Switched combiner GPS receiver system

• US 7,663,548 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Inventors: Tseng, Gan-Tai, McKay, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liu; Harry
• Application Number:
  US11/277,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20070222680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 342/424, 3423571- 17
• US Class Current: 342/424
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/02 providing sum and difference patterns H01Q25/04 takes precedence

Abstract

A receiving system includes a combiner configured to receive signals from two or more antenna elements and to generate sum and difference outputs, and a switch configured to sequentially provide the sum and difference outputs as inputs to a receiver.

Claims

1. A receiving system comprising:

a combiner configured to receive signals from two or more antenna elements, at least two of the antenna elements being positioned at diametrically opposite sides of a launch vehicle, and to generate sum and difference outputs in amplitude and phase; and

a switch configured to sequentially provide the sum and difference outputs as inputs to a receiver such that the antenna elements provide substantially uniform spherical pattern coverage.

2. The receiving system of claim 1, wherein the combiner is a microwave hybrid combiner.

3. The receiving system of claim 1, wherein the switch is configured to sequence through the sum and difference outputs at a substantially constant rate.

4. The receiving system of claim 1, wherein the switch is configured to sequence through the sum and difference outputs in a substantially periodic manner.

5. The receiving system of claim 1, wherein the switch is a toggle switch.

6. The receiving system of claim 1, wherein the switch is a single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch.

7. The receiving system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

8. A receiving system comprising:

a sum and difference combiner configured to receive signals from two or more antenna elements, at least two of the antenna elements being positioned at diametrically opposite sides of a launch vehicle, and to generate combiner outputs in amplitude and phase;

a receiver; and

means for selectively providing the combiner outputs as inputs to the receiver such that the antenna elements provide substantially uniform spherical pattern coverage.

9. The receiving system of claim 8, wherein the sum and difference combiner is a microwave hybrid combiner.

10. The receiving system of claim 8, wherein the receiver is a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

11. The receiving system of claim 8, wherein the means for selectively providing the combiner outputs is configured to sequence through the combiner outputs at a substantially constant rate.

12. The receiving system of claim 8, wherein the means for selectively providing the combiner outputs is configured to sequence through the combiner outputs in a substantially periodic manner.

13. The receiving system of claim 8, wherein the means for selectively providing the combiner outputs includes a toggle switch.

14. The receiving system of claim 8, wherein the means for selectively providing the combiner outputs includes a single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch.

15. A receiving method comprising:

combining outputs of two or more antenna elements, at least two of the antenna elements being positioned at diametrically opposite sides of a launch vehicle, to generate sum and difference signals in amplitude and phase; and

sequentially switching between the sum and difference signals to provide inputs to a receiver such that the antenna elements provide substantially uniform spherical pattern coverage.

16. The receiving method of claim 15, wherein the switching occurs at a substantially constant rate.

17. The receiving method of claim 15, wherein the switching is substantially periodic.

18. A receiving method comprising:

providing a launch vehicle with two or more antenna elements, at least two of the antenna elements being positioned at diametrically opposite sides of a launch vehicle;

combining outputs of the two or more antenna elements to generate sum and difference signals in amplitude and phase; and

switching between the sum and difference signals to provide inputs to a global positioning system (GPS) receiver such that the antenna elements provide substantially uniform spherical pattern coverage.