PEAK DETECTOR

Circuitry is provided for distinguishing peaks in the amplitude of a time-varying signal. The circuitry includes a peak follower comprising a capacitor charged through a diode for storing peak values of the signal. A valley detection circuit is provided for resetting the peak follower following the occurrence of a valley in the signal. This prepares the peak follower for a new peak. A peak is determined to have occurred when the signal drops to an amplitude which is less than a predetermined percentage of the amplitude stored in the capacitor. The percentage is made to drop drastically at low signal levels to prevent noise from resulting in false indications of peaks.