Digital peak detector with noise threshold

A novel real time digital peak detection technique uses a noise threshold to eliminate noise sensitivity and to provide high throughput. The peak detector at any moment can be in one of only two operating modes - tracking maximum and tracking minimum. The peak detector instantaneously detects and captures the peak values of the digitized signal when the operating mode changes. The maximums are detected at the transition from tracking maximum to tracking minimum. The minimums are detected at the reverse transition. The transitions between the operating modes exhibit a hysteresis that is determined by a digitally set noise threshold.