Integrated global positioning system receiver

• US 6,272,349 B1
• Filed: 02/22/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roadscape Automotive, Inc., Veoneer, Inc. (SSW Partners LP)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Martin, David, Griffin, William, LaChapelle, John, McGrath, Finbarr, Jordan, David Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Application Number:
  US09/255,590
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/90, 455/457, 455/12.1, 455/427, 455/345, 455/347, 342/357.1, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 342/357.08, 342/357.09, 342/42, 343/711, 361/748, 361/750, 361/752, 361/814
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/18 Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H

Abstract

A GPS receiver (1) has an antenna (3) mounted directly on a first side (4) of a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB) substrate 2. Electrical conductors interconnect the antenna (3) with an RF processing system (11,12) and a digital processing system (10, 14, 15, 16) mounted directly on a second side (5) of the PCB substrate (2). A position connector (17) is disposed on one side of the PCB substrate (2) and provides power, ground, and direct electrical access of processed GPS signals for an external system such as a mobile vehicle system.

Claims

1. A global positioning system (GPS) receiver comprising:

a printed circuit board substrate;

a GPS antenna disposed on the printed circuit board substrate,

at least one integrated circuit disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for processing signals from the GPS antenna;

electrical conductors for interconnecting the GPS antenna and the at least one integrated circuit; and

an electrical connector disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for establishing a data communication path between the at least one integrated circuit and an electronic system of a vehicle,

whereby the GPS receiver is capable of being integrated into the electronic system of the vehicle.

2. A GPS receiver as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one integrated circuit processes high frequency signals.

3. A GPS receiver as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one integrated circuit transmits and receives data to and from a data bus in the electronic system of the vehicle through the electrical connector.

4. A GPS receiver as recited in claim 3 wherein the electrical connector is a plug-in connector which can be plugged into the electronic system of the vehicle.

5. A GPS receiver as recited in claim 4, further comprising,

a ROM (Read Only Memory) disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for storing map data to be used with signals processed by the at least one integrated circuit.

6. A GPS receiver as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a memory disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for storing map data to be used with signals processed by the at least one integrated circuit.

7. A GPS receiver as recited in claim 6 wherein power to the GPS receiver is supplied from the electronic system of the vehicle.

8. A GPS receiver as recited in claim 6 wherein the at least one integrated circuit and the memory are disposed on one side of the printed circuit board substrate, and the GPS antenna is disposed on another side of the printed circuit board substrate.

9. A GPS receiver as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one integrated circuit includes a fist integrated circuit for converting radio frequency signals from the GPS antenna into intermediate frequency signals, and a second integrated circuit for performing operations on the intermediate frequency signals to produce GPS signals, and transmitting the GPS signals to the electronic system of the vehicle.

10. A GPS receiver as recited in claim 1 wherein the second integrated circuit comprises circuitry for initiating a diagnostic check up operation on the GPS receiver responsive to the data from the data bus of the electronic system of the vehicle.

11. A method for providing a GPS (global positioning system) receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a printed circuit board substrate;

providing a GPS antenna on the printed circuit board substrate;

providing at least one integrated circuit on the printed circuit board substrate for processing signals from the GPS antenna;

providing electrical conductors on the printed circuit board substrate for interconnecting the GPS antenna and the at least one integrated circuit; and

providing an electrical connector on the printed circuit board substrate for establishing a data communication path between the at least one integrated circuit and an electronic system of a vehicle,

whereby the GPS receiver is capable of being integrated into the electronic system of the vehicle.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one integrated circuit processes high frequency signals.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one integrated circuit transmits and receives data to and from a data bus in the electronic system of the vehicle through the electrical connector.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the electrical connector is a plug-in connector which can be plugged into the electronic system of the vehicle.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

providing a ROM (Read Only Memory) on the printed circuit board substrate for storing map data to be used with signals processed by the at least one integrated circuit.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

providing a memory on the printed circuit board substrate for storing map data to be used with signals processed by the at least one integrated circuit.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

supplying power to the GPS receiver from the electronic system of the vehicle.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one integrated circuit and the memory are formed on one side of the printed circuit board substrate, and the GPS antenna is formed on another side of the printed circuit board substrate.

19. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one integrated circuit includes a first integrated circuit for converting radio frequency signals from the GPS antenna into intermediate frequency signals, and a second integrated circuit for performing operations on the intermediate frequency signals to produce GPS signals and transmitting the GPS signals to the electronic system of the vehicle.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, through the electrical connector, data from the data bus in the electronic system of the vehicle; and

initiating a diagnostic check up operation on the GPS receiver responsive to said data.