Patents Assigned to U-BLOX AG
  • Patent number: 8589664
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a data engine 6 having an instruction decoder 18 for generating one or more control signals 24 for controlling processing circuitry 20 to perform data processing operations specified by the program instructions decoded. The instruction decoder 18 responsive to a marker instruction to read a programmable flow control value from a flow control register 38. The programmable flow control value specifies the action to be taken upon completion of execution of a current sequence of program instructions. The action taken may be jumping to a target program instruction at the start of a target sequence of program instructions or entry into an idle state awaiting a new processing task to be initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: u-blox AG
    Inventors: Merlijn Aurich, Jef Verdonck
  • Patent number: 8542714
    Abstract: This invention provides methods for a GPS device to resolve timing errors as applicable to a AGPS navigation solution, and, in particular, to solutions involving GNSS positioning and timing with limited assistance such as indoors or in a heavily obscured location, where the time of transmit of satellite signals is not directly extractable from the navigation message data. In particular the invention concerns the reconstruction of time-of-transmit from the course acquisition code of weak signals or where assisted-GNSS are employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: u-blox AG
    Inventors: Roderick Bryant, Eamonn P. Glennon, Ian Anthony Sainsbery, John Kenmure Gordon
  • Publication number: 20130176059
    Abstract: A fractional-N PLL synthesizer has an up-down counter counting up for positive edges of a frequency-divided signal produced by a frequency divider with a fractional divide ratio in a feedback path of the synthesizer and down for positive edges of a reference signal. A phase offset between portions of the synthesizer signal before and after a loss-of-lock interval is then assessed as a numerical value proportional to the product of the divide ratio and the cycle difference registered by the up-down counter (36) after the loss-of-lock interval. A correction term derived from the phase offset can be used in a signal processing device as employed, e.g., in a GNSS receiver, for producing, from an analog input signal, a phase-corrected baseband signal where portions of the signal before and after loss of lock are phase coherent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: u-blox AG
    Inventor: Thomas Brauner
  • Patent number: 8350757
    Abstract: An acquisition unit of a GNSS receiver base band circuit includes an integrator with a number of preprocessors where an incoming digital signal is mixed with different frequency signals to compensate at least in part for clock drift and Doppler shifts. The resulting digital signals are, after an accumulation step reducing sample frequency, integrated over an integration period extending over several basic intervals of the length of a basic sequence characteristic for a GNSS satellite, so that samples separated by a multiple of the basic interval are superposed. The resulting data sequence of 1,023 digital values is stored in one of two memories and then, in mixers, sequentially shifted by post-integration frequencies which are multiples of the inverse of the length of the basic interval. The pre-integration frequencies employed in the preprocessors deviate, with one possible exception, from the post-integration frequencies and are usually smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: u-blox AG
    Inventor: Michael Ammann
  • Patent number: 8295324
    Abstract: Complex digital data values derived from a DSSS signal, in particular, a GNSS signal, are delivered to a general purpose microprocessor at a rate of 8 MHz and chip sums over eight consecutive data values spaced by a sampling length (TS), each beginning with one of the data values as an initial value, formed and stored. For code removal, each of a series of chip sums covering a correlation interval of 1 ms and each essentially coinciding with a chip interval of fixed chip length (TC), where a value of a basic function (bm) reflecting a PRN basic sequence of a satellite assumes a correlation value (Bm), is multiplied by the latter and the products added up over a partial correlation interval to form a partial correlation sum. The partial correlation interval is chosen in such a way that it essentially coincides with a corresponding Doppler interval having a Doppler length (TD) where a frequency function used for tentative Doppler shift compensation and represented by a step function (sine, cosine) is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: u-blox AG
    Inventors: Clemens Bürgi, Marcel Baracchi, Grégoire Waelchli
  • Patent number: 8253822
    Abstract: A method of appending a position stamp to an image file of a photo or video clip taken with a digital camera having a GPS antenna and a GPS RF front-end including an analogue to digital converter for receiving GPS signals and outputting GPS signal samples together with a digital camera and computer for the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: U-Blox AG
    Inventors: Andrew T. Yule, Christopher B. Marshall, Simon R. Turner
  • Patent number: 8248487
    Abstract: A method of creating an image file and a digital camera for the same. The method comprised the steps of: (i) generating and storing image data corresponding to a photo or video clip; (ii) sampling received GPS signals and storing the resultant GPS signal samples (hereafter “raw GPS data”); and (iii) creating a single file containing both the image data and the raw GPS data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: U-BLOX AG
    Inventors: Andrew T. Yule, Johan Peeters, Christopher B. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20120116712
