Carrier loop architectures for tracking weak GPS signals

The performance of various carrier recovery loop architectures (phase lock loop (PLL), Doppler-aided PLL, frequency lock loop (FLL), and Doppler-aided FLL) in tracking weak GPS signals are analyzed and experimentally validated. The effects of phase or frequency detector design, oscillator quality, coherent averaging time, and external Doppler aiding information on delaying loss of lock are quantified. It is shown that for PLLs the metric of total phase jitter is a reliable metric for assessing low C/N performance of the tracking loop provided the loop bandwidth is not too small (~> 5 Hz). For loop bandwidths that are not too small, total phase jitter accurately predicts carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N) at which loss of lock occurs. This predicted C/N is very close to the C/N predicted by bit error rate (BER). However, unlike BER, total phase jitter can be computed in real-time and an estimator for it is developed and experimentally validated. Total phase jitter is not a replacement for BER, since at low bandwidths it is less accurate than BER in that the receiver loses lock at a higher C/N than predicted by the estimator. Similarly, for FLLs operating at small loop bandwidths, it is found that normalized total frequency jitter is not a reliable metric for assessing loss of lock in weak signal or low C/N conditions. At small loop bandwidths, while total frequency jitter may indicate that a loop is still tracking, the Doppler estimates provided by the FLL will be biased.     

一种低复杂度的极低信噪比高动态信号载波粗捕获算法

 针对传统的时域匹配平均周期图算法计算复杂度高的问题,对极低信噪比高动态信号的载波粗捕获算法进行了研究,提出了一种改进的带有补零的频域移位平均周期图算法。该算法采用多速率频域移位运算简化了多支路多普勒变化率匹配,与原算法相比,其计算复杂度降低倍数为匹配支路数与补零倍数之比,捕获性能几乎不损失。给出了算法中影响捕获性能与计算复杂度的关键参数设计方法。在信噪比(SNR)为－41 dB(载噪比C/N₀=18 dBHz)、载波多普勒频偏为－300～300 kHz、多普勒变化率为－800～800 Hz/s、码速率为20 bps条件下对两种算法进行了仿真,结果表明在基本满足后级载波跟踪需求条件下,即频偏精度均达±12 Hz时,多普勒变化率精度均达±25 Hz/s,捕获概率都在90%以上时,改进算法捕获时间比原算法增加了8%,计算复杂度降低了70%。     

FM/AM Noise Test Set for a Pulsed Doppler Radar

A new test method to measure the amplitude noise and phase noise in both CW and pulsed CW signals of a Ku-band pulsed Doppler radar is described. These noises are measured in a simulated environment of radar operation; thus the test results may give direct information to determine radar subclutter visibility. In comparison with the conventional noise test method, this new method not only gives more meaningful results but also can obtain results much faster in testing. Actual test system design is described by block diagrams and theoretical analysis. A method to determine approximate frequency jitter in a transmitter signal is also described.     

极弱信号环境下GPS位同步和载波跟踪技术

为解决环路未锁定、无法找出正确的导航数据位跳变点时极弱全球定位系统(GPS)信号跟踪问题,通过分析信号跟踪模型和相关器1 ms采样数据特性,将最优路径动态规划算法应用于GPS位同步,并提出基于平方根无迹卡尔曼滤波(SRUKF)和位同步结合的载波联合跟踪算法。建立了适合位同步的SRUKF载波环参数估计模型,针对位同步的实现条件和无相位频率先验信息的情况,将位同步模块提前,研究设计了环路未锁定时串行和并行两种弱信号跟踪方案。位同步跟踪完成后环路采用单独的SRUKF工作方式。实验结果证实该文提出的算法具有较高的数据位边缘检测概率(EDR)和参数估计性能,而无须关心环路是否处于锁定状态,能够对载噪比低至22 dB/Hz的弱信号实现跟踪。     

GPS多径信号的自适应滤波估计方法

 研究全球定位系统(GPS)多径信号估计的问题。通过分析自适应滤波器的原理,建立了数字中频信号处理的数学模型,提出一种用自适应滤波实现GPS多径幅度、码相位和载波相位估计的方法。该方法采用不同延迟的伪随机序列对信号进行解扩、解调和累加,得到了作为期望信号的系列自适应滤波相关值。对该方法与其他3种方法进行了理论上的分析比较,得出本方法具有信噪比高、自适应滤波性能好、带有码相位信息和不存在载波模糊度问题等优点。根据各种滤波器算法的特点和本应用的需求,给出了选用递归最小二乘算法实现的方法。通过计算机仿真,验证了提出的方法能够在14 dB的信噪比下,以1个采样间隔的时间延迟分辨率和0.005周的载波相位估计精度估计出GPS L1的多径信号。     

