Abstract: A method and system for using GPS signals and a magnetic field to track an underground magnetic field source. A tracker having an antenna for detecting the magnetic field and a GPS receiver is coupled to a processor. The magnetic field is used by the antenna to direct the tracker to a field null point. Once multiple measurements of the field are taken, the changes in signal strength as the absolute position of the tracker is changed, are used to determine whether the closest field null point is in front of or behind the underground beacon. The position and depth of the beacon can then be estimated.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a first antenna element configured to communicate a first signal, the first signal polarized in a first orientation; a second antenna element co-located with the first antenna element, the second antenna element configured to communicate a second signal, the second signal polarized in a second orientation, the second orientation orthogonal to the first orientation; and driver circuitry coupled to the first antenna element and the second antenna element, the driver circuitry configured to process the first signal and the second signal to achieve signal diversity in a wireless communication link.

Abstract: According to the embodiments, a satellite signal acquiring apparatus includes an antenna, a direction sensor, a position sensor and a processor. The antenna receives radio waves from satellites. The direction sensor obtains direction information. The position sensor obtains position information. The processor directs the antenna based on the direction information obtained by the direction sensor to search a search range including a satellite target angle that is associated with the position information obtained by the position sensor for the satellite. The processor calculates a level of reliability of the direction information obtained by the direction sensor. The processor narrows the search range in accordance with the level of reliability.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided in which a direction of arrival of a radio frequency (RF) signal received by a plurality of antennas is determined. A plurality of first converter receives RF signals from the plurality of antennas and outputs a minimum of a first optical signal and a second optical signal each modulated by their corresponding RF signal. A plurality of second converters receives a minimum of the first optical signal via a first optical channel that introduces a first delay and the second optical signal via a second optical channel that introduces a second delay. The second converter outputs a first RF signal that corresponds to the RF modulation on the first optical signal and a second RF signal that corresponds to the RF modulation on the second optical signal. A switch serially receives, from the second converter outputs, the first RF signal and the second RF signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating range between a first device and a second device using at least one wireless communication channel defined between the first and second devices are disclosed. The method comprises: obtaining a set of range measurements, wherein the range measurements include measurements associated with multiple paths taken by signals between the first and second devices; discarding over-ranges caused by multiple signal paths using a variable threshold; and processing the remaining range measurements to obtain an estimated range.

Abstract: Determination of one or more timing (phase) and/or frequency corrections to be made to a local time base of a receiver device to synchronize the local time base with the time of GPS or other highly accurate time base. Timing packets from one or more grandmaster devices whose time bases are substantially the same as that of GPS or the like and/or positioning system signals (e.g., GPS signals) directly from a positioning system are received and manipulated to determine the timing and/or frequency corrections. The corrected time base may be used to assist in acquiring such positioning signals to allow for higher accuracy correction and/or for downstream communication operation. The present utilities are advantageous such as when a sufficient number of channels (e.g., four) from the receiver device to positioning system satellites are unavailable to synchronize the local time base to the GPS or other accurate time base.

Abstract: The system and method for dynamic mode forming for a global positioning/global navigation system. The system having a controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA) mounted on a platform; an antenna electronics subsystem configured for dynamically maximizing gain in the controlled reception pattern antenna; and a global positioning/global navigation receiver subsystem configured for null processing, wherein a state of the platform is used to modify a reference mode and a plurality of auxiliary modes for the controlled reception pattern antenna in real-time based on an apriori look up table (LUT) to dynamically maximize a gain of the controlled reception pattern antenna.

Abstract: Beamformers and beamforming methods are disclosed which involve diagonal loading (regularization). Features may include the automatic determination of the regularization parameter using a linearly constrained minimum power (LCMP) bounded perturbation regularization (BPR) approach.

Abstract: In the present invention, to make it possible to enhance the accuracy of positioning in an area not reached by a GNSS signal: a first position of a host device is estimated; the error of the first position is estimated; from a second device, other device information is received that includes a second position of the second device and a second error of the second position that have been estimated by the second device; and if the second error is smaller than the first error, the first position and first error are corrected on the basis of the other device information.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for checking ionospheric correction parameters for satellite navigation for a vehicle. The method has a step of reading a provider signal from an interface with a correction data provider. The provider signal represents ionospheric correction parameters for correcting ionospheric influences for a geographic position in satellite navigation. The method also has a step of determining correction data using information relating to the state of the ionosphere between a satellite receiver of the vehicle at the geographic position and at least one satellite. The state information is defined using at least one satellite signal transmitted between the at least one satellite and the satellite receiver. The method also has a step of performing a comparison between the ionospheric correction parameters and the correction data in order to check the ionospheric correction parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrity monitoring of primary and derived parameters are described herein. In certain embodiments, a method includes transforming an estimated error state covariance matrix of at least one primary integrity monitoring parameter of a navigation system onto an error state covariance matrix of one or more derived integrity monitoring parameters, wherein the one or more derived integrity monitoring parameters depends from the at least one primary integrity monitoring parameter. The method also includes transforming an integrity threshold of the at least one primary integrity monitoring parameter onto separation parameters of the one or more derived integrity monitoring parameters. The method further includes computing a protection limit for the one or more derived integrity monitoring parameters.

