|Publication number||US7176835 B2|
|Application number||US 11/045,679|
|Publication date||Feb 13, 2007|
|Filing date||Jan 28, 2005|
|Priority date||Jan 28, 2005|
|Also published as||CN101111777A, EP1844350A1, EP1844350A4, US20060170590, WO2006083634A1|
|Publication number||045679, 11045679, US 7176835 B2, US 7176835B2, US-B2-7176835, US7176835 B2, US7176835B2|
|Inventors||Anuradha K. Soman, Robert A. Marples|
|Original Assignee||Motorola, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (9), Classifications (8), Legal Events (4)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This invention relates generally to global positioning systems (GPS), and more particularly to selecting an optimal antenna in a GPS receiver and methods thereof.
For a single antenna GPS receiver to provide a reasonably accurate reading of the GPS receiver's location, generally, the single antenna must detect at least four GPS satellite signals. Depending on orientation, however, the single antenna GPS receiver may frequently fall short of detecting four GPS satellites.
The embodiments of the invention presented below overcome this disadvantage in the prior art.
Embodiments in accordance with the invention provide an apparatus and method for selecting an optimal antenna in a GPS receiver.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a GPS receiver for receiving signals from a plurality of GPS satellites has a plurality of antennas, a receiver coupled to the plurality of antennas, and a processor coupled to the receiver. The processor is programmed to collect from the receiver information from each of the plurality of antennas corresponding to signals received from the plurality of GPS satellites, process the information, identify from the processed information an antenna from the plurality of antennas having a probability higher than the other antennas for accurately locating the GPS receiver, and locate the GPS receiver according to signals from the plurality of GPS satellites received by the identified antenna if the probability is greater than a predetermined threshold.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, a GPS receiver for receiving signals from a plurality of GPS satellites has a plurality of antennas, a receiver coupled to the plurality of antennas, and a processor coupled to the receiver. The GPS receiver operates according to a method having the steps of collecting from the receiver information from each of the plurality of antennas corresponding to signals received from the plurality of GPS satellites, processing the information, identifying from the processed information an antenna from the plurality of antennas having a probability higher than the other antennas for accurately locating the GPS receiver, and locating the GPS receiver according to signals from the plurality of GPS satellites received by the identified antenna if the probability is greater than a predetermined threshold.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of embodiments of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the embodiments of the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
The processor module 106 comprises conventional technology such as a display 108, an input/output port 112, an audio system 116, a processing system 110 coupled to the foregoing elements, and a power supply 114 for powering all elements of the GPS receiver 100. The display 108 is used for presenting, for example, graphical representations such as a map indicating to an end user where he or she is located. The display 108 can also be operated according to inputs applied to a conventional keypad coupled to the input/output port 112 for manipulating selectable menus of a UI (User Interface) for instructing the GPS receiver 100 on one or more selected functions to perform. The input/output port 112 can also be used for connectivity to accessories. The audio system 116 can, for example, play audible instructions for directing an end user of the GPS receiver 100 while driving.
The processing system 110 includes a conventional processor such as a microprocessor and/or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) each operating with one or more conventional clocks (herein referred to as a clock for illustration purposes only) coupled thereto for processing signals from the receiver 104 and for controlling operation of the elements of the GPS receiver 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
In a supplemental embodiment, the processor module 106 further includes a selective call radio (SCR) 105 for communicating with other end users through a conventional communication network such as a cellular network. In this embodiment, the SCR 105 comprises conventional technology for exchanging voice and/or data messages between devices coupled to the communication network much like a conventional cellular phone. Similar to other elements of the GPS receiver 100, the SCR 105 operates under the control of the processor module 106.
Among other functions, the processor module 106 is programmed to determine the position of the GPS receiver 100 by triangulating its position by measuring the distance between itself and a number of GPS satellites. This is accomplished in part by multiplying the velocity of signals transmitted by each GPS satellite (traveling at the speed of light) and the time traveled by said signals to the GPS receiver 100. GPS satellites transmit pseudo-random pulses (PRP) at precise known times. By measuring the instant when the pulses arrive, the processor module 106 can determine the distance to each GPS satellite. However, the atomic clocks on board the GPS satellites are extremely accurate relative to the clock of the processor module 106. Prior to synchronizing its clock to the GPS satellites, the processor module 106 calculates an estimated range to each acquired GPS satellite. This range is an approximate distance measured according to the unsynchronized GPS time kept by the processor module 106 relative to every GPS satellite the receiver 104 has acquired.
In order for the processor module 106 to determine a precise position it has to synchronize its own clock with the atomic clock of the GPS satellites. A clock error in the processor module 106 of a few nanoseconds can result in a position error in as much as several hundred meters. The processor module 106 accomplishes this by shifting in time its own generated copy of the PRP code to match the PRP code transmitted by a GPS satellite, and by comparing this code shift with its own internal clock. This process is repeated with every satellite signal the receiver 104 locks on to.
Three GPS satellites can provide only a two-dimensional (2D) position for the processor 104 to determine the location of the GPS receiver 100. The elevation of the GPS receiver 100 would have to be provided to the processor module 106 to ascertain the third dimension and thereby calculate a precise fix. Without this, a fix of the GPS receiver 100 can be off by several kilometers. A fourth GPS satellite signal, however, provides the processor module 106 enough information to synchronize its clock to that of the GPS satellites and thereby calculate a relatively accurate location (1 to 3 meters).
A variety of factors, however, may prevent the GPS receiver 100 from triangulating to a relatively accurate 3D position. These factors include, but are not limited to, receiver noise, multipath interference, ionosphere interference, and harsh landscape conditions such as valleys, large structures, canyons, and dense tree cover, which singly or in combination can be exacerbated by relying on a single antenna of a GPS receiver that happens to be poorly aligned with the GPS satellites.
In the processing and identification steps 204–206 the processor 106 evaluates the data it collects from each of the plurality of antennas 102A–102N. From each antenna 102 the processor 106 determines a probability of calculating an accurate location of the GPS receiver 100. A probability can be assessed by applying to each antenna 102, singly or in combination, any number of measurable factors. Such factors can include, for example,
The predetermined threshold assures that the even if an antenna 102 is found with a probability greater than the others 102A–102N, the probability of determining a successful location needs to be sufficient to provide an end user of the GPS receiver 100 with a useful reading. The threshold can be selectable by the end user of the GPS receiver 100 or pre-programmed in the GPS receiver 100 by the vendor of said device. An end user may choose to set, for example, a high threshold (e.g., 99%) to be sure that the reading is as accurate within the conventional limits provided by the U.S. Government managing the constellation of GPS satellites (e.g., +/−3 meters). At lower thresholds (e.g., 90%) the processor 106 can determine a location from the selected antenna 102 as described above and calculate with conventional techniques an estimated range of error for the threshold selected.
In light of the foregoing description, it should be recognized that embodiments in the present invention could be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. These embodiments could also be realized in numerous configurations contemplated to be within the scope and spirit of the claims below. It should also be understood that the claims are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents.
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|U.S. Classification||342/357.76, 455/133, 455/277.1|
|Cooperative Classification||G01S19/28, G01S19/36|
|European Classification||G01S19/36, G01S19/28|
|Jan 28, 2005||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: MOTOROLA, INC., ILLINOIS
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SOMAN, ANURADHA K.;MARPLES, ROBERT A.;REEL/FRAME:016240/0125
Effective date: 20050127
|Sep 20, 2010||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Feb 13, 2011||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Apr 5, 2011||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 20110213