Global navigation satellite antenna systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9417328-B2
Application number	US-201314044579-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2013
Priority date	Nov 17, 2010
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

A method for reducing multipath when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, includes receiving a signal from an antenna moving continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, the signal including a multipath component, processing the received signal including the multipath component, wherein multipath error in the received signal is reduced during the processing and determining a location of the stationary or near stationary position based on the processed received signal with the multipath error reduced.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for reducing multipath error when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, comprising:
receiving a signal from an antenna moving continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, the signal including a multipath component, wherein the antenna is moved in a circular pattern around the stationary or near stationary position;
processing the received signal including the multipath component, wherein multipath error in the received signal is reduced during the processing; and
determining a location of the stationary or near stationary position based on the processed received signal with the multipath error reduced.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the circular pattern is equivalent to at least one GNSS wavelength.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the diameter is at least 24 cm.

4. A method for reducing multipath error when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, comprising:
receiving a signal from an antenna moving continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, the signal including a multipath component, wherein the antenna is moved in epicycles;
processing the received signal including the multipath component, wherein multipath error in the received signal is reduced during the processing; and
determining a location of the stationary or near stationary position based on the processed received signal with the multipath error reduced.

5. A method for reducing multipath error when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, comprising:
receiving a signal from an antenna moving continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, the signal including a multipath component, wherein the antenna is moved in a pattern such that it crosses a minima and a maxima of at least one GNSS wavelength;
processing the received signal including the multipath component, wherein multipath error in the received signal is reduced during the processing; and
determining a location of the stationary or near stationary position based on the processed received signal with the multipath error reduced.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the at least one GNSS wavelength is based on a GPS L2 carrier wave frequency.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the GNSS wavelength is approximately 24 cm.

8. A method for reducing multipath error when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, comprising:
receiving a signal from an antenna moving continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, the signal including a multipath component, wherein the antenna is continuously moved vertically with respect to the stationary or near stationary position;
processing the received signal including the multipath component, wherein multipath error in the received signal is reduced during the processing; and
determining a location of the stationary or near stationary position based on the processed received signal with the multipath error reduced.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the antenna is moved up and down a distance corresponding to at least one GNSS wavelength.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the at least one GNSS wavelength is approximately 24 cm.

11. A method for reducing multipath error when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, comprising:
receiving a signal from an antenna moving continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, the signal including a multipath component;
processing the received signal including the multipath component, wherein multipath error in the received signal is reduced during the processing; and
determining a location of the stationary or near stationary position based on the processed received signal with the multipath error reduced, wherein the determining step comprises determining a location of the antenna and referencing back from there to the location of the stationary or near stationary position.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the multipath error is averaged out during the processing.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the multipath error is filtered out during processing.

14. A system for reducing multipath error when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, comprising:
a moving platform having an antenna mounted thereto, the moving platform moving the antenna continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, wherein the moving platform rotates to move the antenna in a circular pattern around the stationary or near stationary position;
a receiver for receiving a signal from the continuously moving antenna, the signal including a multipath component;
a processor for processing the received signal including the multipath component, wherein multipath error in the received signal is reduced during the processing; and
a location determining unit for determining a location of the stationary or near stationary position based on the processed received signal with the multipath error reduced.

15. The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the circular pattern is centered over the stationary or near stationary position.

16. A system for reducing multipath error when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, comprising:
a moving platform having an antenna mounted thereto, the moving platform moving the antenna continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, wherein the antenna is mounted on the moving platform a distance corresponding to at least one-half of one GNSS wavelength from the stationary or near stationary position;
a receiver for receiving a signal from the continuously moving antenna, the signal including a multipath component;
a processor for processing the received signal including the multipath component, wherein multipath error in the received signal is reduced during the processing; and
a location determining unit for determining a location of the stationary or near stationary position based on the processed received signal with the multipath error reduced.

17. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the GNSS wavelength is approximately 24 cm.

18. A system for reducing multipath error when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, comprising:
a moving platform having an antenna mounted thereto, the moving platform moving the antenna continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, wherein the moving platform moves the antenna in epicycles;
a receiver for receiving a signal from the continuously moving antenna, the signal including a multipath component;
a processor for processing the received signal including the multipath component, wherein multipath error in the received signal is reduced during the processing; and
a location determining unit for determining a location of the stationary or near stationary position based on the processed received signal with the multipath error reduced.

19. A system for reducing multipath error when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, comprising:
a moving platform having an antenna mounted thereto, the moving platform moving the antenna continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, wherein the moving platform moves the antenna in a pattern such that it crosses a minima and maxima of

Assignees

• Vollath Ulrich
• Trimble Navigation Ltd

Inventors

• Vollath Ulrich

Classifications

• G01C15/00

  Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00 · CPC title

• G01S19/22 Primary

  Multipath-related issues · CPC title