Abstract: A communication device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires first position information indicating a first position of the communication device and first position error information indicating an error of the first position; a reception unit that receives second position information indicating a second position of a communication device and second position error information indicating an error of the second position acquired by the communication device; a first calculation unit that calculates a first arrival direction and a first arrival direction error based on one or more pieces of information out of the first position information and so on; a second calculation unit that calculates a second arrival direction; and a judgment unit that makes the second calculation unit revise the second arrival direction based on the first arrival direction when the first arrival direction error is smaller than a first threshold value.

Abstract: A method for determining position of a mobile system, the method includes receiving global navigation satellite (GNSS) signals by a receiver of the mobile system, generating a plurality of position estimates based on at least pseudo-distances determined from at least some of the GNSS signals, wherein each position estimate is generated based on a different set of pseudo-distances, determining an inconsistency in one or more of the position estimates based on verification information, generating a trust assessment for each position estimate based on determined inconsistencies, outputting a position estimate associated with a higher trust assessment as a position of the mobile platform, and reducing an influence of a GNSS signal on a future position estimate generation based on a lower trust assessment for position estimates generated based on the GNSS signal.

Abstract: Lighting devices with lighting means, transmitting device for transmitting an electromagnetic data signal and energy buffer for current supply of the transmitting device are to be protected from exhaustive discharge. Thereto, an activation device is provided, by which the transmitting device can be activated from an energy-saving mode, in which the transmitting device is switched off, into an operating mode, in which the transmitting device is switched on for operationally transmitting the electromagnetic data signal.

Abstract: To provide correction data for determining position, first position data are determined and/or made available to a vehicle depending on an incoming Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal, the vehicle having a GNSS receiver or a differential GNSS (DGNSS) receiver for receiving the incoming GNSS signal, and the first position data being determined when the vehicle is in a charging position at a predefined charging station. Second position data are also determined and/or made available, the second position data including information which is representative of a global position of the predefined charging station. Correction data is determined depending on the first position data and the second position data. The correction data is made available to at least one further device to determine the position of the at least one further device.

Abstract: A navigation system using Visible Light Communications (VLC), the associated transmitters and receivers, the navigation system comprising a plurality of VLC transmitters (201 to 207) and one or more GNSS receiver (430), each of the VLC transmitters being configured to transmit a positioning signal comprising a navigation message including time information, where the time information is a transmission time of a specific part of said navigation message derived from a GNSS reference time. The receivers (221) according to the invention are configured to calculate a position from either VLC pseudo ranges, GNSS pseudo ranges, or a combination thereof. The associated methods for transmitting positioning signals in a navigation system according to the invention, and for determining a position from a plurality of positioning signals transmitted by said navigation system.

Abstract: According to the present application, when an inter frequency bias (IFB) calibration value, which corresponds to a machine type ID of a reference station, is not stored in a storage, a processor executes a Real Time Kinematic (RTK) calculation by using reference station-positioning data and positioning terminal-positioning data, calculates a positioning solution, and causes the storage to store the reference station-positioning data and the positioning terminal-positioning data. The processor executes, after completing a positioning processing, an estimation processing of the IFB calibration value by using the reference station-positioning data and the positioning terminal-positioning data which are stored in the storage.

Abstract: An example method includes sensing, by a sensor of a mesh node, first sensor data; receiving, at the mesh node, second sensor data from an origin node, wherein the mesh node and the origin mode are different nodes; and in response to receiving an indication that the origin node is obstructed, transmitting, by the mesh node, the second sensor data.

Abstract: An ESA system includes first antennas, second antennas, a power supply, a transmit module and/or receive module, and a controller. The first antennas operate over a first frequency bandwidth from a first frequency to a second frequency greater than the first frequency. The second antennas operate over a second frequency bandwidth from the first frequency to a third frequency less than the second frequency. The transmit module receives DC power from the power supply and provides RF power corresponding to at least one first control point to the antennas. The controller adjusts the at least one first control point based on a predetermined ratio of a first RF signal strength associated with the first antennas to a second RF signal strength associated with the second antennas, a first passive antenna gain of the first antennas, and a second passive antenna gain of the second antennas.

Abstract: An antenna device for receiving radio wave signals includes antenna groups. Each of the antenna groups includes unit antennas arranged in a predetermined direction. The antenna groups are arranged in the predetermined direction at equal intervals. The unit antennas in each of the antenna groups are arranged at two or more different intervals in the predetermined direction in the antenna device.