In a synchronous detection method, an input signal is averaged over at least first and second phase ranges of a target carrier wave within each period thereof to obtain at least first and second moving average values of the input signal within the at least first and second phase ranges, respectively. The first phase range corresponds to a positively oscillating phase range of the target carrier wave, and the second phase range corresponds to a negatively oscillating phase range thereof. A difference between the first and second moving averages is calculated as a detection result of the target carrier wave.