Characterization of noise generators: automated measuring system for the determination of the probability distribution and autocorrelation functions

This paper describes a computer based measuring system dedicated to the determination of both the probability distribution function and autocorrelation function of a noise signal. The system, conceived as a sequential one, is hybrid, with most of the necessary manipulation of signals performed in the analog domain. Details of both hardware and software implementation, as well as results obtained for a Gaussian band limited noise generator, are presented. The system is particularly suited not only to calculate the power spectral density of a signal (using Wiener-Khintchine theorem) and cross-correlation between two signals, but also to recover periodic signals buried in noise.<
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