Simultaneous detection and parameter estimation of multiple linear chirps

The paper describes a new method for the simultaneous detection and parametric estimation of multiple chirped waveforms using a method based on evolutionary algorithms. Unlike traditional time-frequency analyzers, which provide a distribution of the signal spectrum over a period of time, but do not inherently provide chirp parameters, this new method detects and provides as an output the start and stop frequencies of each chirp, its starting phase and amplitude. The new method is capable of detecting and characterizing multiple chirps which may be overlapping (in time and frequency) and in the presence of significant noise.