Correlation based analysis of a generalized target description

Abstract

This thesis presents a discrete time implementation and analysis of the generalized impulse response model proposed by Altes. This model is a generalization of the weighted sum of time delayed delta functions typically used to describe the impulse response of scattering targets. The target chosen for the analysis is the rigid acoustic sphere. The coefficients of the generalized model are used to calculate estimates of the radius of the sphere, which is known in advance for testing purposes. The accuracy of the radius estimates indicates the accuracy of the model coefficients. The generalized model is shown to be superior from the standpoint of radius estimation. An estimator for the time of arrival of a signal of unknown but deterministic form is derived. It is based upon a generalized likelihood ratio test whose structure accommodates the generalized model. This estimator performs well in high levels of noise.