Navigation system using re-transmitted GPS
First Claim
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1. In a system for determining positions of a first unit relative to a second unit of the type which includes means for receiving signals from a plurality of satellites deployed at spaced intervals within one or more geostationary orbits, said satellites transmitting GPS signals to first and second units whose relative positions are to be determined, the improvement comprising means at the first unit for retransmitting the signals in their entirety, without delay, from said satellites to the second unit;
- means at the second unit for receiving signals directly from said satellites and for simultaneously receiving the signals retransmitted from the first unit;
signal processing means connected to said receiving means for performing a sample-by-sample comparison of the directly received and retransmitted signals in order to extract information, without input of additional position data, concerning the relative positions of the first and second units.
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Abstract
A system for measuring the relative positions of first and second units includes a re-transmitting apparatus at the first unit and a receiver at the second unit capable of making simultaneous real-time comparisons of phase and frequency information contained in first signals received directly from the satellites by the second unit and second signals received from the satellites by the first unit and immediately retransmitted to the second unit in their entirety without processing before retransmission.
109 Citations
45 Claims
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1. In a system for determining positions of a first unit relative to a second unit of the type which includes means for receiving signals from a plurality of satellites deployed at spaced intervals within one or more geostationary orbits, said satellites transmitting GPS signals to first and second units whose relative positions are to be determined, the improvement comprising means at the first unit for retransmitting the signals in their entirety, without delay, from said satellites to the second unit;
- means at the second unit for receiving signals directly from said satellites and for simultaneously receiving the signals retransmitted from the first unit;
signal processing means connected to said receiving means for performing a sample-by-sample comparison of the directly received and retransmitted signals in order to extract information, without input of additional position data, concerning the relative positions of the first and second units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- means at the second unit for receiving signals directly from said satellites and for simultaneously receiving the signals retransmitted from the first unit;
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13. A navigation system for use in conjunction with a global positioning system, comprising:
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a first user station having GPS signal re-transmitting means; and a second user station having a receiving means for receiving simultaneously a first series of GPS signals from a predetermined number of satellites along a signal path extending directly between said satellites and said second user station and a second series of GPS signals from the same satellites along a signal path which passes through the re-transmitting means at said first user station, and a computing means for computing a first set of range measurements based on said first series of GPS signals, computing a second set of range measurements based on second series of GPS signals, computing a set of differential range measurements by subtracting respectively said first set of range measurements from said second set of range measurements, computing a set of double difference range measurements by subtracting said differential range measurements from one another, and deriving from said set of double difference range measurements a position of the first user station relative to said second user station. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a system for determining velocities of a first unit relative to a second unit of the type which includes means for receiving signals from a plurality of satellites deployed at spaced intervals within one or more geostationary orbits, said satellites transmitting GPS signals to first and second units whose relative velocities are to be determined, the improvement comprising means at the first unit for retransmitting the signals in their entirety, without delay, from said satellites to the second unit;
- means at the second unit for receiving signals directly from said satellites and for simultaneously receiving the signals retransmitted from the first unit;
signal processing means connected to said receiving means for performing a sample-by-sample comparison of the directly received and retransmitted signals in order to extract information, without input of additional position data, concerning the relative velocities of the first and second units. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
- means at the second unit for receiving signals directly from said satellites and for simultaneously receiving the signals retransmitted from the first unit;
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25. In a method of determining positions of a first unit relative to a second unit of the type which includes the step of receiving signals from a plurality of satellites deployed at spaced intervals within one or more geostationary orbits, the improvement comprising the steps of retransmitting the signals in their entirety, without delay, from said satellites to the second unit;
- receiving at the second unit directly from said satellites and simultaneously receiving the signals retransmitted from the first unit; and
performing a real time sample-by-sample comparison of the directly received and retransmitted signals in order to extract information, without input of additional position data, concerning the relative positions of the first and second units. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 43, 44, 45)
- receiving at the second unit directly from said satellites and simultaneously receiving the signals retransmitted from the first unit; and
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35. A method for calculating a position of a first unit relative to a second unit, comprising the steps of:
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receiving at the second unit a first series of GPS signals from a predetermined number of satellites, said first series of GPS signals traversing signal paths extending directly between said satellites and said second point of interest; receiving at the second unit a second series of GPS signals from the same satellites, said second series of GPS signals traversing signals paths which pass through a re-transmitting means located at the first point of interest; computing a first set of range measurements based on the first series of GPS signals; computing a second set of range measurements based on the second series of GPS signals; computing a set of differential range measurements by subtracting respectively said first set of range measurements from said second set of range measurements; computing a set of double difference range measurements by subtracting said differential range measurements from one another; and deriving from said set of double difference range measurements a position of the first user station relative to said second user station. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. In a method of determining velocities of a first unit relative to a second unit of the type which includes the step of receiving signals from a plurality of satellites deployed at spaced intervals within one or more geostationary orbits, the improvement comprising the steps of retransmitting the signals in their entirety, without delay, from said satellites to the second unit;
- receiving at the second unit directly from said satellites and simultaneously receiving the signals retransmitted from the first unit; and
performing a real time sample-by-sample comparison of the directly received and retransmitted signals in order to extract information, without input of additional velocity data, concerning the relative velocities of the first and second units.
- receiving at the second unit directly from said satellites and simultaneously receiving the signals retransmitted from the first unit; and
Specification
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Current AssigneeGrumman Aerospace Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
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Original AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
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InventorsAguado, Morton M.
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Primary Examiner(s)Blum, Theodore M.
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Assistant Examiner(s)PHAN, DAO LINDA
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Application NumberUS08/127,039Time in Patent Office676 DaysField of Search342/357, 342/453, 342/424, 342/442, 342/353, 364/458US Class Current342/357.48CPC Class CodesG01S 19/04 providing carrier phase dataG01S 19/11 wherein the cooperating ele...G01S 19/43 using carrier phase measure...G01S 19/46 the supplementary measureme...
