We propose to combine cepstrum and nonlinear time–frequency (TF) analysis
to study multiple component oscillatory signals with time-varying frequency and
amplitude and with time-varying non-sinusoidal oscillatory pattern. The concept of
cepstrum is applied to eliminate the wave-shape function influence on the TF analysis,
and we propose a new algorithm, named de-shape synchrosqueezing transform (deshape
SST). The mathematical model, adaptive non-harmonic model, is introduced
and the de-shape SST algorithm is theoretically analyzed. In addition to simulated
signals, several different physiological, musical and biological signals are analyzed to
illustrate the proposed algorithm.