Madeira, M. M.Bellis, S. J.Beltran, L. A. A.Gonzalez, J. S.Nocetti, D. F. G.Marnane, W. P.Tokhi, M. O.Ruano, M. Graça2015-04-132015-04-131999-05-010967-0661AUT: MRU00118;http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/5872This paper presents two separate investigations into the real-time implementation of the modified covariance spectral estimator: one comparing performances on digital signal processors, the TMS320C40, and the recently released ADSP2016x (SHARC); another using application-specific custom circuitry. The advantages and disadvantages of each of these different approaches are reviewed, resulting in the design of a field-programmable gate array/digital signal processor-based high-performance system that combines the hardware and software approaches. In conjunction with pulsed Doppler ultrasound blood-flow detectors, the spectral estimator offers increased sensitivity in the non-invasive detection of arterial disease. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.engArchitecturesDigital signal processorsIntegrated circuitsParallel processingReal-timeSpectral estimationjournal articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0967-0661(98)00207-X