New delay-integration method for resolving individual components of a pair of composite signals

Abstract

Many scientific measurements are actually a composite of two or more indirectly measured values. A distance measurement, for example, is actually a measurement of the true distance and some amount of error added together. A new method for decomposing a pair of such composite signals into their individual components in certain situations is described. The method utilizes a delay time difference between the components in each of the two composite signals to provide information necessary to reconstruct the individual components. This decomposition would allow for the possible removal of one of the components, such as in the case of unwanted noise. The method is able to distinguish between two signals with similar frequencies and amplitudes, making it a viable solution in situations where simple low- or high-pass filtering would remove needed signal information. Three successful applications of the method are described, including measurement of lateral tape motion (LTM) in a magnetic data storage tape drive and removal of additive noise from both an electrical and a mechanical system.

Study of magnitude and component frequency variation of lateral tape motion across an unsupported tape region

“…A technique developed by Petrek and Bhushan (2007), known as the ''delay-integration method'', overcomes the major limitations of the Fotonic edge monitoring technique, the dual probe technique, and the data track monitoring technique. The delay integration method relies on a second edge probe placed in series with the first to provide additional information needed to differentiate between the LTM and edge roughness components.…”