Radio Source Positioning Using TDOA/FDOA Ambiguity Resolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for positioning unknown target radio wave sources using direction information from array antennas are costly and increase hardware complexity, leading to ambiguity in positioning results.

Innovation Solution

A positioning device that utilizes multiple signal receiving units, correlation processing, geolocation point calculation, coordinate conversion, frequency distribution analysis, and error ellipse determination to estimate the position of an unknown target radio wave source without requiring direction information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If direction information is obtained using an array antenna, then positioning accuracy is improved, but hardware scale and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidhardware scale
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the necessary information (TDOA and FDOA) from the received signals through correlation processing, without requiring full direction information from array antennas. This extracts the essential positioning data while avoiding the hardware complexity of array antennas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses simple single-element antennas instead of expensive array antennas, accepting that individual measurements may have ambiguity but resolving it through multiple measurements and statistical processing. This replaces expensive, complex hardware with cheaper, simpler components.

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

2Measurement precision

If direction information is obtained using an array antenna, then positioning accuracy is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses simple single-element antennas instead of expensive array antennas, accepting that individual measurements may have ambiguity but resolving it through multiple measurements and statistical processing. This replaces expensive, complex hardware with cheaper, simpler components.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts only the necessary information (TDOA and FDOA) from the received signals through correlation processing, without requiring full direction information from array antennas. This extracts the essential positioning data while avoiding the hardware complexity of array antennas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If TDOA and FDOA information is used for positioning, then positioning capability is achieved, but ambiguity occurs in positioning results

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning capabilityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses feedback through iterative correlation processing and statistical analysis of multiple measurements. The system continuously refines the positioning estimate by comparing expected signal characteristics with actual measurements, resolving ambiguity through this feedback loop.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs excessive correlation processing by calculating TDOA and FDOA for multiple candidate positions and using statistical methods to identify the true position. This excessive computation resolves ambiguity that would otherwise require simpler, less accurate methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Enables accurate positioning of unknown target radio wave sources by eliminating the need for direction information, reducing hardware costs and complexity while resolving ambiguity.

Implementation Method 1

a correlation processing unit to calculate information of TDOA and FDOA by correlation processing between relevant complex signal vectors on a basis of the complex signal vectors acquired by the signal receiving units

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCorrelation processing:

Data Source

PatentEP4697052A1Positioning device and positioning method
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP4697052A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4697052A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4697052A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There are included a plurality of signal receiving units (301) provided one by one for a plurality of satellites (1) to acquire complex signal vectors of signals received by the satellites (1), a correlation processing unit (302) to calculate information of TDOA and FDOA by correlation processing between relevant complex signal vectors on a basis of the complex signal vectors acquired by the signal receiving units (301), a geolocation point calculating unit (303) to calculate a geolocation point corresponding to the TDOA and the FDOA on a basis of the information of the TDOA and the FDOA calculated by the correlation processing unit (302), a coordinate converting unit (306) to convert, on a basis of geolocation points calculated for a plurality of time periods by the geolocation point calculating unit (303), the geolocation points into information of latitude and longitude, a frequency distribution calculating unit (307) to calculate a frequency distribution of the geolocation point on a basis of the information of latitude and longitude obtained by the coordinate converting unit (306), a geolocation point extracting unit (308) to extract a geolocation point included in an area having a maximum frequency from the frequency distribution on a basis of the frequency distribution calculated by the frequency distribution calculating unit (307), and a position estimating unit to estimate a position of a target radio wave source (10) on a basis of the geolocation point extracted by the geolocation point extracting unit (308).