Frequency rectification tool for shorter waveforms

Apparatus for detecting a signal (S) of interest contained within a waveform (F) comprised of a plurality of frequencies within a frequency spectrum, as well as random noise, comprising:

• means (12) for capturing the waveform starting at any instant of time;
• means (20) converting the waveform from analog to digital;
• means (22) processing the digitized waveform;
• and,
• means for supplying results of the processing as an input to an oscillator (24) using dynamic synchronization, the oscillator (24) operating at a nominal output frequency which is near that of the signal of interest to which the processed digitized waveform is supplied as an input, the oscillator canceling the effects of the noise in the waveform and shifting its output frequency to a different frequency which is a function of the signal of interest.

A method of detecting a signal (S) of interest contained within a waveform (F) comprised of a plurality of frequencies within a frequency spectrum, as well as random noise, comprising:

• detecting the waveform starting at any instant of time;
• determining if the duration (Td) of the waveform is of a sufficient duration for subsequent processing;
• if the duration of the waveform is of insufficient duration, concatenating the waveform with itself to produce a waveform of sufficient duration;
• and,
• processing the concatenated waveform and supplying results of the processing as an input to an oscillator (24) using dynamic synchronization, the oscillator operating at a nominal output frequency which is near that of the signal of interest, the oscillator canceling the effects of the noise in the waveform and shifting its output frequency to a different frequency which is a function of the signal of interest.