GNSS Positioning System Phase Center Variation Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current positioning systems for land vehicles face challenges in achieving high-precision GNSS positions with low technical effort and cost, as they often require complex multi-antenna arrangements and extensive phase center correction data.

Innovation Solution

A positioning system utilizing a processing unit, a single or dual antenna element, and a phase-center-variation-matrix stored in memory, which records correction data for each antenna element's relevant angles and bands, along with rotation and tilt angle detection, allows for high-precision GNSS computations with minimal hardware and effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single antenna element is used for GNSS positioning, then the system complexity and cost are reduced, but the positioning precision deteriorates due to phase center variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-measuring and storing phase center variation patterns for the antenna element in a lookup table during system setup. These pre-computed correction values are then retrieved and applied during actual positioning operations, eliminating the need for real-time complex calculations and enabling high precision positioning with a single antenna element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If phase center correction is implemented for high-precision positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to multiple antennas and extensive correction data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential correction information (phase center variation patterns) for a single antenna element and stores it in a compact lookup table. This selective extraction of necessary correction data eliminates the need for complex multi-antenna arrangements while maintaining high positioning precision through efficient use of minimal correction data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If multiple antenna elements are used to improve positioning accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a single, simple, and inexpensive antenna element instead of multiple complex antennas. By compensating for the limitations of this simple antenna through pre-computed phase center correction data stored in a lookup table, the system achieves high positioning accuracy while maintaining ease of manufacture and low cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP3667369B1Positioning system for a land vehicle and method for computing high-precision GNSS positions of a land vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 VALEO COMFORT & DRIVING ASSISTANCE
  • EP3667369B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3667369B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention is related to a positioning system (PS) for a land vehicle (LV) comprising: a processing unit (PU) for computing data and for output of high-precision GNSS positions, an antenna (A) with at least one antenna element (AE1, AE2) for reception of GNSS signals in at least a first band, a GNSS receiver (GRV) for output of antenna data to the processing unit (PU), a memory (M) with a stored phase-center-variation-matrix (PCVM) for the at least one antenna element (AE1, AE2) and for output of correction data (CD) of the phase-center-variation-matrix (PCVM) to the processing unit (PU), a rotation angle detection apparatus (RAD) for providing the processing unit (PU) with rotation angle data to the processing unit and a tilt angles detection apparatus (TAD) for providing the processing unit with tilt angles data.