Novel acquisition-aid design for the split-loop phase-lock receiver

The authors describe a number of acquisition-aid schemes applicable to a tracking receiver, and discusses the relative merits of each, when applied to the proposed new split-loop tracking receiver. It is demonstrated that the more conventional designs of acquisition aid, currently in use on long-loop receivers, are less than optimum when applied to a split-loop receiver. A novel form of sweep acquisition aid, incorporating a feedback correction system, is described for application to a split-loop receiver. The operation of the system is described mathematically, along with its practical implementation and operation in an actual tracking receiver. This scheme is also shown to be applicable to conventional long-loop receivers.<>