Patent ID: 6745155
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: G01R,G10L

Abstract:
An apparatus for estimating frequency characteristics of an input signal, the apparatus comprising:a basilar membrane model device to which the input signal is applied; and first and second correlator devices, each of said correlator devices connected to a separate segment of the basilar membrane model device and each of said correlator devices having: a first input, connected to a respective one of the segments of the basilar membrane model device, for receiving a segment signal from the respective one segment, the segment signal being present for a predetermined period of time; and a second input, connected to the respective one segment, for receiving the segment signal but shifted by an adjustable time shift; and wherein the time shift associated with the first correlator device is related to the time shift associated with the second correlator device, the first and second correlator devices collectively providing an output signal which is responsive to the time shifts and to frequencies present in the segment signal applied to each of the correlator devices, and the output signal forms a measure of the frequency characteristics of the input signal.