High-Order Orthonormal Scaling Functions and Wavelets Give Poor Time-Frequency Localization

Abstract

For a fairly general class of orthonormal scaling functions and wavelets with regularity exponents n, we prove that the areas of the time-frequency windows tend to infinity as n → ∞. This class includes those of Battle-Lemarie and Daubechies. In addition, if the scaling functions have at least asymptotic linear phase, then we prove that they converge to the "sinc" function and their corresponding orthonormal wavelets converge to the "difference" of two sinc functions.