External RF Hardware for GNSS Positioning Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated GNSS chipsets in communication devices, such as cellular devices, often exhibit reduced positioning accuracy due to their limited capabilities in receiving and processing corrections to GNSS signals, leading to suboptimal performance compared to specialized GNSS receivers.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency hardware component is integrated with or coupled to communication devices, featuring a software-defined GNSS receiver that decodes GNSS signals, corrects for ionospheric perturbations using carrier phase interferometry, and applies various techniques to improve pseudorange accuracy, including WAAS, DGPS, and RTK corrections, enabling enhanced position determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If integrated GNSS chipsets are used in communication devices, then device integration and communication functionality are improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the GNSS processing function into separate components: a simplified GNSS chipset for basic signal reception in communication devices, and a dedicated high-precision GNSS receiver for accurate positioning. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that receives raw GNSS data from the communication device and processes it through advanced algorithms and correction mechanisms before producing final position results. This intermediary layer bridges the gap between basic reception capabilities and high-precision positioning requirements.
2Device complexity
If simplified GNSS processing is implemented in communication devices, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex positioning processing functions from the communication device and relocates them to a dedicated receiver system. The communication device retains only the essential GNSS signal reception capability, while the extracted processing complexity is handled by the specialized receiver that provides high-accuracy positioning results.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex hardware processing implementations with sophisticated software-based correction algorithms and signal processing techniques. This substitution allows high-precision positioning to be achieved through computational methods rather than requiring complex dedicated hardware in the communication device.
3Measurement precision
If external radio frequency hardware component is integrated with communication devices, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The external radio frequency hardware component is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a signal reception interface and as a positioning processing unit. This universal design reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced positioning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested architecture where the simplified GNSS chipset is integrated within the communication device, and the external radio frequency hardware component is coupled to provide additional positioning functionality. This nesting approach allows modular integration where each component can be independently optimized and replaced without affecting the entire system.
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
This solution significantly improves the positioning accuracy of communication devices by extracting and processing pseudorange information externally, providing accurate latitude, longitude, and altitude data, surpassing the limitations of integrated GNSS chipsets.
Implementation Method 1
corrects for ionospheric perturbations using carrier phase interferometry
Implementation Method 2
A radio frequency hardware component is integrated with or coupled to communication devices, featuring a software-defined GNSS receiver that decodes GNSS signals
Data Source
AI summary
A stand-alone radio frequency (RF) hardware component comprises first and second antennas, a digitizer, a serializer, and a serial output. The first antenna receives, over-the-air, a first analog Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal in a first frequency band. The second antenna receives, over-the-air, at least a second analog GNSS signal in a second frequency band, wherein the first frequency band and the second frequency band are separate and distinct. The digitizer digitizes the first analog GNSS signal into a first digitalized GNSS signal and digitizes the second analog GNSS signal into a second digitized GNSS signal. The serializer serializes the digitized GNSS signals into a serialized output signal. The serial output communicatively couples the digitized GNSS signals, as the serialized output signal, directly from the RF hardware component to a communication device that is removably couplable with the stand-alone RF hardware component.