A SIMPLE PREDICTION METHOD FOR THE SIGNAL DETECTABILITY OF ACOUSTIC SYSTEMS
Abstract
A method is given for predicting the signal-to-noise ratio to be expected for some simple receiving systems. The method relies heavily on the work of Peterson, Birdsall and Fox, and requires, as a starting point, a specification of detection and false-alarm probabilities as performance criteria. Some sonar examples are indicated, and the validity of the method is demonstrated by comparison with measured recognition differentials for the ear, and with measured detection thresholds for A-scan radar displays. For sinusoidal signals in Gaussian noise, the minimum achievable signal-to-noise ratio is shown to be d/2T sub s, where d is determined by the selected probabilities and T sub s is the observation time. This minimum threshold deteriorates whenever the system requirements impose a deterioration of knowledge of the signal. It is clear that in general the only valid approach to improving the detection threshold is to improve the available knowledge concerning the signal and noise.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0274500
Entities
People
- P. L. Stocklin
- R. J. Urick
Organizations
- Naval Ordnance Laboratory