Embodiments of the invention include methods and instruments for performing combinatorial mask triggering. One or more mask triggers can be configured. Combinatorial mask triggering logic can make various determinations about the relationship between a digitized signal and the one or more mask triggers. The various determinations about the relationship can include considerations of both space and time. When the combinatorial trigger criteria have been satisfied, a trigger signal is generated, and the digital data associated with an incoming signal is stored to memory. The combinatorial mask triggering logic can operate on signals in the frequency domain, the time domain, or both.

Embodiments of the invention include methods and instruments for performing combinatorial mask triggering. One or more mask triggers can be configured. Combinatorial mask triggering logic can make various determinations about the relationship between a digitized signal and the one or more mask triggers. The various determinations about the relationship can include considerations of both space and time. When the combinatorial trigger criteria have been satisfied, a trigger signal is generated, and the digital data associated with an incoming signal is stored to memory. The combinatorial mask triggering logic can operate on signals in the frequency domain, the time domain, or both.

An RF signal detection device, including: a first threshold crossing detection circuit comprising an input coupled to an input of the RF signal detection device; a first energy detection circuit comprising an input coupled to the input of the RF signal detection device; a second threshold crossing detection circuit comprising an input coupled to an output of the first energy detection circuit; and further including a control circuit configured to: carry out, by the first threshold crossing detection circuit, detection of at least a first threshold crossing frequency in a predetermined RF frequency band; and carry out, by the first energy detection circuit, energy detection in the predetermined RF frequency band; and carry out, by the second threshold crossing detection circuit, detection of at least a second threshold crossing frequency of a first energy signal delivered as an output from the first energy detection circuit; and determine, at least from the first and second threshold crossing frequencies and the first energy signal, whether a single RF signal is present in the RF frequency band.

A frequency mask trigger capable of triggering based on a logical combination of two or more areas of a frequency mask transforms a frame of digital data representing an input signal into a frequency spectrum having a plurality of frequency bins, with each frequency bin having a power amplitude value. A frequency mask is defined having a plurality of reference power levels, one reference power level being associated with each frequency bin. Two or more areas of the frequency mask are defined, with each mask area corresponding to one or more of the frequency bins. A violation status is determined for each mask area by comparing all of the power amplitude values within each mask area to the associated reference power level. If any of the power amplitude values within the mask area violates the associated reference power level, then the entire mask area is deemed to be violated. A trigger signal is generated when a logical combination of the violation statuses of the mask areas is satisfied.

A frequency mask trigger capable of triggering based on a logical combination of two or more areas of a frequency mask transforms a frame of digital data representing an input signal into a frequency spectrum having a plurality of frequency bins, with each frequency bin having a power amplitude value. A frequency mask is defined having a plurality of reference power levels, one reference power level being associated with each frequency bin. Two or more areas of the frequency mask are defined, with each mask area corresponding to one or more of the frequency bins. A violation status is determined for each mask area by comparing all of the power amplitude values within each mask area to the associated reference power level. If any of the power amplitude values within the mask area violates the associated reference power level, then the entire mask area is deemed to be violated. A trigger signal is generated when a logical combination of the violation statuses of the mask areas is satisfied.

A frequency discriminator comprising a power splitter for splitting a signal into first and second paths, wherein the first path is configured to provide a first, straight-through signal and the second path includes a frequency-dependent element, such as low-pass filter, so as to provide a second signal. The frequency discriminator further comprises a circuit configured to compare the first and second signals and generate an instantaneous frequency signal in dependence thereon.

A frequency discriminator comprising a power splitter for splitting a signal into first and second paths, wherein the first path is configured to provide a first, straight-through signal and the second path includes a frequency-dependent element, such as low-pass filter, so as to provide a second signal. The frequency discriminator further comprises a circuit configured to compare the first and second signals and generate an instantaneous frequency signal in dependence thereon.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes: a mixer to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal and downconvert the RF signal into a second frequency signal; an amplifier coupled to the mixer to amplify the second frequency signal; an image rejection (IR) circuit coupled to the programmable gain amplifier (PGA) to orthogonally correct a gain and a phase of the amplified second frequency signal to output a corrected amplified second frequency signal; and a complex filter to filter the corrected amplified second frequency signal.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a propulsion system, a camera system, a processor, and communications circuitry. The camera system includes an image channel with a band pass filter centered near a spectral line of a material associated with wildfires, and the camera system captures a spectral line emission image within a region of a potential wildfire. The processor uses the captured spectral line emission image to identify an emission event indicative of a wildfire. The communications circuitry transmits, to a dispatch system, data describing a location of an identified emission event. The dispatch system may dispatch firefighting resources to the location of the wildfire.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a propulsion system, a camera system, a processor, and communications circuitry. The camera system includes an image channel with a band pass filter centered near a spectral line of a material associated with wildfires, and the camera system captures a spectral line emission image within a region of a potential wildfire. The processor uses the captured spectral line emission image to identify an emission event indicative of a wildfire. The communications circuitry transmits, to a dispatch system, data describing a location of an identified emission event. The dispatch system may dispatch firefighting resources to the location of the wildfire.