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Positioning system utilizing artificial satellites and positioning method

  • US 5,363,110 A
  • Filed: 04/22/1993
  • Issued: 11/08/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A positioning system utilizing a plurality of artificial satellites, at least four artificial satellites always existing in a visible area as seen from a ground control station and being placed in quasi-geosynchronous altitude orbits so as to transmit positioning signals to a positioning available area for calculating a position of an observer within the positioning available area from a positioning algorithm of the observer, the positioning system comprising:

  • the artificial satellites including;

    means for returning a positioning signal, transmitted from the ground control station, to the ground control station;

    means for generating and outpouring a positioning time signal;

    means for correcting a time of the positioning time signal on the basis of a time correction command signal transmitted from the ground control station;

    means for receiving a monitored result of a status of the positioning signal transmitted from the ground control station and for outputting a telemetry data signal;

    means for multiplexing the positioning time signal and the telemetry data signal and for outputting the positioning signal; and

    means for transmitting the positioning signal to a predetermined positioning available area; and

    a ground control station for controlling the artificial satellites, including;

    means for measuring a range between the ground control station and each artificial satellite in real time on the basis of the positioning signal transmitted from the ground control station to each artificial satellite and returned from each artificial satellite;

    means for comparing a time delayed standard time signal delayed for a radio wave propagation time corresponding to the range between the ground control station and each artificial satellite with the positioning time signal, transmitted from each artificial satellite, and for outputting an error signal;

    means for generating the time correction command signal from the error signal and for transmitting the time correction command signal to each artificial satellite; and

    means for always monitoring the status of the positioning signal and for transmitting the monitored result to each artificial satellite;

    wherein the time included in the positioning signal of the artificial satellite is corrected so as to always coincide with the standard time of the ground control station, the status of the positioning signal is always monitored to include the monitored result into the positioning signal of the artificial satellite and to provide the monitored result to the observer within the positioning available area, in real time.

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