Modified Kay's method with improved frequency estimation

A modified frequency estimation method for use in the presence of additive complex white Gaussian noise is proposed. This method is basically an exten sion of Kay's method, but includes the use of autocorrelation functions. It retrieves the frequency value from the optimal linear combination of the d ifferenced phases of the autocorrelation functions. It yields a considerabl y lower variance threshold than Kay's method while remaining unbiased and r etaining the same frequency range.