GPS Assignment-1 GPS SIGNAL PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

Agilan, V, 121851

Squaring Technique: The squaring technique was first presented in 1981 by C. Counselman. The received signal is mixed with itself and, hence, all modulations are removed. The result is the unmodulated carrier with twice the frequency and, thus, half the wavelength. The S/N is substantially reduced in the squaring process.

Cross correlation Technique: The cross correlation technique is another codeless technique which was first described in 1985 by P. Mac Doran. The technique is based on the fact that the unknown Y-code is identical on two carriers which enable cross correlation of the f1 and f2 signal. Due to the frequency-dependent propagation of an electromagnetic wave through ionosphere, the delay between f1 and f2 has to be taken into account. The observables resulting from the correlation process are the time delay which corresponds to the range difference between the two signals, and a phase difference 2 1.

Code Correlation Plus Squaring Technique: The code correlation plus squaring technique was patented by Keegan (1990). The method is also denoted code-aided squaring and involves correlating the received Y-code on the f2 signal with a locally generated replica of the P-code. This correlation is possible because the Y-code originates from an XOR sum of the P code and the encrypted W-code. Since the chipping rate of the W-code is less than the frequency of the Y-code, there always exist Y-code portions which are identical to the original P-code portions. After the correlation, a low-pass filter is applied to limit the bandwidth and, subsequently, the signal is squared to get rid of the code similar to the procedures in the tracking loops to free the data bits. The technique provides code range and, because of squaring, half wavelength carrier phase.

Z-tracking Technique: An improved quasi-codeless technique is denoted Z-tracking and has been reported in Ashjaee and Lorenz (1992). The Y-code on both the f1 and f2 signal is separately correlated with a receiver-generated replica of the P-code. Since there is a separate correlation on f1 and f2, the W-code on each frequency is obtained. The subsequent low-pass filter allows estimating phase-bit of the remaining W-code. This estimate is used in the f1, f2 path mutually to eliminate the W-code. There is no need to know the W-code because it is only used for synchronization purposes (Breuer et al. 1993). The removal of the encrypting code leads to the same signals as in the case of unencrypted signal processing. Thus, the code ranges and full wavelength carrier phases are obtained.