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Principles of the Global Positioning System
Lecture 04
YUAN Linguo
Email: lgyuan@163.com
Dept. of Surveying Engineering,
Southwest Jiaotong University
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Today’s Lecture
? Examine specifics of GPS signals
? Multiple modulations on same carrier signal
? Structure of signals
? GPS receiver operation and satellite acquisition.
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Physical Fundamentals
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Physical Fundamentals
?
0
ωt+?
0
t
0
t
1
y=A
e
sin(ωt+ ?
0
)
A
e
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Physical Fundamentals
This attenuation is usually expressed in decibels (dB). By
definition, an attenuation of n dB means that the original
field strength is decreased by a factor of 10
-0.1n
.
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?f = ?
Example:
GPS mean velocity = 3.9km/s
Radial velocity = 0; thus, No Doppler effect
Max radial velocity = 0.9km/s,
GPS transmitted f = 1.5GHz
Doppler frequency shift ?f= ? 4.5·10
3
Hz
Phase change = 4.5 cycle
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Components of Signal
General Remarks
z The oscillators on board the satellites generate a
fundamental frequency f
0
with a stability in the range of
10
-13
over one day for the Block II satellites.
z Two carrier signals in the L-band (22 cm), denoted L1
and L2, are generated by integer multiplications of f
0
.
z The carrier L3 is generated for military users only.
z For Block IIF satellites, the option of a carrier L5 for
civilian use will be implemented.
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The carriers L1 and L2 are modulated by codes to provide
satellite clock readings to the receiver and to transmit
information, e.g., orbital parameters.
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GPS Signal
Fundamental
frequency
10.23MHz
L
1
carrier phase
1575.42MHz
L
2
carrier phase
1227.60MHz
C/A code
1.023MHz
P code
10.23MHz
P code
10.23MHz
Navigation
message
50BPS
Navigation
message
50BPS
×154
×120
÷10
÷204600
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Two codes are used for the satellite clock readings, both
characterized by a pseudorandom noise (PRN) sequence.
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A Random Code?
The Pseudo Random Code (PRC) or Pseudo Random
Noise code, PRN, is a fundamental part of GPS.
Physically it's just a very complicated digital code, or in
other words, a complicated sequence of "on" and "off"
pulses. The signal is so complicated that it almost looks
like random electrical noise. Hence the name "Pseudo-
Random".
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A Random Code?
? Since each satellite has its own unique Pseudo-
Random Code, this complexity also guarantees that the
receiver won't accidentally pick up another satellite's
signal.
? So all the satellites can use the same frequency
without jamming each other. And it makes it more
difficult for a hostile force to jam the system.
? In fact the Pseudo Random Code gives the DoD a
way to control access to the system.
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A Random Code?
? Another reason for the complexity of the Pseudo
Random Code, is crucial to making GPS economical.
? The codes make it possible to use information
theory to “amplify” the GPS signal. And that's why
GPS receivers don't need big satellite dishes to receive
the GPS signals.
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Pseudorandom Noise Codes (PRN)
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Signal modulation
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0
V
o
-V
o
C/A carrier (a)
0
C/A code bits
(b)
0
C/A bi-phase modulated signal (c)
CA Code Modulation
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P-Code generation
0
P(Y) carrier
√2V
o
-√2V
o
(d)
0
P(Y) code bits
(e)
0
P(Y) bi-phase quadrature modulated signal
(f)
P-code rate should 10 times higher than C/A code
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Composite: Sum of C/A and P code
0
C/A code bits
(h)
0
Composite C/A+P(Y) signals
~3 μseconds
(g)
0
P(Y) code bits
~20 μseconds
(i)
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Composite GPS signal
? Last few slides show construction of composite
signal
? There are sets of phase reversals on the L1 signal:
C/A code at rate of 1.023 MHz and the P(Y) code
add 90
o
out of phase at a rate of 10.23 MHz
? How do you the GPS signal if you don’t know
both codes (since each reverses the sign and
should average to zero)?
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Characteristics of C/A and P Code
z In order to protect the P-code against spoofing, the P-
code is encrypted to the Y-cod by A-S.
z Since the Y-code is the modulo two sum of the P-code
and the encrypting W-code, access to P-code is only
possible when the secret conversion algorithm is known.
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123
45
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
30s
6s
0.02s
0.6s
25 pages
10 bits
30 bits
GPS Navigation Message
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GPS Navigation Message
TLM = Telemetry Word HOW = Handover Word (contains Z-count)
1500 BITS
30 SEC.
SUBFRAME
NUMBER
TLM HOW CLOCK CORRECTION
TLM HOW EPHEMERIS
TLM HOW EPHEMERIS
TLM HOW IONOSPHERE, ETC.
TLM HOW ALMANAC
EACH FRAME: -10 30-BIT WORDS, 6 SEC .
1
2
3
4
5
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Each subframe
1. Starts with the telemetry word (TLM) containing a synchronization
pattern and some diagnostic messages.
2. The second word is hand-over word (HOW).
? A subframe identification
? Some flags,
? Time-of-week (TOW), which count for the epoch at the start (leading
edge) of the next subframe.
The TOW count (sometimes called Z-count) is a multiple number of
1.5-second intervals since the beginning of the current GPS week.
? One subframe is transmitted in 6 seconds and contains 10 words with 30
bits (a word/0.6 seconds).
? A receiver requires at least 30 seconds to lock on a satellite in order to
receive the complete navigation message.
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The First Subframe contains
z The GPS week number,
z A prediction of the user range accuracy,
z Indicators of the satellite health and
z The age of the data,
z An estimation of the signal group delay, and
z Three coefficients for a quadratic polynomial to model the satellite
clock correction.
