Weighted Polarization Signal Processing for Mobile Satellite Reception

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional signal processing devices for receiving satellite signals exhibit insufficient performance due to polarization changes caused by the positional relationship between satellites and mobile bodies, leading to deterioration in reception quality, especially in high-speed aircraft.

Innovation Solution

A signal processing device that utilizes a first and second transmission path estimator to calculate weights for vertical and horizontal signals, applying weighted summation to improve reception performance by reducing synchronization deviations and interference, even when polarization changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional signal processing is used to receive satellite signals, then the device structure is simple, but the reception quality deteriorates due to polarization changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception qualityVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic signal processing by continuously estimating transmission path characteristics and calculating optimal weights in real-time based on changing polarization conditions. The weight calculation unit dynamically adjusts the weights for vertical and horizontal signals according to the estimated transmission path characteristics, allowing the system to adapt to time-varying polarization changes caused by aircraft movement and satellite relative position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of signal weights to optimize reception quality. By calculating optimal weights based on transmission path characteristics and applying weighted summation to vertical and horizontal signals, the system transforms the fixed signal processing approach into a variable parameter approach where weights are continuously adjusted to compensate for polarization changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If weighted summation is applied to vertical and horizontal signals, then signal-to-noise ratio improves, but calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidcalculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary estimation of transmission path characteristics before calculating the optimal weights. The transmission path characteristic estimation unit预先 estimates the characteristics based on received signals, and this preliminary information is then used by the weight calculation unit to determine the optimal weights for signal combination, reducing the overall computational burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical polarization adjustment mechanisms with signal processing calculations. Instead of physically adjusting antenna polarization to track the satellite, the system uses transmission path characteristic estimation and weight calculation to achieve the same effect through digital signal processing, substituting mechanical complexity with computational algorithms.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3748867B1Signal processing device, signal processing method, program, and mobile body
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA
  • EP3748867B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3748867B1 patent drawingFigure 2
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AI summary

Provided is a signal processing device that achieves improvement in performance. The signal processing device includes: a transmission path estimator (165V) that estimates a first transmission path characteristic of a transmission signal using a vertical signal out of vertical and horizontal signals resulting from being received by a vertical polarization antenna and a horizontal polarization antenna; a transmission path estimator (165H) that estimates a second transmission path characteristic of the transmission signal using the horizontal signal; a weight calculator (170) that calculates a first weight for the vertical signal and a second weight for the horizontal signal, using the first transmission path characteristic and the second transmission path characteristic; and a weighting applier (175) that applies weighted summation to the vertical signal and the horizontal signal using the first weight and the second weight.