Multi-receiver master control station for differential GPS and method
First Claim
1. A differential global positioning system (GPS) location determination method comprising the steps of:
- a) generating pseudorange measurements for each of N channels, where N is an integer number greater than one, in a first GPS receiver which operates upon a first receiver time base;
b) generating pseudorange measurements for each of M channels, where M is an integer number greater than one, in a second GPS receiver which operates upon a second receiver time base;
c) identifying a common satellite of said first receiver and said second receiver; and
d) determining a difference between said first and second receiver time bases in response to pseudorange measurements generated by said first and second GPS receivers for said common satellite.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A master control station (10) includes a common antenna (12) which drives two, unsynchronized multi-channel GPS receivers (16, 18). The two receivers (16, 18) couple to a controller (24). The controller (24) commands the receivers (16, 18) to identify all GPS satellites in view, and then assigns (48) satellites to various channels in the receivers (16, 18). The assignment includes at least one common satellite between the two receivers. Location data are obtained from the two receivers for the common satellite and used to normalize (66) all pseudorange data from all channels to compensate for the lack of synchronization between the two receivers (16, 18). Differential GPS location resolution (84) may then occur using the normalized data.
38 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A differential global positioning system (GPS) location determination method comprising the steps of:
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a) generating pseudorange measurements for each of N channels, where N is an integer number greater than one, in a first GPS receiver which operates upon a first receiver time base; b) generating pseudorange measurements for each of M channels, where M is an integer number greater than one, in a second GPS receiver which operates upon a second receiver time base; c) identifying a common satellite of said first receiver and said second receiver; and d) determining a difference between said first and second receiver time bases in response to pseudorange measurements generated by said first and second GPS receivers for said common satellite. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A differential global positioning system (GPS) location determination method comprising the steps of:
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a) generating pseudorange and pseudorange rate measurements for each of N channels, where N is an integer number greater than one, in a first GPS receiver which operates upon a first time base; b) generating pseudorange and pseudorange rate measurements for each of M channels, where M is an integer number greater than one, in a second GPS receiver which operates upon a second time base; c) identifying a common satellite of said first GPS receiver and said second GPS receiver; d) determining pseudorange differences between said pseudorange measurements and pseudorange rate differences between said pseudorange rate measurements for said common satellite; and e) adjusting said pseudorange measurements and said pseudorange rate measurements generated by one of said first and second GPS receivers in response to said pseudorange differences and said pseudorange rate differences, respectively, determined in said step d). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A differential global positioning system (GPS) master control station comprising:
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a first GPS receiver operable upon a first time base and configured to receive N satellites, where N is an integer number greater than one; a second GPS receiver operable upon a second time base and configured to receive M satellites, where M is an integer number greater than one; and a controller, coupled to said first and second GPS receivers, for identifying a common satellite of said N satellites and said M satellites and for determining a difference between said first and second time bases in response to information received at said first and second GPS receivers for said common satellite. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification