Instrument for the measurement of the instantaneous frequency

This paper describes the design and implementation of an instrument for the measurement of the instantaneous frequency (IF) of a signal. It is based o n the extensive use of signal processing techniques and their implementatio n on efficient processors (digital signal processors or DSP's), The concept of instantaneous frequency is first reviewed and some procedures for its e stimation are evaluated with an off-line virtual instrument, The most promi sing techniques were then implemented on a PC-based instrument, achieving a real-time operation for audio ranges.