Pseudolite translator for unlicensed frequencies

• US 5,708,440 A
• Filed: 06/06/1996
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Woo, Arthur N., Trimble, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US08/659,747
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 364/449.7
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/07 providing data for correcting measured positioning data, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS] or ionosphere corrections
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/071 DGPS corrections
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/11 wherein the cooperating elements are pseudolites or satellite radio beacon positioning system signal repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/46 the supplementary measurement being of a radio-wave signal type

Abstract

A pseudolite translator apparatus and method for using a pseudolite translator. In one embodiment, a pseudolite translator includes a receiver which is adapted to receive position information having a first frequency. The position information is transmitted from a pseudolite. In the present embodiment, the first frequency at which the position information is transmitted from the pseudolite is an unlicensed frequency. A frequency converting processor of the translator converts the position information having the first unlicensed frequency to position information having a second frequency. The translator also contains an output unit which is coupled to the frequency converting processor. The output unit is adapted to communicate the position information having the second frequency to a position determining device.

Claims

1. A pseudolite translator comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive position information having a first frequency, said position information transmitted from a pseudolite;

a frequency converting processor for converting said position information having said first frequency to position information having a second frequency, said frequency converting processor coupled to said receiver; and

an output unit coupled to said frequency converting processor, said output unit adapted to communicate said position information of said second frequency to a position determining device.

2. The pseudolite translator of claim 1 wherein said first frequency of said position information is an unlicensed frequency.

3. The pseudolite translator of claim 2 wherein said unlicensed first frequency of said position information is selected from the group of frequencies consisting of 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, 5725-5875 MHz, and 24.0-24.5 GHz.

4. The pseudolite translator of claim 1 wherein said second frequency of said position information is 1575.42 MHz.

5. The pseudolite translator of claim 1 wherein said second frequency of said position information is 1227.6 MHz.

6. The pseudolite translator of claim 1 wherein said position determining device is a conventional GPS receiver.

7. A translator for communicating with a pseudolite, said translator comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive position information from a pseudolite, said position information received from said pseudolite at a frequency selected from the group of frequencies consisting of 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, 5725-5875 MHz, and 24.0-24.5 GHz;

a frequency converting processor for converting said position information having said frequency selected from the group of frequencies consisting of 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, 5725-5875 MHz, and 24.0-24.5 GHz, to position information having a frequency selected from the group of frequencies consisting of 1575.42 MHz and 1227.6 MHz, said frequency converting processor coupled to said receiver; and

an output unit coupled to said frequency converting processor, said output unit adapted to communicate said position information of said frequency selected from the group of frequencies consisting of 1575.42 MHz and 1227.6 MHz to a conventional GPS receiver.