    Abstract: Position (xref) and heading (H) of a vehicle are tracked using wheel tick numbers coming from wheel tick units (5a, 5b) at the front wheels (3a; 3b) only from which a velocity (v) and a heading rate (h) are calculated. The calculations are based on an intermediate wheel angle (?). An exact solution ?ex for the same depends on the velocities of the left front wheel vl and of the right front wheel vr according to ? ex = arctan ( 2 ? p a 1 + p 2 + ( 1 - p 2 ) 2 - ( 2 ? p a ) 2 ) ? ? where ? ? p = v l - v r v l + v r . An approximate solution ?app is calculated according to the simpler formula ? app = 1 2 ? arcsin ? ? 2 ? p a and used wherever its deviation from the exact solution ?ex is not significant, i.e., where the latter is not larger than a threshold wheel angle ?thr. Only for ?app>?thr where the deviation is larger than, e.g., 2° or, preferably, 1°, the wheel angle according to the exact solution ?ex is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: U-BLOX AG
    Inventor: Christine Hollenstein
  • Patent number: 8175137
    Abstract: In a GNSS receiver data sequences derived from a digital signal each with an internally generated correlation sequence derived from a basic sequence and mixed with frequency signals corresponding to various Doppler frequencies and in various phase positions with respect to the data sequence are correlated and the correlation values evaluated. In difficult conditions, e.g., RF levels of the signal of ?145 dBm and less, correlation values produced with the same correlation sequence and phase position but with a plurality of data sequences are evaluated together in that, in an evaluator (49), every-correlation value is, in a comparator (52), compared with at least a first value threshold and a second value threshold, with the latter having a value between 1.3 and 1.7 times the value of the first and values ?1, 0 or +1 assigned accordingly to a correlation term which is then added to an integer correlation counter which varies over a counter interval, e.g., [0, 15], in an adding unit (53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: u-blox AG
    Inventors: Michael Ammann, Heinz Mathis
  • Patent number: 8164519
    Abstract: A method of fast acquisition of a location of a device is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) repeatedly powering up automatically (i) a radio receiver and (ii) a given subset of a plurality of correlators in some of a plurality of search engines in the device, (B) buffering first data of a plurality of position signals received through the radio receiver over a first period, each of the position signals comprising a respective one of a plurality of code sequences, (C) searching through the first data with the correlators to find at least one of the code sequences, each of the correlators using a search window comprising a fraction of a code length of the code sequences and (D) generating an output signal carrying a location of the device based on the position signals corresponding to the code sequences that were found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: u-blox AG
    Inventors: Mario A. Bedoya Martinez, Gareth Williams, David P. Tester
  • Patent number: 8125381
    Abstract: A method, device and system for determining a receiver location using weak signal satellite transmissions. The invention involves a sequence of exchanges between an aiding source and a receiver that serve to provide aiding information to the receiver so that the receiver's location may be determined in the presence of weak satellite transmissions. With the aiding information, the novel receiver detects, acquires and tracks weak satellite signals and computes position solutions from calculated pseudo ranges despite the inability to extract time synchronization date f, 'n the weak satellite signals. The invention includes as features, methods and apparatus for the calibration of a local oscillator, the cancellation of cross correlations, a Doppler location scheme, an ensemble averaging scheme, the calculation of almanac aiding from a table of orbit coefficients, absolute time determination, and a modified search engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: U-Blox AG
    Inventors: Roderick C. Bryant, Andrew G. Dempster, Stanley L. Dougan, Trevor Hobbs, Eamonn P. Glennon
  • Publication number: 20120044358
    Abstract: A method of automatically configuring a device. The method comprises: obtaining an image of a scene comprising a machine-readable code containing configuration information for the device; processing the image to extract the configuration information; and using the configuration information to configure the device. The step of obtaining the image comprises at least one of: capturing the image using a camera; or receiving the image captured by a camera. The configuration information comprises date or time information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: U-Blox AG
    Inventors: Graham Thomason, Andrew Thomas Yule
  • Patent number: 8106816
    Abstract: A set of device parameters consisting of clock bias and position of a mobile device is determined without previous knowledge of the week number (WN) in that solutions of a set of equations derived from a least squares type weight function involving pseudoranges related to the device parameters via basic equations are attempted with a time of week (TOW) extracted from satellite signals and various week number candidates. A solution algorithm which iteratively solves the set of equations is used, each iteration step involving a linearization of the latter and resulting in corrections of the device parameters. After elimination of week numbers where the solution algorithm does not yield a solution a valid week number is selected from the remaining week numbers in that a deviation value is determined which reflects differential terms, i.e., differences between pseudorange values as measured and as derived from the set of device parameters according to the solution, e.g., by evaluation of the weight function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: u-blox AG
    Inventors: Daniel Ammann, Etienne Favey, Christoph Schmid
  • Patent number: 8108143
