GPS receiver module

• US 6,836,645 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Ghosh, Indra, Hilgers, Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): PEREZ GUTIERREZ, RAFAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/208,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20030025635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/84, 455/41.3, 455/456.6, 455/553.1, 455/280, 455/289, 455/41.2, 455/344, 455/345, 455/456.1, 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 455/84
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths

Abstract

A GPS receiver module (1) for receiving GPS signals and for determining position data therefrom is described, which is characterized in particular by a communications sub-module (3), to which the position data determined can be fed and by means of which said data can be converted into a format suitable for transmission to an a external appliance. The communications sub-module (3) is preferably a Bluetooth (BT) sub-module, by means of which the position data can be converted according to the Bluetooth standard and transmitted by wireless means. A dual band antenna particularly suitable for use with the GPS receiver module is furthermore described, by means of which it is not only possible to receive GPS signals, but also to establish a communications link with external appliances.

Claims

1. A GPS receiver module for receiving GPS signals and for determining position data from the signals, comprising:

GPS sub-modules connected in a communicatively uni-directional configuration having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of communications sub-modules attached in a communicatively bi-directional linear configuration that has antenna at one end and that is joined directly to said first end by an interface connected to a third path, said second end being joined between the antenna and a remaining part of said bi-directional linear configuration, determined position data being fed to a sub-module (3) of the plurality that converts said determined position data into a format suitable for transmission to an external appliance; and

a dual band antenna (5) having a ceramic substrate (10) with a first resonant conductor path structure (20, 30) and a second resonant conductor path structure (20, 40), which are connected to a common feed (12), the length of the first conductor path structure (20, 30) corresponding to approximately half the wavelength of BT signal in the substrate (10) and the length of the second conductor path structure (20, 40) to approximately half the wavelength of a GPS signal in the substrate (10).

2. A GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, said sub-module (3) is a Bluetooth (BT) sub-module, by means of which the position data can be converted according to the Bluetooth standard and transmitted by wireless means.

3. A GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 2, characterized by a sub-module (7) having a HF circuit part (71) for the processing of GPS and BT signals received and of BT signals to be transmitted in at least one HF band, together with a baseband circuit part (72) for the processing of GPS and BT signals in at least one baseband.

4. A GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that, the BT sub-module (3) is designed for the reception and decoding of signals coded according to the BT standard.

5. A GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface comprises an interface circuit (6) configured for feeding the position data determined to an external wire-bound appliance.

6. A GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the interface circuit (6) is designed for the line transmission of data from an external appliance to said sub-module (3, 7).

7. The GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joining of said second end is by means of a change-over switch connected to said second end, said antenna and said remaining part.

8. The GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said bi-directional linear configuration includes said interface and said third path, said third path being bi-directional.

9. The GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 8, wherein said third path comprises an external line.

10. The GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said third path comprises an external line.

11. The GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bi-directional linear configuration includes said interface and said third path, said third path being bi-directional.

12. The GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 11, wherein said third path comprises an external line.

13. The GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the plural communications sub-modules operate in tandem.

14. A printed circuit board, especially for the surface mounting of electronic components, characterized by a GPS receiver module (1) for receiving GPS signals and for determining position data therefrom, characterized by a communications sub-module (3), to which the position data determined can be fed and by means of which said data can be converted into a format suitable for transmission to an external appliance, and a dual band antenna (5) characterized by a ceramic substrate (10) with a first resonant conductor path structure (20, 30) and a second resonant conductor path structure (20, 40), which are connected to a common feed (12), the length of the first conductor path structure (20, 30) corresponding to approximately half the wavelength of a BT signal in the substrate (10) and the length of the second conductor path structure (20, 40) to approximately half the wavelength of a GPS signal in the substrate (10).

15. A mobile telecommunications appliance, particularly for the GSM or UMTS band, characterized by a printed circuit board as claimed in claim 14.

16. A dual band antenna, especially for use with a GPS receiver module for receiving GPS signals and for determining position data therefrom, characterized by a communications sub-module (3), to which the position data determined can be fed and by means of which said data can be converted into a format suitable for transmission to an external appliance, characterized by a ceramic substrate (10) with a first resonant conductor path structure (20, 30) and a second resonant conductor path structure (20, 40), which are connected to a common feed (12), the length of the first conductor path structure (20, 30) corresponding to approximately half the wavelength of a BT signal in the substrate (10) and the length of the second conductor path structure (20, 40) to approximately half the wavelength of a GPS signal in the substrate (10).

17. A GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that, said sub-module (3) is a Bluetooth (BT) sub-module, by means of which the position data can be converted according to the Bluetooth standard and transmitted by wireless means.

18. A GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 16, characterized by an interface circuit (6) configured for feeding the position data determined to an external wire-bound appliance.

19. A GPS receiver module as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the interface circuit (6) is designed for the line transmission of data from an external appliance to the sub-module (3, 7).

20. A GPS receiver module for receiving GPS signals and for determining position data therefrom, characterized by a communications sub-module (3), to which the position data determined can be fed and by means of which said data can be converted into a format suitable for transmission to an external appliance, characterized by a dual band antenna (5) characterized by a ceramic substrate (10) with a first resonant conductor path structure (20, 30) and a second resonant conductor path structure (20, 40), which are connected to a common feed (12), the length of the first conductor path structure (20, 30) corresponding to approximately half the wavelength of a BT signal in the substrate (10) and the length of the second conductor path structure (20, 40) to approximately half the wavelength of a GPS signal in the substrate (10).