GNSS Ionosphere Monitoring with Low-Cost Scintillation and TEC Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current commercial ionospheric scintillation and TEC monitors are expensive and complex, making them impractical for large-scale scientific applications requiring distributed deployment.

Innovation Solution

Reconfigure off-the-shelf GNSS receivers with single-board computers and custom software to create low-cost ionosphere monitoring devices capable of measuring ionospheric parameters, such as ScintPi 2.0 and ScintPi 3.0, which utilize GNSS receivers like NEO-M9 and ZED-F9P modules to provide accurate ionospheric scintillation and TEC data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If commercial ionospheric scintillation and TEC monitors are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveionospheric parameter measurement accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses off-the-shelf GNSS receivers as simplified copies of expensive commercial ionospheric monitors. These consumer-grade receivers are reconfigured with custom software to perform the same ionospheric measurements (scintillation and TEC) that previously required expensive specialized equipment, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters and software configuration of standard GNSS receivers to enable ionospheric monitoring. By modifying the processing parameters and using dual-frequency signals from GNSS satellites, the system achieves commercial-grade measurement precision using inexpensive, off-the-shelf hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If commercial ionospheric scintillation and TEC monitors are deployed, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveionospheric parameter measurement accuracyVSAvoiddeployment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs inexpensive, off-the-shelf GNSS receivers that can be easily replaced if needed, rather than investing in expensive commercial monitors. These consumer-grade devices are sufficient for scientific ionospheric measurements when properly configured, significantly reducing the financial barrier to deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes GNSS receivers universal by enabling them to perform both their original navigation function and ionospheric monitoring. The dual-frequency GNSS signals serve multiple purposes: positioning and ionospheric parameter measurement, thereby eliminating the need for separate expensive dedicated ionospheric instruments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If distributed deployment is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescientific research capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the ionospheric monitoring system into many independent, identical units that can be deployed at different locations. Each unit uses the same simple GNSS receiver configuration, allowing distributed deployment without increasing individual unit complexity. This segmentation enables parallel measurements across multiple sites, improving overall scientific productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The reconfigured devices offer cost-effective, easy deployment, and accurate measurements of ionospheric scintillation and TEC, comparable to commercial systems like Septentrio PolaRx5S, suitable for scientific research and educational activities.

Implementation Method 1

The GNSS receiver is capable of detecting at least a single frequency L-band signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation detection: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The ionosphere is also a birefringent medium meaning that signals with different frequencies travel at different speeds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBirefringence: Birefringence

Implementation Method 3

These free electrons are produced, in most part, by solar photoionization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoionization: Photoionisation

Data Source

PatentUS12585024B2Ionospheric scintillation and total electron content monitoring system

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 BOARD OF RGT THE UNIV OF TEXAS SYST

AI summary

The present disclosure presents systems method for remote sensing of the ionosphere. One such method comprises providing a single-board computer communicatively connected to a global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) receiver which is preconfigured to determine global positioning system coordinates by communicating with a set of GNSS satellites, reconfiguring the function of the single-board computer and GNSS receiver to acquire a set of GNSS signal parameters; and determining the set of physical properties of an ionosphere from the set of GNSS signal parameters. Other methods and systems are also provided.