Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Locator system and related localization method and service with innovative time and frequency sinchronization of localizator transponders
-
Application No.: US17292761Application Date: 2019-11-12
-
Publication No.: US11762081B2Publication Date: 2023-09-19
- Inventor: Domenico Giancristofaro , Gianluca Chiarelli
- Applicant: Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
- Applicant Address: IT Rome
- Assignee: Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
- Current Assignee: Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
- Current Assignee Address: IT Rome
- Agency: McCarter & English, LLP
- Priority: IT 2018000010252 2018.11.12
- International Application: PCT/IB2019/059711 2019.11.12
- International Announcement: WO2020/100035A 2020.05.22
- Date entered country: 2021-05-11
- Main IPC: G01S13/82
- IPC: G01S13/82 ; G01S13/90 ; G01S7/40

Abstract:
A localization method for locating a target that is coupled with a locator transponder associated with a permanent identification code permanently assigned to the locator transponder is provided. The localization method includes: a) transmitting a spread spectrum paging signal carrying the permanent identification code and a shorter temporary identification code temporarily assigned to the locator transponder; b) receiving the spread spectrum paging signal and extracting the temporary identification code carried by the received spread spectrum paging signal; c) transmitting radar signals towards area(s) of earth's surface or sky and receiving echo signals therefrom; d) upon reception by the locator transponder of radar signal(s), generating and transmitting a sequence of watermarked radar echo signals in which a spread spectrum watermarking signal is embedded that includes the temporary identification code; e) carrying out localization operations; f) transmitting frequency-synchronization-aid signal(s); g) receiving the frequency-synchronization-aid signal(s) and estimating a frequency drift affecting a reference frequency provided by a local oscillator of the locator transponder; wherein the locator transponder transmits the sequence of watermarked radar echo signals by using a transmission carrier frequency obtained based on the reference frequency provided by the local oscillator and on the estimated frequency drift.
Public/Granted literature
Information query