Receiver Positioning via Carrier Phase Variation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current positioning systems face challenges in achieving precise location determination indoors and maintaining continuity with outdoor environments, particularly due to interference from obstacles and the need for complex infrastructure and user intervention.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing GNSS-type signals and pseudolites that measures phase variations of radio signals to determine relative radial movement speed between fixed transmitters and a receiver, allowing for absolute positioning without requiring absolute distance measurements and minimizing interference from signal propagation disturbances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sensor networks with ultrasonic, infrared, pressure sensors and electronic tags are used, then positioning performance is improved, but infrastructure constraints and complexity increase

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the positioning function from complex sensor networks and implements it using only existing mobile terminal components (GPS receiver, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) combined with pseudolite signals. This eliminates the need for dedicated positioning sensors and complex infrastructure while maintaining positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes existing mobile terminal components serve multiple functions: the GPS receiver processes both satellite and pseudolite signals, the accelerometer and gyroscope serve both navigation and positioning verification purposes, and the magnetometer provides additional positioning data. This universal usage reduces infrastructure requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If optical systems using cameras are used, then positioning capability is improved, but computational complexity and user intervention requirements increase

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces optical camera-based positioning with a radio frequency-based system using pseudolite signals and existing mobile terminal sensors. This substitution eliminates the need for image processing algorithms and user-initiated photographing while achieving continuous positioning through signal processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If code measurements are used for distance determination, then positioning is achieved, but multipath interference degrades accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance measurementVSAvoidmultipath interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from code-based distance measurement to carrier phase-based distance measurement. The carrier phase measurements are less susceptible to multipath interference and provide higher precision, enabling accurate positioning in environments with signal reflections and obstacles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If continuous positioning between outdoor and indoor environments is required, then positioning continuity is improved, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning continuityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges outdoor GPS positioning with indoor pseudolite positioning into a unified system. The mobile terminal continuously receives signals from both satellite and ground-based pseudolite transmitters, seamlessly transitioning between outdoor and indoor environments without requiring separate positioning systems or complex handover protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 approach provides high-precision decimetric or centimeter-level measurements, reduces infrastructure complexity, and ensures continuous positioning across indoor and outdoor environments using existing mobile terminals without the need for synchronization or dedicated infrastructure.

Implementation Method 1

measuring phase variations of radio signals emitted by said transmitters, in order to determine, as a function of said phase variations, a relative radial movement speed between said transmitters and said receiver

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase variation measurement: Phase Modulation

Data Source

PatentEP3314285B1Method for locating a receiver within a positioning system
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 INSTITUT MINES TELECOM TELECOM BRETAGNE
  • EP3314285B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3314285B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3314285B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for locating at least one receiver (2) within a positioning system (1), the system including: at least two transmitters (PL1, PL2), each transmitter emitting a signal including a carrier modulated by a code, and a receiver (2) that is movable within the system (1) and configured to detect the signals emitted by the transmitters (PL1, PL2), method in which: during the movement of the receiver (2) from an estimated predefined initial position (xI, yI, zI) thereof, consecutive measurements are taken of the phase of the carrier of the signal emitted by each transmitter(PLk), for various subsequent positions (xj, yj, zj) of the receiver (2), the variations in the phase of the carrier of the signals between each subsequent position (xj, yj, zj) of the receiver (2) for which the phase was measured and the estimated initial position (xI, yI, zI) of the receiver (2) is calculated for each transmitter (PLk), and these phase variations are used to calculate the variation in distance between the receiver (2) and the transmitters (PL1, PL2), in order to determine the real initial position of the receiver (2) within the positioning system (1).