COMPLEX SIGNAL CORRELATOR AND METHOD THEREFOR

A complex signal correlator (106) and method therefor for correlating, at the multiple points in time, complex sampled (111) and reference (112) signals to produce a complex correlation signal (113). A relationship between the location of the reference signal (112) relative to the real and imaginary axes (301 and 302) is determined. The sampled signal (111) is processed responsive to the determined location) relative to the axes (301 and 302), of the reference signal (112) to produce real and imaginary processed components (210 and 211). The complex correlation signal (113) is produced responsive to adding (202-205) combinations of the real and imaginary processed components (210 and 211). Substituting adders (202-205) in the present invention for multipliers in the prior art complex signal correlators along with processing the sampled signal (111) significantly reduces the complexity of the complex signal correlator (106).