Analysis of envelope detector loss using arbitrary order Gram-Charlier series

The analysis of envelope detector performance is a fundamental and difficult problem in receiver design. In this paper, from the point of view of detector loss, the method of analyzing envelope detector performance with arbitrary order Gram-Charlier series is derived which is more accurate than the usual method - Barton empirical formula. Based on this, the effects on detector loss of three factors - video integration number, detection threshold and the input SNR of envelope detector - are analyzed and the accuracy of Barton empirical formula is also discussed. By choosing the proper order of Gram-Charlier series expansion and the validation of Monte Carlo simulation, the accuracy and fidelity of Gram-Charlier series expansion method is guaranteed. The methods can be used widely in receiver design.