Abstract:
The present application is applicable to receivers for Global Positions (GP) systems which use delay-lock loops (DLLs) and, optionally, phase-lock loops (PLLs). The application discloses multipath error reduction techniques which enable the multipath errors in DLL systems to be made much less than the error present in known narrow “early-late” correlators, or their corresponding implementations which use strobe representations of the PR-code. Also disclosed are multipath error reduction techniques that enable multipath errors in the PLL systems to be reduced. The techniques, when applied to both the DLL and PLL systems work synergistically to further reduce multipath errors.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods for increasing the fail-safety characteristics of tracking systems for navigation receivers which receive signals from many satellites. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an individual PLL circuit is used to track the phase of each satellite's carrier signal, and a vector common tracking loop is used to track the disturbances of the carrier phases which are caused by one or more common sources, such as the movement of the receiver's antenna(s) and/or the phase fluctuation of the receiver's main reference oscillator. The vector common tracking loop uses phase information from all of the satellites being tracked, and for this reason can be made more wide-band than each of the individual PLL circuits. The wider bandwidth of the vector common tracking loop provides higher dynamic properties and more safe tracking when faint and weakening satellite signals are present. In another embodiment of the invention, the receiver receives the satellite signals from M≧3 antennas mounted on a common object, and three common tracking loops are added to track the object's rotation about its three rotational axes. The common object may comprise any structure, rigid member, or vehicle, such as for example: a platform, pole, aircraft, ship, boat, car, truck, train car, etc. With N satellites being tracked with M antennas, this embodiment performs the joint tracking of up to N×M signals, which increases tracking reliability. The present invention may be used in digital receivers of GPS and GLONASS(GLN) systems where the receiver receives a large number of such signals from many satellites and processes them in order to receive information about the current time and the location and movement of the receiver.
Abstract:
An apparatus for determining signal strength data within at least one allocated GNSS frequency band is provided. The apparatus includes a GNSS antenna. The GNSS antenna receives signals within the allocated GNSS frequency band. The apparatus further includes receiving circuitry. The receiving circuitry is for demodulating the received signals. The apparatus further includes a processor and memory for storing instructions, executable by the processor. The instructions include instructions for generating signal strength data for the received signals within the GNSS allocated frequency based on the demodulated signals, and for determining a position for a point of interest based upon the demodulated signals. Included in the apparatus is a display screen for displaying a graphical representation of the signal strength data of at least a portion of the at least one GNSS allocated frequency band. The graphical representation identifies interference within at least the portion of the at least one GNSS allocated frequency band.
Abstract:
A cigar cooler is disclosed that includes a housing having an upper surface with a pair of open channels each sized to receive a cigar. The housing includes an open central region for receiving a cooling medium such as ice or a frozen gel. During use, the cigar is placed in an open channel between inhalations to reduce the temperature of the cigar.
Abstract:
A computer-implemented method for generating at least one segment of an offset path for a vehicle based on at least one segment of a base path is provided. The at least one segment of the base path is represented by a stored set of data points. The computer-implemented method includes comparing the at least one segment of the base path to a curvature constraint to determine if the at least one segment of the base path violates the curvature constraint. The curvature constraint is based on a characteristic of the vehicle and a desired offset distance from the at least one segment of the base path. The characteristic reflects the vehicle's ability to traverse at least one segment of a path. The method further includes modifying the at least one segment of the base path to satisfy the curvature constraint, if the at least one segment of the base path violates the curvature constraint. At least one segment of an offset path for the vehicle to follow is generated based upon the desired offset distance from the modified at least one segment of the base path.
Abstract:
A rover processor determines position of a rover based upon the interaction between multiple antennas located at the rover and multiple antennas located at a base. The rover antennas may include a rover master antenna having a phase center located at the centroid of the antennas patterns of at least two auxiliary rover antennas. The rover processor may determine the position of the rover master antenna based upon the relative positions of at least two rover antennas (e.g., the rover master antenna and at least one rover auxiliary antenna, or at least two rover auxiliary antennas) with respect to at least two antennas of a base transceiver.
Abstract:
The position of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) surveying receiver is determined based on a plurality of RTK engines. A first RTK engine is implementing using a first set of parameters. A second RTK engine is implemented using a second set of parameter different than the first set. A plurality of GNSS signals are received from multiple satellites. At least one correction signal is received from at least one base receiver. A first position is determined from the first RTK engine based on the GNSS signals and the at least one correction signal. A second position is determined from the first RTK engine based on the GNSS signals and the at least one correction signal. A final position of the GNSS surveying receiver is determined based on the first position or the second position or a combination of both positions.
Abstract:
A rover processor determines position of a rover based upon the interaction between multiple antennas located at the rover and multiple antennas located at a base. The rover antennas may include a rover master antenna having a phase center located at the centroid of the antennas patterns of at least two auxiliary rover antennas. The rover processor may determine the position of the rover master antenna based upon the relative positions of at least two rover antennas (e.g., the rover master antenna and at least one rover auxiliary antenna, or at least two rover auxiliary antennas) with respect to at least two antennas of a base transceiver.
Abstract:
The measurements of two GPS and/or GLONASS receivers are related to a common time moment by extrapolating measurement data that has arrived through a connection link with a delay. This common time moment is defined by the user. Cycle slips in the phase-lock loops (PLLs) of the receivers, which may be caused by blockage of direct signals from the satellites, strong interference signals, and reflections, are deflected and corrected in a multi-loop nonlinear tracking system. The procedure of resolution of phase measurement ambiguities comprises the preliminary estimation of floating ambiguities by a recurrent (e.g., iterative) procedure including the simultaneous processing of code and phase measurements for all satellites for each processing time interval, and the gradual improvement of the result as the information is accumulated. After the resolution of ambiguity, the user coordinates are estimated with centimeter accuracy on the basis of phase measurements on the carrier frequency.
Abstract:
A portable geodetic surveying station is disclosed which utilizes a GPS antenna attached to the top portion of a surveyor's stake, or other type monopod. By positioning the bottom portion of the monopod directly upon a desired ground location, and adjusting the angular position of the monopod so that it is precisely vertical, the GPS antenna may be quickly and accurately positioned level and directly above the desired ground location. Additionally, because the monopod has a known, fixed length, the height of the GPS antenna above the desired ground location will always be a constant, and will not vary from one survey point to the next. The GPS antenna and monopod are designed to be used in conjunction with a newly designed geodetic surveying tripod which can be quickly and conveniently set up to support the monopod in its vertical position directly above the desired ground location. The tripod of the present invention includes a tripod head which comprises a base platform, a first housing slidably mounted on the platform to permit the first housing to move along a first directional path, and a second housing slidably mounted within the first housing to permit the second housing to move along a second directional path, generally orthogonal to the first directional path. Mounted pivotally within the second housing is a gimbal which includes a central cavity for receiving the shaft of the monopod. The gimbal allows the angular position of the monopod and GPS antenna to be adjusted independently of the angular position tripod platform.