DPAU comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to:
receive ambient data from an environment;
calculate an average amplitude of the ambient data as a measure of a noise floor;
receive a signal of interest found by the signal of interest exceeding a noise riding threshold, the noise riding threshold being an upward offset from the noise floor;
calculate a running average for amplitude and frequency of the signal of interest;
calculate a running variance for the amplitude and the frequency of the signal of interest;
use the running average and the running variance to provide an adjustment to limits for modulation detection;
use an offset from the noise riding threshold to provide a signal qualification minimum amplitude;
qualify the signal of interest based at least on the signal qualification minimum amplitude;
create a secondary signal qualification minimum amplitude, in addition to, and upwardly offset from the noise riding threshold, wherein the secondary signal qualification minimum amplitude results in signals with a higher signal to noise ratio than the signal qualification minimum amplitude;
adjust the secondary signal qualification minimum amplitude, wherein as the noise floor changes the secondary signal qualification minimum amplitude moves with the noise riding threshold and the noise floor; and
qualify a second signal of interest based at least on the secondary signal qualification minimum amplitude.