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Method and apparatus for increasing the sensitivity of a global positioning satellite receiver

  • US 6,327,473 B1
  • Filed: 09/08/1998
  • Issued: 12/04/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for improving the sensitivity of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, the method including the steps of:

  • a) receiving a GPS signal from a GPS satellite;

    b) determining whether the receiver has a source for synchronization to GPS time other than the GPS satellite itself; and

    c) if there is a source for synchronization to GPS time other than the GPS satellite itself, then;

    1) determining, from the synchronization source, the boundaries of a plurality of code periods in the received GPS signl;

    2) determining the amount of power in the received GPS signal by applying a particular code associated with a particular satellite to the received GPS signal during each of the plurality of code periods;

    3) summing the power received during each code period to determine a total integrated power over the sum of the plurality of code periods; and

    4) processing the received GPS signal using information about the particular satellite if the total integrated power is greater than a threshold value.

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