Method and system for performing complex sampling of signals by using two or more sampling channels and for calculating time delays between these channels

A method of calculating a time delay between two or more sampling channels in a signal processing system, said method comprising:

• a) providing a first sampling channel for enabling sampling of a substantially non-delayed signal;
• and
• b) providing one or more additional sampling channels, each sampling channel providing a predefined delay τ to said signal, giving rise to a delayed signal, and then enabling sampling of said delayed signal, wherein said predefined delay τ is calculated by using the relationship between said delay τ and the phase difference Δφ of said delayed signal;
• c) defining the relationship between the time delay τ and the phase difference Δφ by means of at least one of the following:
• a) 2·π·f1·τ=Δφ1+2·π·N;
• and
• b) 2·π·(f1+Δf)·τ=Δφ2+2·π·(N+M),
• wherein Δφ1 is a phase difference of a first delayed signal having a first predefined frequency f1, Δφ2 is a phase difference of a second delayed signal having a second predefined frequency f2, Δf is a difference 20 between said second and first predefined frequencies, thereby f2=f1+Δf, and M and N are integers;
• d) determining the bound of integer M by using the following relationship:
• M
• =
• τ
• ·
• Δ
• 
• 
• f
• -
• Δ
• 
• 
• φ
• 2
• -
• Δ
• 
• 
• φ
• 1
• 2
• 
• π
• ;
• e) measuring frequency differences Δf12 and Δf13 between the first predefined frequency f1, the second predefined frequency f2 and a third predefined frequency f3, giving rise to frequency differences Δf12=f2−f1 and Δf13=f3−f1;f) calculating the time delay τ approximation by using the one or more of the following:
• τ
• =
• Δ
• 
• 
• φ
• 2
• -
• Δ
• 
• 
• φ
• 1
• 2
• 
• π
• ·
• Δ
• 
• 
• f
• 12
• +
• M
• 1
• Δ
• 
• 
• f
• 12
• ;
• and
• a
• )
• τ
• =
• Δ
• 
• 
• φ
• 3
• -
• Δ
• 
• 
• φ
• 1
• 2
• 
• π
• ·
• Δ
• 
• 
• f
• 13
• +
• M
• 2
• Δ
• 
• 
• f
• 13
• ,
• b
• )
• wherein Δφ3 is a phase difference of a third delayed signal having a third predefined frequency f3, and M1 and M2 are integers.