Method and apparatus for compensating unexpected frequency shifts in positioning receivers

• US 6,067,503 A
• Filed: 03/24/1999
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Yakos, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/275,569
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/200, 342/357.12
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/18 Military applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/235 Calibration of receiver components
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/26 involving a sensor measurement for aiding acquisition or tracking

Abstract

Unexpected frequency shifts in GPS receivers are compensated by utilizing a shock detector or temperature transient detector. The detector can be utilized with a GPS receiver and provides a signal to adjust the signal-search algorithm. The signal-search algorithm is able to acquire or reacquire a satellite signal more quickly when adjusted by the shock detector. The receiver can be utilized in guided munitions and other vehicles which are susceptible to temperature transients and mechanical shocks.

Claims

1. A receiver, comprising:

a first oscillator;

a second oscillator locked to the first oscillator;

a frequency shift detector coupled to the first oscillator and the second oscillator, the frequency shift detector providing a transient detect signal; and

a data processor coupled to the frequency shift detector, the data processor receiving the transient detect signal and selecting a frequency offset for signal acquisition in response to the transient detect signal.

2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the first oscillator is more sensitive of mechanical shocks than the second oscillator.

3. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the transient detect signal includes a magnitude component and a polarity component.

4. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the data processor searches a range of frequencies related to the most likely frequency offset.

5. The receiver of claim 4, wherein the data processor employs a pre-position algorithm to search the range.

6. The receiver of claim 5, wherein the pre-position search algorithm begins at the frequency offset to achieve signal acquisition.

7. A positioning system receiver having reduced signal acquisition time after a large acceleration, the positioning system receiver comprising:

a reference oscillator;

a phase or frequency locked loop including a voltage-controlled oscillator;

a positioning system signal processor receiving an intermediate frequency signal;

a frequency shift detector coupled to the reference oscillator and the voltage-controlled oscillator, the frequency shift detector providing a transient detect signal; and

a positioning system data processor coupled to the frequency shift detector and to the positioning system signal processor, the positioning system data processor receiving the transient detect signal and providing a control signal to the positioning system signal processor, the control signal is provided in accordance with a signal-search algorithm in response to the transient detect signal.

8. The positioning system receiver of claim 7, wherein the transient detect signal includes a magnitude component and a polarity component.

9. The positioning system receiver of claim 7, wherein the signal search algorithm searches a range of frequencies related to a most likely frequency offset determined from the transient detect signal.

10. The positioning system receiver of claim 7, wherein the reference oscillator is a crystal resonator.

11. The positioning system receiver of claim 7, further comprising:

a mixer coupled to the voltage-controlled oscillator;

an antenna for receiving a satellite signal, the antenna being coupled to the mixer, the mixer providing the intermediate frequency signal.

12. The positioning system receiver of claim 11, wherein the positioning system data processor and positioning system signal processor are GPS processors.

13. The positioning system receiver of claim 10, wherein the voltage-controlled oscillator is a solid state resonator.

14. The positioning system receiver of claim 13, wherein the crystal oscillator is mechanically mounted.

15. A positioning system receiver for determining a location in response to a plurality of satellite signals, the positioning system receiver comprising:

a plurality of oscillators;

signal processor means for receiving a form of at least one of the satellite signals and decoding the at least one satellite signal;

means for detecting shift between signals from the oscillators; and

data processor means for controlling the signal processor means in accordance with the shift.

16. The positioning system receiver of claim 15, wherein the shift is due to temperature variations or mechanical shock.

17. The positioning system receiver of claim 15, wherein the receiver is utilized in a projectile.

18. The positioning system receiver of claim 15, wherein the shift is greater than a shift due to normal user or satellite motion induced doppler shifts

a mixer coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator;

an antenna for receiving a satellite signal, the antenna being coupled to the mixer, the mixer providing the intermediate frequency signal.

19. The positioning system receiver of claim 16, wherein one of the oscillators is a reference crystal resonator, and the other oscillator is a solid-state resonator.