Antenna Multiplexer Switch for Navigation Receiver Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation receivers for global navigation satellite systems face complexity and inefficiency in processing signals from multiple antenna units, requiring numerous hardware components and inefficient utilization of signal energy, especially when determining the orientation of antenna platforms quickly.
Innovation Solution
A navigation receiver design that utilizes an antenna multiplexer switch to consecutively switch satellite signals from individual antenna units to a common radiofrequency processing module, generating a common in-phase correlation signal for all units, which is then processed by phase-lock loops and delay-lock loops to determine carrier phases and code delays, thereby reducing hardware components and optimizing signal energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate processing modules are used for each antenna unit, then signal processing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna units into a single integrated processing system where signals from all antenna units are fed into common radiofrequency processing modules. This merging approach maintains signal processing capability while reducing the number of separate hardware components, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universal processing modules that can handle signals from any antenna unit. The common radiofrequency processing modules and correlation signal generators are designed to process signals from multiple antenna units interchangeably, providing multi-functionality that reduces hardware complexity while maintaining processing capability.
2Measurement precision
If all signal power from antenna units is utilized, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges signals from all antenna units into a common processing path where all signal power is utilized. The common in-phase correlation signal generator combines signals from multiple antenna units, ensuring that total signal power is used for processing, which improves measurement precision without requiring complex separate processing paths for each antenna.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary signal combination at the radiofrequency stage before further processing. By combining signals from all antenna units early in the processing chain and generating a common correlation signal, the system ensures all signal power is utilized from the outset, improving precision while avoiding the need for complex post-processing arrangements.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional receiver architecture is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary signal combination and correlation signal generation in advance, before final processing. This preliminary action of combining all antenna unit signals into a common correlation signal accelerates the overall processing by avoiding repeated operations, thereby improving productivity while maintaining a manufacturable architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous utilization of signal power from all antenna units throughout the processing chain. The common in-phase correlation signal is continuously generated from all antenna inputs, maintaining uninterrupted useful action that improves processing efficiency and productivity without requiring architectural changes that would complicate manufacture.
Data Source
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AI summary
A navigation receiver processes signals transmitted by global navigation satellites and received by a set of antenna units. Each antenna unit is connected to a separate input port of an antenna multiplexer switch. Satellite signals received from each antenna unit are consecutively switched to the input of a common radiofrequency processing module. A common signal correlator generates a common in-phase correlation signal from the satellite signals received from all the antenna units. The common in-phase correlation signal is processed by a data processing module to demodulate information symbols from the received satellite signals. The common in-phase correlation signal is also processed by phase-lock loops and delay-lock loops to generate carrier phases and code delays from the received satellite signals. Embodiments are described in which, along with the common in-phase correlation signal, common functional blocks or hardware are used to process the satellite signals received from all the antenna units.