A processor for high-frequency burst signals

Describes the design, development, and application of a digital electronic processor for measuring the frequency of the burst signals typically produced by laser Doppler velocimeters. The processor has an extremely large dynamic range with an upper frequency limit of 100 MHz and a dead time (processing time after acquisition of single burst) of less than 10 μs. It employs precision to amplitude converters to determine the period of the Doppler signal, resulting in a frequency measurement error of less than one percent over the entire range. Although developed primarily for laser velocimeter application, this instrument can be used in any situation where the frequency of burst signals containing only a few cycles must be determined.