Performance Analysis of Pulse Positioning Using Adaptive Threshold Detector (ATD)

This paper describes the measurement of pulse positioning (input time) to calculate a time of arrival (TOA) that takes from transmitting a signal from the target of multilateration (MLAT) system to receiving the signal at the receiver. In this regard, this paper analyzes performances of simple threshold method and level adjust system (LAS) method, which is one of the adaptive threshold detector (ATD) methods, among many methods to calculate pulse positioning of signal received at the receiver. To this end, Cramer-rao lower bound (CRLB) with regard to pulse positioning, which was measured when signals transmitted from a transponder mounted at the target were received at the receiver, was induced and then deviation sizes with regard to pulse positioning, which was measured with simple threshold and LAS methods through MATLAB simulations, were compared. Next, problems occurring according to a difference in amplitude of signals inputted to each receiver are described when pulse positioning is measured at multiple receivers located at a different distance from the target as is the case in the MLAT system. Furthermore, LAS method to resolve the problems is explained. Lastly, this study analyzes whether a pulse positioning error occurring due to the signal noise satisfies the requirement (6 nsec. or lower) recommended for the MLAT system when using these two methods.