The Second & Third Subframe transmit the broadcast ephemerides of the
satellite
The Fourth Subframe are reserved for military use and contain
z Ionosphere
z UTC data
z Various flags
z Almanac data (i.e., low-accuracy orbital data) for satellites beyond the
nominal 24 constellation.
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The Fifth Subframe has
? Almanac data
? Health status for the first 24 satellites in orbit.
The Fourth + Fifth Subframe commonly
? Are broadcast by each satellite. Therefore, by
tracking only one satellite, the almanac data of all
the other satellites in orbit are obtained.
? The contents are changed in every message and
have a repetition rate of 25.
? The total information is packed into 25 pages and
requires 12.5 minutes for transmission.
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Component
Frequency
[MHz]
Ratio of
fundamental
frequency f
o
Wavelength
[cm]
Fundamental
frequency f
o
10.23 1 2932.6
L1 Carrier 1,575.42
154?f
o
19.04
L2 Carrier 1,227.60
120?f
o
24.45
P-code 10.23 1 2932.6
C/A code 1.023 f
o
/10 29326
W-code 0.5115 f
o
/20 58651
Navigation
message
50?10
-6
f
o
/204,600 N/A
GPS Signal Summary Table
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Signal Processing
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General Characters
1. The signal emitted from the satellite contains three
components in the symbolic form
z (L1 , C/A, D),
z (L1 , Y, D), and
z (L2 , Y, D).
2. The received C/A-code signal on L1 is twice as powerful
as the Y-code signal on L1.
3. The same ratio exists between the Y-code signals on L1
and L2.
4. The Block IIR satellites may transmit signals with less
power than the present constellation, since the nominal
power is 6 dB lower than the present signal strength.
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Antenna and
Preamplifier
Control and
Interface unit
Micro-
processor
Power
Supply
Unit
Data
Storage
Code
tracking loop
Carrier
tracking loop
RF
Multiple
channels
GPS Receiver
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1. Antenna Design:
1. One important design criterion is the sensitivity of the phase center.
2. The electronic center should be close to its geometric center and should
be insensitive to rotation and inclination. This becomes particularly
important in kinematic applications.
3. Antenna should have a gain pattern which filters low elevation or
multipath signals. At present, this is best achieved by choke ring
antennas.
An omnidirectional antenna receives the signals of all satellites above
the horizon and, after preamplification, transmits signals to the radio
frequency (RF) section. The antenna may be designed for only the
primary carrier L1 or for both L1 and L2 carriers. Most of the antennas
sold today are microstrip antennas.
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2. Microprocessor:
1. The microprocessor controls the entire system
and enables real-time navigation by means of
code pseudoranges.
2. The control device provides interactive
communication with the receiver.
3. Commands can be keyed in and diagnostic or
other messages can be displayed.
4. The control device is, therefore, usually
designed as keyboard display unit.
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3. Storage:
Storing the observables and the navigation message so
that they are available for later processing. Various media
are presently used:
? microchips,
? cassette drives,
? magnetic bubbles or
? other nonvolatile storage.
Additionally, the receiver can be interfaced to an external
computer.
4. Power:
z An (optional) internal power (rechargeable batteries)
z External batteries
z Other power supplies.
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An important feature of the RF is the number of
channels (the number of satellites tracked
simultaneously).
? Older instruments used a limited number of
physical channels and alternated satellite tracking
by rapidly sequencing (20 milliseconds) satellites
in and out of the same channel.
? Current receivers assign one satellite each to a
physical channel where the satellites are
continuously tracked.
How Many Maximum Channels does a GPS
receiver has?
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Multichannel receivers are more accurate and less
sensitive to loss of signal lock but can have inter
channel biases.
1. Inter channel biases can be virtually eliminated
by calibration.
2. Receivers with sequencing channels are
? less expensive, but slower.
? are seldom used for surveying.
3. Hybrid receivers use a combination of
techniques.
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GPS Signal Processing Techniques
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Correlation technique is performed by
1. A reference carrier is generated in receiver which is then
biphase modulated with a replica of the known PRN code.
2. The resulting reference signal is correlated with the
received satellite signal.
Code correlation technique provides all components of
the satellite signal
1. Satellite clock reading
2. Navigation message
3. Un-modulated carrier
z After removal of the PRN code, the received signal still
contains the navigation message which can be decoded
and eliminated by high-pass filtering.
z The final result is the Doppler shifted carrier on which a
phase measurement can be performed.
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1. Squaring Technique
In general, it is more difficult to resolve the
ambiguities of the squared signals with halved
wavelength.
Advantage and Disadvantage
z Independent of PRN codes
z Satellite clock and the satellite orbit information
are lost in the process.
z SNR is substantially reduced in the squaring
process
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2. Cross Correlation Technique
3. Code Correlation plus Squaring Technique
4. Z-tracking technique
The most recent quasi-codeless technique is:
Z-tracking
TM
(The best performance in the presence of A-S).
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Characteristics of The Four Techniques
1. All four approaches to recover the L2 carrier in the presence of A-S suffer
from a substantial degradation in the SNR.
2. Without exception, no codeless or quasi-codeless technique recovers GPS
signal information as well as the code correlation technique.
3. Weaker signals are more sensitive to high ionospheric activities and
interfering (jamming) signals which may even cause a loss of lock.
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Assignment
1. Describe the characters of C/A code, P-code and Y-code?
2. What is PRN?
3. How to generate C/A-code? How to generation P-code?
4. What is navigation message? Please explain in detail the characters of
each subframe?
5. What is the signal processing principle?
6. How many parts does a receiver unit consists of ? What is the function
of each part?
7. Why does the multi channel has higher accuracy than single channel
receiver?
8. Please describe in detail the GPS signal processing technique?
9. What is Squaring technique, Cross correlation technique, code
correlation plus squaring technique and Z-tracking technique?