Modeling exponential signals in a dispersive multipath environment

A technique for estimating parameters in exponential signals observed in a multipath environment, where multiple dispersive channels couple transmitter and receiver is presented. This multipath model simulates unique frequency dependent coefficients of attenuation and reflection along the different propagation paths, which can result in received signals that are a linear combination of signals differing both in shape and arrival time. This is distinct from previous multipath modeling papers that treat received signals consisting of delayed scaled replicas of a direct signal. In addition, signal arrivals occurring between sampling times are located by constraining the model amplitudes to account for smoothness conditions at the onset of each signal. The method is used to estimate the parameters of the stepped sine response of a low-frequency flexural disc transducer both with and without multipath interference, and good agreement is obtained