Non-parametric estimation of the frequency-response functions of the linear blocks of a Wiener-Hammerstein model (Q1367191)

The paper deals with estimating the frequency response functions of the linear dynamical parts of a Wiener-Hammerstein (sandwich) system. To this end, specially designed periodic excitation signals are applied, being a composition of a large-signal and a small-signal multisine. The small signal is used to extract the amplitude and phase of the linear dynamic blocks, while the large signal is used to make the static nonlinearity work as frequency convertor. The frequency transfer function estimates are obtained by using an error-in-variables based maximum likelihood method whose starting points are determined from a combination of weighted linear and nonlinear least-squares. Applicability of the method is examined by computer simulation.