Sensitivity analysis of FM SAW correlator for mobile telephone

The design, development, and performance analysis of a frequency-modulated SAW (surface acoustic wave) correlator for use in the mobile telephone system of Swiss PTT are discussed. A 16-b frequency-modulated synchronization sequence is correlated directly in the IF (intermediate frequency) band. Limits on the performance of the correlator with respect to variations in carrier frequency, FM frequency deviation, and clock rate have been found individually. For the particular case examined, with 3 dB of degradation in the correlation peak, the allowed carrier-frequency variation is approximately equal to half of the inverse of signal duration. The variation in FM frequency deviation and the clock-rate jitter may be allowed up to 6% and 0.1% on either side, respectively