GNSS Reception Pattern Mapping for Antenna Inclination Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for measuring antenna orientation do not accurately measure antenna inclination, leading to potential errors in positioning, especially when the antenna is in motion or under external forces, and do not account for signal attenuation and transmission output variations.
Innovation Solution
A measuring circuit and device that acquire reception strengths and azimuth/elevation angles from GNSS signals, normalize these signals to account for signal attenuation and transmission output, and map them to a virtual three-dimensional space to generate a reception strength pattern for accurate antenna inclination measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional orientation measurement techniques are used, then azimuth measurement is achieved, but inclination measurement capability is missing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends measurement from two-dimensional azimuth only to three-dimensional space by incorporating elevation angle and reception strength as additional dimensions. This allows simultaneous measurement of both azimuth and inclination, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision for inclination and adaptability of measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If signal strength is used directly for measurement, then simple measurement is achieved, but accuracy is reduced due to signal attenuation and transmission output variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary normalization processing to reception strength values before using them for inclination measurement. By pre-compensating for signal attenuation and transmission output variations through normalization, the system achieves accurate measurements without requiring complex real-time correction mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If antenna rotation method is used, then orientation measurement is achieved, but the system cannot measure inclination when antenna is in motion or under external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotation method with a signal-based measurement approach using reception strength patterns. This substitution allows inclination measurement without physical antenna rotation, enabling accurate measurements even when the antenna is in motion or subjected to external forces, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A measuring circuit is provided including a reception strength acquisition unit (114) that acquires reception strengths of received signals received from respective transmitting stations by an antenna (102) having a predetermined directivity; a direction component information acquisition unit (112) that acquires azimuth angle information and elevation angle information, obtained from each of the received signals with respect to a position of the antenna (102) used as a reference, of the each of the transmitting stations; a pattern generation unit (120) that maps a three-dimensional vector of the azimuth angle information, the elevation angle information, and the reception strength of each of the received signals to a virtual three-dimensional space with the antenna (102) being an origin to generate a first reception strength pattern; and a comparison unit (128) that compares the generated first reception strength pattern with a second reception strength pattern that is a known reception strength pattern to acquire an inclination of the antenna (102).