Patent US3769589A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3769589A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rate aided ranging and time dissemination receiver
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-16
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1991-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A receiver is described for processing tone ranging signals from a time dissemination satellite such as TIMATION II. The receiver derives either receiver-station time (clock synchronization) or position location of the receiver-station with respect to the satellite with significant accuracy. The receiver generates a set of range tones as duplicates of those received from a satellite. They are developed as frequency coherent from a phase lock loop synchronized to the signal carrier frequency. A second loop, having a frequency synthesizer locked to the carrier loop, a mixer, a narrow band amplifier and a phase detector mix the locally generated range tones with a local oscillator signal which is frequency coherent with the carrier. This mixer output is then mixed with the receiver modulation to null out error between the received and local range tones. An output signal consisting of the lowest range tone signal is representative of the tone modulation from the satellite. Coherent processing by mixing at the front-end of the detector amplifier in the preferred embodiment allows for automatic calibration of non-zero receiver propagation delays, and the use of narrow band IF amplifiers thereby effecting high levels of unwanted signal rejection. The use of synthesized range tones allows for continuous time-delay or ranging measurements even though the satellite range tones are not continuously transmitted.
Inventors
- 👤 R Buntschuh
- 👤 H Rouland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:33
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03L; H03L7/00; H03L7/06; H03L7/16; H03L7/22; G; G01; G01S; G01S11/00; G01S11/02; G01S11/08; G04; G04G; G04G7/00; G04G7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
370 words
A receiver for receiving ranging signals, said ranging signals comprising a continuous carrier and at least two side band signals of relatively lower and higher frequencies transmitted intermittently, the respective frequencies of said side band signals having a fixed predetermined relation to the frequency of said carrier comprising: a. a carrier loop including a carrier mixer, an IF amplifier coupled to the output of said carrier mixer, a phase detector coupled to the output of said IF amplifier, and providing a control signal to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) whose output frequency is locked to the frequency of the received carrier, and a frequency synthesizer synchronized to the frequency of the VCO and providing an output signal coupled to said carrier mixer, b. a side band loop including a variable delay, a variable phase side band signal synthesizer coupled to said variable delay and responsive thereto for phase adjustment of the synthesized signals, and a side band mixer coupled between said side band synthesizer and said variable delay, b1. said variable delay being coupled to said VCO for generating a phase control signal to said side band signal synthesizer to null phase error in said side band loop, b2. said side band signal synthesizer in response to said variable delay generating signals having a phase and frequency corresponding to said side band range signals, b3. said side band mixer having an input from said carrier loop frequency synthesizer for mixing therewith a signal from said side band signal synthesizer, c. means responsive to said side band signals for controlling said side band signal synthesizer to generate a synthesized side band signal substantially in synchronism and frequency correspondence with the received side band signal, whereby said side band loop is nulled by correlating each received side band signal with the corresponding synthesized side band signal, and d. output means from said side band loop for continuously generating an output signal corresponding to the side band signal of the lower frequency whereby said output signal includes substantially instantaneous Doppler variations of said ranging signal in response to the received carrier, said output signal being periodically synchronized to said side band signals by sampling said received side band signals during said intermittent transmissions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
370 words
A receiver for receiving ranging signals, said ranging signals comprising a continuous carrier and at least two side band signals of relatively lower and higher frequencies transmitted intermittently, the respective frequencies of said side band signals having a fixed predetermined relation to the frequency of said carrier comprising: a. a carrier loop including a carrier mixer, an IF amplifier coupled to the output of said carrier mixer, a phase detector coupled to the output of said IF amplifier, and providing a control signal to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) whose output frequency is locked to the frequency of the received carrier, and a frequency synthesizer synchronized to the frequency of the VCO and providing an output signal coupled to said carrier mixer, b. a side band loop including a variable delay, a variable phase side band signal synthesizer coupled to said variable delay and responsive thereto for phase adjustment of the synthesized signals, and a side band mixer coupled between said side band synthesizer and said variable delay, b1. said variable delay being coupled to said VCO for generating a phase control signal to said side band signal synthesizer to null phase error in said side band loop, b2. said side band signal synthesizer in response to said variable delay generating signals having a phase and frequency corresponding to said side band range signals, b3. said side band mixer having an input from said carrier loop frequency synthesizer for mixing therewith a signal from said side band signal synthesizer, c. means responsive to said side band signals for controlling said side band signal synthesizer to generate a synthesized side band signal substantially in synchronism and frequency correspondence with the received side band signal, whereby said side band loop is nulled by correlating each received side band signal with the corresponding synthesized side band signal, and d. output means from said side band loop for continuously generating an output signal corresponding to the side band signal of the lower frequency whereby said output signal includes substantially instantaneous Doppler variations of said ranging signal in response to the received carrier, said output signal being periodically synchronized to said side band signals by sampling said received side band signals during said intermittent transmissions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A receiver according to claim 1 wherein said received side band signals are coupled to said side band loop from a position prior to the input of said carrier loop IF amplifier, whereby correlation of the received side band signals is provided independent of inherent delays in said IF amplifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A receiver according to claim 1 wherein said received side band signals are coupled to said side band loop from a position after the output of said carrier loop IF amplifier, said IF amplifier having a bandwidth equal to the sum of the side band frequencies whereby correlation of the received side band signals with the synthesized side band signals is provided subsequent to the output of said carrier loop IF amplifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A receiver according to claim 2, wherein said side band loop includes a second mixer coupled from the output of said first mentioned side band mixer and said received ranging signals, a side band loop IF amplifier having an input coupled to the output of said second mixer, and an output coupled to a phase detector, said phase detector in response to signals coupled from said carrier loop frequency synthesizer providing phase control signals for said variable delay.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A receiver according to claim 1 including five side band signals related to eAch other by a factor of ten, the lowest frequency being 100 Hz.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver according to claim 2 wherein said carrier loop IF amplifier is adapted to amplify only a band of frequencies corresponding to one of said signal frequencies comprising the group consisting of said carrier, and either of said side band signals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of operating a receiver for ranging signals of the form having a continuous carrier and at least two periodically transmitted side band signals, comprising the steps of: a. locking a voltage controlled oscillator to the frequency of said carrier, b. synthesizing in synchronism with receipt of the respective side band signals a plurality of signal frequencies corresponding respectively to the frequencies of said side band signals, c. locking said synthesized signals to said received signals, d. coupling a signal proportional in frequency to said carrier signal frequency to the locked signals to synchronize the side band signals to Doppler variations of said ranging signals, e. continuously providing an output signal manifesting Doppler variations corresponding to one of said synthesized side band signals, being synchronized to said received side band signals during the receipt of the periodic side band signals.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of operating a receiver for ranging signals of the form having a continuous carrier and at least two periodically transmitted side band signals, comprising the steps of: a. locking a voltage controlled oscillator to the frequency of said carrier, b. synthesizing in synchronism with receipt of the respective side band signals a plurality of signal frequencies corresponding respectively to the frequencies of said side band signals, c. locking said synthesized signals to said received signals, d. coupling a signal proportional in frequency to said carrier signal frequency to the locked signals to synchronize the side band signals to Doppler variations of said ranging signals, e. continuously providing an output signal manifesting Doppler variations corresponding to one of said synthesized side band signals, being synchronized to said received side band signals during the receipt of the periodic side band signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |