Method and system for determining position on a moving platform, such as a ship, using signals from GPS satellites

• US 4,894,662 A
• Filed: 04/14/1986
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Atlas International Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Western Atlas International Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Counselman, Charles C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US06/852,016
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 342/352, 342/356, 342/417-419, 342/450, 342/454, 342/457, 342/463-465
• US Class Current: 342/357.25
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/04 providing carrier phase data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/32 Multimode operation in a single same satellite system, e.g. GPS L1/L2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/37 Hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/40 Correcting position, velocity or attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/44 Carrier phase ambiguity resolution; Floating ambiguity; LAMBDA [Least-squares AMBiguity Decorrelation Adjustment] method

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for accurately determining position from GPS satellites and received on a ship using C/A code group delay observable TAU, 308 f_o implicit carrier phase observable PHI, L1 band implicit f_o carrier residual phase observable PSI_L1, and L2 band implicit f_o carrier residual phase observable PSI_L2. A precise measurement of the group-phase delay range to each satellite is made based upon the L1 center frequency carrier phase. A correction for ionospheric effects is determined by simultaneous observation of the group delays of the wide bandwidth P code modulations in both the L1 and L2 bands. These group delays are determined by measuring the phases of carrier waves implicit in the spread-spectrum signals received in both bands. These carriers are reconstructed from both the L1 and L2 band signals from each satellite without using knowledge of the P code. The unknown biases in the L1 center frequency carrier phase range measurements are determined from simultaneous, pseudorange measurements, with time averaging. The instantaneous position of the ship may then be determined from the ranges so determined, with both the bias and the ion-spheric effects having been eliminated.

Claims

1. A method of determining range data from a composite of code modulated, overlapping spread spectrum signals received on a moving platform from a plurality of GPS satellites, comprising the steps of:

developing estimates of the phase and delay of selected signals inherent in the composite;

using the estimates to measure the phase and delay of the selected signals;

updating the estimates in response to the measurements to derive phase and delay observations; and

time averaging the observations to derive instantaneous platform range data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the time averaging step further comprises:

taking differences between phase and delay observations and;

averaging the differences over a time period sufficiently long to include a plurality of independent observations.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the time averaging step reduces phase bias in response to the delay.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the time averaging step reduces multipath error in response to the phase.

5. The method of claim 3 or 4 wherein substantial platform motion occurs between observations included in the time averaging.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of deriving the observations further comprises:

adjusting the delay estimates in response to phase changes.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of deriving the observations further comprises:

monitoring an aspect of the measurements to develop an indication of the validity thereof; and

inhibiting the updating of the estimates in response to the validity indication.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of deriving the observations further comprises:

changing the delay estimate by a predetermined magnitude whenever valid measurements indicate a change in the delay.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of adjusting the delay estimates in response to phase changes further comprises:

modifying the delay estimate by the predetermined magnitude.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

continuously updating the phase estimate in accordance with an estimate of changes of platform range.

11. The method of claim 3 or 4 wherein the satellite signals are transmitted in first and second frequency bands, each being modulated by one or more mutually orthogonal codes;

and the observations are related to signals in the first band of frequencies, the method further comprising the steps of;

deriving second band observations in response to the first band observations, independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of the modulating codes applied to the second band signals;

deriving ionospheric data related to differences between the signals received in both bands; and

using the ionospheric data to reduce ionospheric effects in the instantaneous platform range data.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

deriving first band subcarrier phase observations related to a first band modulating code, independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of the modulating code; and

deriving the ionospheric data from the difference between these subcarrier phase observations and second band observations.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first band signals are modulated by C/A codes and the method further comprises:

applying C/A code replicas to the composite to measure delay;

applying the resultant delay observations to the composite to derive subcarrier phase observations from both bands.

14. A system for determining range data from a composite of code modulated, overlapping spread spectrum signals received on a moving platform from a plurality of GPS satellites, comprising:

registers containing estimates of phase and delay of selected signals inherent therein;

phase and delay error detection means responsive to the received composite and the estimates for determining phase and delay of the selected signals;

feedback means responsive to the phase and delay error detection means for updating the estimates to derive phase and delay observations; and

averaging means responsive to the observations for deriving instantaneous platform range data.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the averaging means further comprises:

differential means for taking the difference between the series of phase and delay observations and;

means for averaging the differences over a time period sufficiently long to include a plurality of independent observations.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the averaging means reduces phase bias in response to the delay.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the averaging means reduces multipath error in response to the phase.

18. The system of claim 16 or 17 wherein substantial platform motion occurs between observations included in the time averaging.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the feedback means further comprises:

means for adjusting the delay estimates in response to phase changes.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the phase and delay error detection means further comprises:

monitoring means responsive to an aspect of the detection for developing a validity indication related thereto; and

the feedback control means further comprises;

means for inhibiting the updating of the estimates in response to the validity indication.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the feedback control means further comprises:

changing the delay estimate by a predetermined magnitude whenever valid measurements indicate a change in the delay.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the delay estimates are modified by a predetermined magnitude in response to phase changes.

23. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

estimating means for deriving an estimate of changes of platform range; and

aiding means responsive thereto for continuously updating the phase estimate.

24. The system of claim 16 or 17 wherein the satellite signals are transmitted in first and second frequency bands, each being modulated by one or more mutually orthogonal codes and the observations are related to signals in the first band of frequencies, the system further comprising:

codeless second band means for deriving second band observations in the response to the first band observations, independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of the modulating codes applied to the second band signals;

means for deriving ionospheric data related to differences between signals received in both bands; and

ionospheric correction means responsive to the ionospheric data for reducing ionospheric effects in the instantaneous platform range data.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising:

codeless subcarrier means for deriving first band subcarrier phase observations related to a first band modulating code, independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of that modulating code; and

means for deriving the ionospheric data from the difference between these subcarrier phase observations and second band observations.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the first band signals are modulated by C/A codes and the system further comprises:

C/A code generating means for applying replicas of the code modulation to the composite to measure delay;

satellite selection means for applying the resultant delay observations to the composite to derive subcarrier phase observations from both bands.

27. A method of deriving dual-band observations from a composite of code modulate, overlapping spread spectrum signals transmitted by a plurality of GPS satellites in L1 and L2 frequency bands and modulated by satellite specific C/A codes in the L1 band, comprising:

applying replicas of the C/A codes to the composite to detect separately the satellite specific signals modulated thereby;

deriving therefrom a first series of observations related to those satellite specific signals; and

applying the first series of observations to the composite, to derive observations related to signals received in the L2 band independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of the modulating codes applied to the L2 band signals.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

applying the first series of observations to the composite to derive observations related to signals in the L1 band modulated by a code orthogonal to the C/A code, independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of the orthogonal code.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

developing satellite specific estimates of the delay of the C/A code modulated signals inherent in the composite;

using the estimates to measure the delay of those signals;

updating the estimates to derive satellite specific C/A code delay observations;

reconstructing the composite to form a composite of reconstructed L2 band signals independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of the modulating codes applied to those signals; and

applying the C/A code delay observations to the reconstructed L2 band composite to form a series of satellite specific L2 band observations.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

reconstructing the composite to form a composite of reconstructed L1 band signals independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of the related modulating codes; and

applying the satellite specific L1 band delay observations to the reconstructed L1 band composite to form a series of satellite specific observations related to signals modulated by a second L1 band modulating code, independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of that second modulating code.

31. A system for deriving dual-band observations from a composite of code modulated, overlapping spread spectrum signals, transmitted by a plurality of GPS satellites in L1 and L2 frequency bands and modulated by satellite specific C/A codes in the L1 band, comprising:

code correlating means for applying replicas of the C/A codes to the composite to detect separately the satellite specific signals modulated thereby;

means for deriving therefrom a first series of observations related to those satellite specific signals; and

aiding means responsive to the first series of observations, for deriving a second series of observations from the composite related to signals received in the L2 band independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of the modulating codes applied to the L2 band signals.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising:

aiding means for applying the first series of observations to the composite to derive observations related to signals in the L1 band modulated by a code orthogonal to the C/A code, independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of the orthogonal code.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the C/A code generating means further comprises:

means for developing satellite specific estimates of the delay of the C/A code modulated signals inherent in the composite;

means responsive to the estimates for measuring the delay of those signals;

feedback means for updating the estimates to derive satellite specific C/A code delay observations;

correlation means for reconstructing the composite to form a composite of reconstructed L2 band signals independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of the modulating codes applied to those signals; and

means for applying the C/A code delay observations to the reconstructed L2 band composite to form a series of satellite specific L2 band observations.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

means for reconstructing the composite to form a composite of reconstructed L1 band signals independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of the related modulating codes; and

aiding means for applying the satellite specific L1 band delay observations to the reconstructed L1 band composite to form a series of satellite specific observations related to signals modulated by a second L1 band modulating code, independently of externally derived knowledge of the information content of that second modulating code.

35. A method of determining ionospheric information, comprising:

collecting a first composite signal simultaneously including code modulated, overlapping spread spectrum signals received from a plurality of GPS satellites;

separating the first composite signal into portions representing different frequency bands each including modulation products of a particular code from each satellite;

multiplying one such portion by another to form a second composite signal including a plurality of demodulated components, each related to the modulation products from a satellite;

deriving an estimate related to the Doppler shift of the signals from a selected satellite;

combining the estimate with the second composite to select therefrom the demodulated component having a phase responsive to the difference between the ionospheric phase shifts of the signal from the selected satellite in both bands, independently of prior knowledge of the information content of the particular code from that satellite; and

determining ionospheric information in response to the selected component.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the estimate deriving step further comprises:

tracking a carrier implicit in the spread spectrum signal received from the selected satellite to update the estimate in real time.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the estimate deriving step further comprises:

tracking the center frequency carrier of the GPS L1 band; and

deriving the estimate in response to the received frequency of this carrier.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the particular code is the GPS P or Y code.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the second composite signal is formed in response to a portion of the first composite signal received in the GPS L2 band.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the set of determining ionospheric information further comprises:

determining ionospheric information in response to defferential ionospheric effects between the L1 and L2 bands.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of determining ionospheric information further comprises:

determining ionospheric information in response to the difference between the delays of the signals received in the L1 and L2 bands.

42. A system for determining ionospheric information, comprising:

omni-directional antenna means for collecting a first composite signal simultaneously including code modulated, overlapping spread spectrum signals from a plurality of GPS satellites;

frequency-selective means for separating the first composite signal into portions representing different frequency bands each including modulation products of a particular code from each satellite;

cross-correlation means for correlating one portion with another to form a second composite signal simultaneously including a plurality of demodulated components, each related to the modulation products from a satellite;

estimating means for generating an estimate related to the Doppler shift of the signals from a selected satellite;

codeless selection means responsive to the estimate for selecting the demodulated component from the second composite having a phase responsive to the difference between the ionospheric phase shift of the signal from the selected satellite in both bands, independently of prior knowledge of the information content of the related code;

phase detector means for determining the phase of the selected component; and

processing means for determining ionospheric information in response to the phase determination.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the estimating means further comprises:

means for tracking a carrier implicit in the spread spectrum signal received from the selected satellite for updating the estimate in real time.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the estimating means further comprises:

means for tracking the center frequency carrier of the GPS L1 band; and

scaling means responsive to the received carrier frequency for updating the Doppler shift estimate.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the particular code is the GPS P or Y code.

46. The system of claim 44 in which the second composite signal is formed in response to a portion of the first composite signal received in GPS L2 band.

47. The system of claim 46 in which the processing means derives the ionospheric information from the difference between the signals received in the L1 and the L2 bands.

48. The system of claim 46 in which the processing means derives the ionospheric information from the difference between the delays of the signals received in the L1 and the L2 bands.

49. A method of deriving range information from a modulated, suppressed carrier signal being received from a GPS satellite, comprising:

generating a range estimate in the form of a number having a first portion and a second portion;

generating a model of the received signal in response to said range estimate, said model having a carrier component which is generated in response to the first portion of said number, and a modulation component which is generated in response to the second portion of said number;

correlating the model with the received signal to detect carrier phase and modulation delay differences between the model and the signal;

changing the first portion of said number in response to detected carrier phase differences to maintain carrier phase lock between the model and the received signal;

changing the second portion of said number in response to variations of a selected magnitude in the first portion of said number and in response to detected modulation delay differences between the model and the received signal to maintain modulation delay lock between the model and the received signals; and

deriving range information from the range estimate.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said number comprises a plurality of digits and the changing of the second portion of the number in response to the first portion of the number comprises borrowing and carrying.

51. The method of claim 49 further comprising:

deriving a phase observation of the received signal from the first portion of said number and deriving a modulation delay observation of the received signal from the second portion of said number;

determining differences between phase and delay observations;

determining the average of said differences between phase and delay observations over a time period sufficiently long to include a plurality of independent observations; and

determining instantaneous range information from the observations and the averaged differences therebetween.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein the signal is received in a plurality of frequency bands, the range information is related to a component of the signal received in a first band, and a component of the signal being received in a second band has been modulated by a pseudo-random code, further comprising the steps of:

deriving a second estimate in response to the second band component of the signal, independently of prior knowledge of the information content of said pseudo-random code modulation of said second band; and

applying the second estimate to enhance the range information derived from the first said range estimate.

53. The method of claim 49 wherein the received signal includes signals received in a plurality of frequency bands, the first said range estimate being related to a component of the signal received in a first frequency band, further comprising:

generating a second estimate related to a component of a signal which is received in a second frequency band; and

applying the second estimate to the first said estimate to enhance the range information derived from the first said range estimate.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the second estimate is responsive to the phase of a suppressed carrier implicit in the second band component of the received signal.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein the second estimate is responsive to the delay of the modulation of the second band component of the received signal.

56. The method of claim 49 wherein the signal from said satellite is being received in a plurality of frequency bands, and the range information is related to a component of the signal received in a first band, further comprising the steps of:

receiving in a second frequency band a composite signal simultaneously including components from a plurality of satellites including the first said satellite;

using satellite-specific Doppler shift information to select from the composite signal a component specific to the first said satellite;

deriving a second estimate in response to the selected component of the second band composite; and

applying the second estimate to enhance the range information derived from the first said range estimate.

57. A system for deriving range information from a modulated suppressed carrier signal being received from a GPS satellite, comprising:

means for generating a range estimate in the form of a number having a first portion and a second portion;

means for generating a model of the received signal in response to said range estimate, said model having a carrier component which is generated in response to the first portion of said number, and a modulation component which is generated in response to the second portion of said number;

means for correlating the model with the received signal to detect carrier phase and modulation delay differences between the model and the signal;

means for changing the first portion of said number in response to detected carrier phase differences to maintain carrier phase lock between the model and the received signal;

means for changing the second portion of said number in response to variations of a selected magnitude in the first portion of said number and in response to detected modulation delay differences between the model and the received signal to maintain modulation delay lock between the model and the received signal; and

means for deriving range information from the range estimate.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein said number comprises a plurality of digits and the means for changing of the second portion of the number in response to the first portion of the number comprises means for borrowing and carrying.

59. The system of claim 57 further comprising:

means for deriving a phase observation of the received signal from the first portion of said number and means for deriving a modulation delay observation of the received signal from the second portion of said number;

means for determining differences between phase and delay observations;

means for determining the average of said differences between phase and delay observations over a time period sufficiently long to include a plurality of independent observations; and

means for determining instantaneous range information from the observations and the averaged differences therebetween.

60. The system of claim 57 wherein the signal is received in a plurality of frequency bands, the range information is related to a component of the signal received in a first band, and a component of the signal being received in a second band has been modulated by a pseudo-random code, further comprising:

means for deriving a second estimate in response to the second band component of the signal, independently of prior knowledge of the information content of said pseudo-random code modulation of said second band; and

means for applying the second estimate to enhance the range information derived from the first said range estimate.

61. The system of claim 57 wherein the received signal includes signals received in a plurality of frequency bands, the first said range estimate being related to a component of the signal received in a first frequency band, further comprising:

means for generating a second estimate related to a component of a signal which is received in a second frequency band; and

means for applying the second estimate to the first said estimate to enhance the range information derived from the first said range estimate.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the second estimate is responsive to the phase of a suppressed carrier implicit in the second band component of the received signal.

63. The system of claim 61 wherein the second estimate is responsive to the delay of the modulation of the second band component of the received signal.

64. The system of claim 57 wherein the signal from said satellite is being received in a plurality of frequency bands, and the range information is related to a component of the signal received in a first band, further comprising:

means for receiving in a second frequency band a composite signal simultaneously including components from a plurality of satellites including the first said satellite;

means for using satellite-specific Doppler shift information to select from the composite signal a component specific to the first said satellite;

means for deriving a second estimate in response to the selected component of the second band composite; and

means for applying the second estimate to enhance the range information derived from the first said range estimate.