Chirp

Types

Linear

In a linear-frequency chirp or simply linear chirp, the instantaneous frequency ${\displaystyle f(t)}$ varies exactly linearly with time: $${\displaystyle f(t)=ct+f_0,}$$ where ${\displaystyle f_0}$ is the starting frequency (at time ${\displaystyle t=0}$) and ${\displaystyle c}$ is the chirp rate, assumed constant: $${\displaystyle c=\frac{f_1-f_0}{T}=\frac{\mathrm{\Delta }f}{\mathrm{\Delta }t}.}$$

Here, ${\displaystyle f_1}$ is the final frequency and ${\displaystyle T}$ is the time it takes to sweep from ${\displaystyle f_0}$ to ${\displaystyle f_1}$.

The corresponding time-domain function for the phase of any oscillating signal is the integral of the frequency function, as one expects the phase to grow like ${\displaystyle \varphi (t+\mathrm{\Delta }t)\simeq \varphi (t)+2\pi f(t)\mathrm{\Delta }t}$, i.e., that the derivative of the phase is the angular frequency ${\displaystyle {\varphi }^{\prime }(t)=2\pi f(t)}$.

For the linear chirp, this results in: $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}\varphi (t)& ={\varphi }_0+2\pi {\int }_0^{t}f(\tau )d\tau \\ & ={\varphi }_0+2\pi {\int }_0^t\left(c\tau +f_0\right)d\tau \\ & ={\varphi }_0+2\pi \left(\frac{c}{2}{t}^2+f_{0}t\right),\end{array}}$$

where ${\displaystyle {\varphi }_0}$ is the initial phase (at time ${\displaystyle t=0}$). Thus this is also called a quadratic-phase signal.

The corresponding time-domain function for a sinusoidal linear chirp is the sine of the phase in radians: $${\displaystyle x(t)=\sin \left[{\varphi }_0+2\pi \left(\frac{c}{2}{t}^2+f_{0}t\right)\right]}$$

Exponential

In a geometric chirp, also called an exponential chirp, the frequency of the signal varies with a geometric relationship over time. In other words, if two points in the waveform are chosen, ${\displaystyle t_1}$ and ${\displaystyle t_2}$, and the time interval between them ${\displaystyle T=t_2-t_1}$ is kept constant, the frequency ratio ${\displaystyle f\left(t_2\right)/f\left(t_1\right)}$ will also be constant.

In an exponential chirp, the frequency of the signal varies exponentially as a function of time: $${\displaystyle f(t)=f_0{k}^{\frac{t}{T}}}$$ where ${\displaystyle f_0}$ is the starting frequency (at ${\displaystyle t=0}$), and ${\displaystyle k}$ is the rate of exponential change in frequency.

$${\displaystyle k=\frac{f_1}{f_0}}$$

Where ${\displaystyle f_1}$ is the ending frequency of the chirp (at ${\displaystyle t=T}$).

Unlike the linear chirp, which has a constant chirpyness, an exponential chirp has an exponentially increasing frequency rate.

The corresponding time-domain function for the phase of an exponential chirp is the integral of the frequency: $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}\varphi (t)& ={\varphi }_0+2\pi {\int }_0^{t}f(\tau )d\tau \\ & ={\varphi }_0+2\pi f_0{\int }_0^t{k}^{\frac{\tau }{T}}d\tau \\ & ={\varphi }_0+2\pi f_0\left(\frac{T\left(k^{\frac{t}{T}}-1\right)}{\ln (k)}\right)\end{array}}$$ where ${\displaystyle {\varphi }_0}$ is the initial phase (at ${\displaystyle t=0}$).

The corresponding time-domain function for a sinusoidal exponential chirp is the sine of the phase in radians: $${\displaystyle x(t)=\sin \left[{\varphi }_0+2\pi f_0\left(\frac{T\left(k^{\frac{t}{T}}-1\right)}{\ln (k)}\right)\right]}$$

As was the case for the Linear Chirp, the instantaneous frequency of the Exponential Chirp consists of the fundamental frequency ${\displaystyle f(t)=f_0{k}^{\frac{t}{T}}}$ accompanied by additional harmonics.

Hyperbolic

Hyperbolic chirps are used in radar applications, as they show maximum matched filter response after being distorted by the Doppler effect.

In a hyperbolic chirp, the frequency of the signal varies hyperbolically as a function of time: $${\displaystyle f(t)=\frac{f_0{f}_{1}T}{(f_0-f_1)t+f_{1}T}}$$

The corresponding time-domain function for the phase of a hyperbolic chirp is the integral of the frequency: $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}\varphi (t)& ={\varphi }_0+2\pi {\int }_0^{t}f(\tau )d\tau \\ & ={\varphi }_0+2\pi \frac{-f_0{f}_{1}T}{f_1-f_0}\ln \left(1-\frac{f_1-f_0}{f_{1}T}t\right)\end{array}}$$ where ${\displaystyle {\varphi }_0}$ is the initial phase (at ${\displaystyle t=0}$).

The corresponding time-domain function for a sinusoidal hyperbolic chirp is the sine of the phase in radians: $${\displaystyle x(t)=\sin \left[{\varphi }_0+2\pi \frac{-f_0{f}_{1}T}{f_1-f_0}\ln \left(1-\frac{f_1-f_0}{f_{1}T}t\right)\right]}$$

Generation

A chirp signal can be generated with analog circuitry via a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), and a linearly or exponentially ramping control voltage. It can also be generated digitally by a digital signal processor (DSP) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC), using a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) and by varying the step in the numerically controlled oscillator. It can also be generated by a YIG oscillator.

Relation to an impulse signal

A chirp signal shares the same spectral content with an impulse signal. However, unlike in the impulse signal, spectral components of the chirp signal have different phases, i.e., their power spectra are alike but the phase spectra are distinct. Dispersion of a signal propagation medium may result in unintentional conversion of impulse signals into chirps (whistler). On the other hand, many practical applications, such as chirped pulse amplifiers or echolocation systems, use chirp signals instead of impulses because of their inherently lower peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR).

Uses and occurrences

Chirp modulation

Chirp modulation, or linear frequency modulation for digital communication, was patented by Sidney Darlington in 1954 with significant later work performed by Winkler in 1962. This type of modulation employs sinusoidal waveforms whose instantaneous frequency increases or decreases linearly over time. These waveforms are commonly referred to as linear chirps or simply chirps.

Hence the rate at which their frequency changes is called the chirp rate. In binary chirp modulation, binary data is transmitted by mapping the bits into chirps of opposite chirp rates. For instance, over one bit period "1" is assigned a chirp with positive rate a and "0" a chirp with negative rate −a. Chirps have been heavily used in radar applications and as a result advanced sources for transmission and matched filters for reception of linear chirps are available.

Chirplet transform

Another kind of chirp is the projective chirp, of the form: $${\displaystyle g=f\left[\frac{a\cdot x+b}{c\cdot x+1}\right],}$$ having the three parameters a (scale), b (translation), and c (chirpiness). The projective chirp is ideally suited to image processing, and forms the basis for the projective chirplet transform.

Key chirp

A change in frequency of Morse code from the desired frequency, due to poor stability in the RF oscillator, is known as chirp, and in the R-S-T system is given an appended letter 'C'.