Abstract: A synchronization pulse detector includes an absolute value independent shape detector for processing samples of an input signal having a synchronization pulse and a plurality of non-synchronization pulses to determine whether such samples have a predetermined sequence. The predetermined sequence includes a first and second absolute value independent time-varying portions and a first and second absolute value independent non-time varying portions. One of the first and second absolute value independent time-varying portions having a positive slope and the other one of the first and second absolute value independent time-varying portions having a negative slope.

Abstract: A synchronization pulse detector for detecting a synchronization pulse within an input signal. The input signal has “level” portions (i.e., substantially non-time varying portions) and “transition” portions (i.e., substantially time varying portions). The pulse detector includes a pulse shape detector for determining each time the input signal has a sequence of a first “level” portion, followed by a first “transition” portion, followed by a second “level” portion, followed by a second “transition” portion followed by a third “level” portion, one of the first and second “transition” portions being positive and the other one of the first and second “transition” portions being negative. Each time such sequence is determined a pulse_shape detected pulse is produced. An evaluator is provided to reject invalid pulse_shape detected pulses.