Evaluation of bistable systems versus matched filters in detecting bipolar pulse signals

TL;DR

This paper compares bistable systems and matched filters for bipolar pulse detection, highlighting the bistable system's robustness, efficiency, and the beneficial role of stochastic resonance in detection performance.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive evaluation showing the bistable system's advantages over matched filters, including robustness and computational efficiency, with the role of stochastic resonance demonstrated.

Findings

Bistable system is more robust against pulse rate disturbances.

Bistable system approaches matched filter performance for unknown signal timing.

Stochastic resonance enhances bistable system detectability.

Abstract

This paper presents a thorough evaluation of a bistable system versus a matched filter in detecting bipolar pulse signals. The detectability of the bistable system can be optimized by adding noise, i.e. the stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon. This SR effect is also demonstrated by approximate statistical detection theory of the bistable system and corresponding numerical simulations. Furthermore, the performance comparison results between the bistable system and the matched filter show that (a) the bistable system is more robust than the matched filter in detecting signals with disturbed pulse rates, and (b) the bistable system approaches the performance of the matched filter in detecting unknown arrival times of received signals, with an especially better computational efficiency. These significant results verify the potential applicability of the bistable system in signal detection field.