    Abstract: A method of enabling navigation from a headset is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) receiving a first signal transmitted by a device to the headset through a wireless personal area network, the first signal carrying assist data transmitted by an Assisted Global Positioning System server, (B) receiving a plurality of navigation signals transmitted by a navigation system to the headset and (C) calculating a current position of the headset at a first time using the assist data to lock onto the navigation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: u-blox AG
    Inventor: David P. Tester
  • Patent number: 8059698
    Abstract: An acquisition unit of a GNSS receiver base band circuit comprises a correlator (40) with a correlator shift register (43) to which a correlation sequence derived from a basic sequence characteristic for a satellite is fed by a code generator (41). Each of the N=32 or more memory cells of the correlator shift register (43) is connected to two correlator cells (44a, 44b) for multiplying digital values of the correlator sequence from the memory cell with data values of a data sequence, adding up the products and storing the sum in a register as a correlation value pertaining to one of N relative phase positions of the correlation sequence relative to the data sequence during a correlation phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: U-Blox AG
    Inventors: Roland Mester, Andreas Thiel
  • Patent number: 8054220
    Abstract: A method of variable rate measurements in a device. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an intermediate signal conveying both a position of the device and a velocity of the device in response to a plurality of navigation signals received from external the device, (B) calculating an extrapolated position of the device at a second time based on the position and the velocity both measured at a first time, (C) adjusting an interval between the second time and a third time in response to a difference between the extrapolated position and the position measured at the second time and (D) generating a position signal conveying the position and the velocity, wherein the third time occurs after the second time and the second time occurs after the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: u-blox AG
    Inventors: David P. Tester, Stephen P. Graham, Nigel J. Tolson, Ian G. Watson
  • Publication number: 20110193745
    Abstract: An acquisition unit of a GNSS receiver base band circuit includes an integrator with a number of preprocessors where an incoming digital signal is mixed with different frequency signals to compensate at least in part for clock drift and Doppler shifts. The resulting digital signals are, after an accumulation step reducing sample frequency, integrated over an integration period extending over several basic intervals of the length of a basic sequence characteristic for a GNSS satellite, so that samples separated by a multiple of the basic interval are superposed. The resulting data sequence of 1,023 digital values is stored in one of two memories and then, in mixers, sequentially shifted by post-integration frequencies which are multiples of the inverse of the length of the basic interval. The pre-integration frequencies employed in the preprocessors deviate, with one possible exception, from the post-integration frequencies and are usually smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: U-BLOX AG
    Inventor: Michael AMMANN
  • Patent number: 7979045
    Abstract: An analog die (3) and a digital die (4) are supported by a plate (1) consisting of an electrically conductive material. Pads (5) of the dies (3, 4) are connected to each other, to plate (1) or to pins (2) surrounding the latter by bond wires (6). The upper side of the plate (1) is covered by a plastic mold (7) encapsulating the dies (3, 4), the bond wires (6) and, in part, the pins (2). For the suppression of external jamming signals as well as internal ones picked up by bond wires the digital die (4) comprises an adjustable notch filter which suppresses narrow frequency bands where jamming signals have been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: U-Blox AG
    Inventors: Eric De Mey, Andreas Thiel
  • Patent number: 7940212
    Abstract: An acquisition unit of a GNSS receiver base band circuit includes an integrator with a number of preprocessors where an incoming digital signal is mixed with different frequency signals to compensate at least in part for clock drift and Doppler shifts. The resulting digital signals are, after an accumulation step reducing sample frequency, integrated over an integration period extending over several basic intervals of the length of a basic sequence characteristic for a GNSS satellite, so that samples separated by a multiple of the basic interval are superposed. The resulting data sequence of 1,023 digital values is stored in one of two memories and then, in mixers, sequentially shifted by post-integration frequencies which are multiples of the inverse of the length of the basic interval, The pre-integration frequencies employed in the preprocessors deviate, with one possible exception, from the post-integration frequencies and are usually smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: U-Blox AG
    Inventor: Michael Ammann
  • Patent number: 7920092
    Abstract: A GPS receiver (10) is disclosed comprising a GPS antenna and a GPS RF front-end including an analogue to digital converter for sampling received GPS signals; and a processor for outputting, including to an external device, the GPS signal samples together with ancillary information either directly or indirectly describing characteristics of the GPS signal samples and/or the GPS signals contained therein. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of providing a position fix and a computer program, computer-readable storage medium and apparatus for the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: U-Blox AG
    Inventors: Stephen Townsend, Andrew T. Yule, Saul R. Dooley