On detection-estimation procedures in the time-frequency plane

It has been recently shown [1] that the Wigner-Ville distribution can be used for optimum detection, leading to a very simple time-frequency formulation in the case of chirp signals : this paper is intended to extend and illustrate this approach. A generalization of Moyal´s formula is first discussed for determining candidates to optimum detection in Cohen´s class of bilinear time-frequency distributions. Taking into account practical requirements, a modified strategy is then proposed, which both admits a physically very meaningful interpretation and defines a fairly general class of receivers in between semi-coherent and non-coherent ones. This modified approach is illustrated on real data by a time delay measurement problem and possible extensions are suggested.