Abstract: A Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver employs variable spacing of Doppler offset bins and code offset bins when acquiring a P(Y) code, to improve signal acquisition characteristics with respect to a search region having a plurality of Doppler offset bins and code offset bins. The receiver includes an acquisition module in which an input signal representative of a received P(Y) code is received and applied to a first programmable rate mixer. An output of the first programmable rate mixer is applied to a combiner, which selectively combines samples of the input signal based on a control input to dynamically determine the spacing of the code offset bins. An output of the combiner is normalized and applied to a correlation unit, which generates correlation measures of the received P(Y) code and a locally generated P(Y) code. A signal representative of the correlation measures is applied separately to each of a set of programmable rate mixers and mixed with separate mixing signals.

Abstract: A Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver includes multiple correlation segments that can operate in parallel. Each correlation segment has a separate set of accumulators associated with it, embodied in random access memory (RAM). In each of the correlation segments, correlation data associated with an input code and a reference code are generated. The multiple correlation segments are cross-coupled, so that correlation data generated in each correlation segment are added to correlation data generated in each other correlation segment. The combined correlation data in each correlation segment are stored in the accumulators of each corresponding correlation segment, such that the accumulators of only one correlation segment are accessed at a time, reducing power consumption resulting from accessing RAM.

Abstract: A battery-operated navigation satellite receiver with an antenna, a radio frequency stage, a down-converter, a digital signal processor and a microcomputer for demodulating L-band microwave carrier frequency spread spectrum transmissions from orbiting navigation satellites that each use their own unique pseudo-random number spreading code. The digital signal processor and a microcomputer each receive system clocks that can be varied in steps from full-speed down to any number of fractions including zero, or full stop. The system clocks to the digital signal processor and a microcomputer are lowered during periods of little or no acquisition or navigation activity. Scheduled updates, communication traffic, user activity, etc., are used to ramp the system clocks back up when the processing load demands it, e.g., when the tasks become CPU-bound at the current clock speed or when a particular task is predetermined to need the full processing speed capability of a particular navigation receiver.

Abstract: A GPS-based frequency/time source of the present invention provides an accurate, traceable low cost reference. In particular, the GPS-based frequency/time source includes a GPS receiver, a variable frequency oscillator and a micro processor. The GPS receiver receives and produces as output signals GPS information, whereas the variable frequency oscillator has a frequency control input terminal and produces an output frequency signal, and is coupled to the GPS receiver. The micro processor is coupled to receive the output signals produced by the GPS receiver and produces an error signal indicative of a difference in frequency between GPS synchronized frequency and the output frequency signal of the variable frequency oscillator. Circuitry is responsive to the error signal to produce an electronic frequency control signal, which is applied to the frequency control input of the variable frequency oscillator so as to cause the difference in frequency to be reduced.