Systems and methods for estimating time corresponding to peak signal amplitude
Various systems and methods for peak signal detection. As one example, a method for peak signal detection that includes receiving a signal is disclosed. The received signal includes a signal region where the signal is increasing in amplitude, another signal region where the signal is decreasing in amplitude, and a transitional signal region coupling the first two signal regions. In some cases, the transitional region is of zero duration and the signal transitions directly from the increasing region to the decreasing region. The method further include calculating a distance between the signal region of increasing amplitude and the signal region of decreasing amplitude, and determining a peak of the received signal that is one half the distance from the signal region of increasing amplitude.
1. A method for peak signal detection, wherein the method comprises:
receiving a signal, wherein the signal includes a first signal region increasing in amplitude and a second signal region decreasing in amplitude, and wherein the first signal region and second signal region are coupled by a transitional signal region;
sampling the first signal region to yield a first plurality of samples corresponding to the first signal region;
sampling the second signal region to yield a second plurality of samples corresponding to the second signal region;
fixing a first time associated with one sample of the first plurality of samples;
comparing the second plurality of samples with the one of the first plurality of samples;
identifying one of the second plurality of samples that is closest to the one of the first samples;
fixing a second time associated with the one of the second plurality of samples; and
calculating a midpoint between the first time and the second time, wherein the mid-point corresponds to the peak of the signal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the second time includes:
storing the second plurality of sequential samples;
subtracting the first plurality of sequential samples from the second plurality of sequential samples on a sample by sample basis to yield a number of differences; and
summing the absolute value of each of the differences to yield an absolute difference.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein identifying the second time further includes:
repeating the storing the second plurality of sequential samples, and the subtracting the first plurality of sequential samples from the second plurality of sequential samples on a sample by sample basis and in reverse order at least until a minimum absolute difference is identified.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
providing a storage medium, wherein the storage medium includes a spiral reference pattern;
providing a head assembly disposed in relation to the storage medium; and
wherein receiving the signal includes traversing the storage medium by the head assembly along a traversal path, wherein the traversal path crosses the spiral reference pattern at an angle greater than zero, wherein the first signal region occurs in relation to an increasing cross-over with the spiral reference pattern, wherein the second signal region occurs in relation to a decreasing cross-over with spiral reference pattern, and wherein the transitional signal region occurs in relation to a substantially constant cross-over with the spiral reference pattern.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes:
applying digital interpolation, wherein the digital interpolation is operable to produce the first plurality of sequential samples and the second plurality of sequential samples in phase with the peaks of information maintained in the spiral reference pattern.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the angle at which the traversal path crosses the spiral reference pattern is programmable.
7. A method for identifying signal peaks of a spiral reference pattern, the method comprising:
providing a storage medium, wherein the storage medium includes the spiral reference pattern;
traversing the storage medium along a traversal path, wherein the traversal path crosses the spiral reference pattern at an angle greater than zero, wherein the traversal results in receiving a signal, and wherein the signal includes a first signal region, a second signal region, and a transitional signal region;
sampling the first signal region to form a first sample;
identifying a first location within the first signal region;
fixing a first time associated with the first sample;
identifying a second location within the second signal region, wherein a difference between the first sample and a second sample associated with the second location is a minimum;
fixing a second time associated with the second sample;
based at least in part on the first time and the second time, calculating a distance between the first location and the second location;
determining a peak of the signal, wherein the peak of the signal is approximately equal distance from the first signal region and the second signal region; and
wherein the first signal region occurs in relation to an increasing cross-over with the spiral reference pattern, wherein the second signal region occurs in relation to a decreasing cross-over with spiral reference pattern, wherein the transitional signal region occurs in relation to a substantially constant cross-over with the spiral reference pattern, and wherein the first signal region is substantially symmetric with the second signal region.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
providing a storage medium, wherein the storage medium includes a spiral reference pattern;
providing a head assembly disposed in relation to the storage medium; and
wherein receiving the signal includes traversing the storage medium by the head assembly along a traversal path, wherein the traversal path crosses the spiral reference pattern at an angle greater than zero, wherein the first signal region occurs in relation to an increasing cross-over with the spiral reference pattern, wherein the second signal region occurs in relation to a decreasing cross-over with spiral reference pattern, and wherein the transitional signal region occurs in relation to a substantially constant cross-over with the spiral reference pattern.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method further includes:
applying digital interpolation, wherein the digital interpolation is operable to produce the first plurality of sequential samples and the second plurality of sequential samples in phase with the peaks of information maintained in the spiral reference pattern.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the angle at which the traversal path crosses the spiral reference pattern is programmable.