Satellite navigation system using multiple antennas
First Claim
1. A method of obtaining an initial position solution in a satellite navigation system for an object using a plurality of antennas, the antennas connected to at least one receiver, the antennas having a common reference clock, the method comprising:
- a. providing the common reference clock for each antenna;
b. receiving satellite signals at each antenna;
c. the receiver determining the initial position solution for the antennas using an external constraint in addition to the common reference clock and the satellite signals received at the antennas, wherein the external constraint is independent of received satellite signals, d. the initial position solution being obtained using signals from fewer than four satellites at some or all antennas.
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Abstract
A satellite navigation system using multiple antennas for providing the position of multiple fiduciary points on an object even when fewer than four satellites are visible to some or all the antennas. Satellite signals from the multiple antennas are fed into at least one receiver. The receiver or receivers utilize constraint information, which is independent of the satellite signals. These external constraints are used to augment the signals received from the satellites, to obtain the position solution for each antenna. In a preferred embodiment, a common reference clock is used to provide an external constraint. Examples of other external constraints that can be used in the current invention are distance between the antennas, inertial measurement of attitude, rotational or linear position sensors, etc.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of obtaining an initial position solution in a satellite navigation system for an object using a plurality of antennas, the antennas connected to at least one receiver, the antennas having a common reference clock, the method comprising:
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a. providing the common reference clock for each antenna;
b. receiving satellite signals at each antenna;
c. the receiver determining the initial position solution for the antennas using an external constraint in addition to the common reference clock and the satellite signals received at the antennas, wherein the external constraint is independent of received satellite signals, d. the initial position solution being obtained using signals from fewer than four satellites at some or all antennas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A satellite navigation system comprising;
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a. a plurality of antennas to receive satellite signals, the antennas being mounted to an object to be tracked and having a common reference clock;
b. at least one receiver connected to the plurality of antennas, the receiver further comprising;
i. means for obtaining an external constraint, the external constraint being independent of the satellite signals; and
ii. means for determining an initial position solution using the signals received at the antennas and the external constraint. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A satellite navigation system comprising;
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a. a plurality of antennas to receive satellite signals, the antennas being mounted to an object to be tracked and;
b. at least one receiver connected to the plurality of antennas, the receiver further comprising;
i. a plurality of phase tracking modules corresponding to the plurality of antennas;
ii. common clock means connected to each of the phase tracking modules;
iii. means for obtaining an external constraint; and
iv. means for determining an initial position solution for the antennas using the signals received at each antenna and the external constraint. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification