A method for the automatic detection and measurement of transients. Part I: the measurement method

• Published in: Measurement : journal of the International Measurement Confederation Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 19 - 30
• Main Authors: Angrisani, L., Daponte, P., D'Apuzzo, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Continuous wavelet transform; Discrete time wavelet transform; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Infrared, submillimeter wave, microwave and radiowave instruments, equipment and techniques; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Optical transient phenomena: quantum beats, photon echo, free-induction decay, dephasings and revivals, optical nutation and self-induced transparency; Optics; Physics; Quantum optics; Transient measurement; Transient measurement; Discrete time wavelet transform; Continuous wavelet transform; Wavelet transforms; Continuous wave; Automatic measurement; Digital signals; Discrete time; Measuring methods; Signal processing; Experimental study; Transients
• ISSN: 0263-2241; 1873-412X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0263-2241(98)00063-3

A digital signal-processing method for the automatic detection and measurement of transients is presented. The method executes a time measurement first in order to estimate the duration of the transient. Successively, thanks both to the result of the time measurement and a suitable subband filtering approach, the transient is extracted from the waveform on which it is superimposed in order to carry out accurate amplitude measurements. Both the phases are based on the use of the Wavelet Transform, which is able to assure accurate results for different kinds of transients also in the presence of a low signal-to-noise ratio. In the paper, a detailed description of the operating steps of the proposed measurement method is given along with useful suggestions aimed at its proper implementation. Furthermore, a complete illustration of the theoretical background underlying the measurement method is provided.