一种高动态低信噪比下载波快速捕获跟踪方法

针对高动态、低信噪比的接收信号,首先对整个多普勒频率范围进行分段,并在每一段内利用本地产生的带有多普勒频率变化率的复信号来抵消接收信号中多普勒频率变化率的影响,然后在每一段内利用FFT（FastFourierTransform,快速傅里叶变换）进行载波频率并行捕获,从而同时完成载波多普勒频率及其变化率的初步估计。利用载波多普勒频率及其变化率估计信息辅助锁频环快速入锁,进而利用锁频环辅助三阶锁相环完成载波信号的锁频锁相跟踪。使用这种方法,可以快速获取信号的多普勒频率及其变化率信息,并且在极短时间内完成载波的稳定跟踪,使接收设备具备快速捕获跟踪大动态弱信号的能力。     

异地遥测对接可行性探究

针对现有飞行器测控系统遥测对接试验周期长、效率低的不足,提出一种异地遥测对接方法.通过构建异地遥测对接系统结构,得到异地遥测对接信号链路模型.基于系统时钟抖动的频率、相位和采样时间表达形式,对异地遥测对接链路中的信号进行了具体推导.在此基础上,从频率和相位2个方面,定量分析了系统时钟抖动对异地遥测对接信号相参性的影响.分析结果表明：对于Ka频段信号,当应答机端异地遥测对接系统的时钟短期频率稳定度优于1×10^-11时,异地遥测对接系统引入的频率抖动△f≤0.6 Hz,相位抖动△φ≤0.075 rad,可认为异地遥测对接信号的相参性不受影响,异地遥测对接可行.     

Carrier Tracking by Smoothing Filter Improves Symbol SNR

The potential benefit of using a smoothing filter to estimate a carrier phase over use of phase-locked loops (PLL) is determined. Numerical results are presented for the performance of three possible configurations of an all-digital coherent demodulation receiver. These are residual carrier PLL, sideband-aided residual carrier PLL, and finally sideband aided with Kalman smoother. The average symbol SNR after losses due to carrier phase estimation is computed for different total power SNRs, symbol rates, and symbol SNRs. It is found that smoothing is most beneficial for low symbol SNRs and low symbol rates. Smoothing gains up to 0.7 dB over sideband-aided residual carrier PLL, and the combined benefit of smoothing and sideband aiding relative to residual carrier loop is often in excess of 1 dB.     

A high dynamics algorithm based on steepest ascent method for GNSS receiver

High dynamic conditions impose critical challenges on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, leading to large tracking errors or even loss of tracking. Current methods that intend to improve receivers’ adaptability for high dynamics require either complicated structures or prior statistical information of noises. This paper proposes a high dynamics algorithm based on steepest ascent method that can circumvent the deficiencies of existing methods. First, the relationship between the error of carrier tracking and the maximum of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) outputs is established, and a performance function based on the steepest ascent method is designed. It can keep stable in high dynamics. Second, a new carrier-tracking loop is constructed by deploying the performance function. When the variation of GPS receiver acceleration ranges from 10 g to 100 g, compared with the PLL that either loses lock or keeps tracking accuracy less than 33.89 Hz, the experimental results show that the proposed method can not only keep tracking, but also achieve tracking accuracy more than 2.77 Hz.     

基于小波变换的GPS载波相位周跳检测与修复

载波相位周跳检测与修复是实现GPS高精度定位的难点之一。小波变换具有空间局部性好的特点,本文利用小波变换把载波相位观测量分解为高频和低频分量,提出了利用小波系数局部极值点检测相位周跳的方法。基于载波相位和多普勒频率共同约束的埃尔米特多项式,外推周跳时刻载波相位,与观测值比较确定周跳的大小,从而修复周跳。利用飞机实际观测数据和仿真的高动态数据进行了计算,给出了计算结果,表明该方法可以对高动态情况下载波相位周跳进行准确探测和修复。     

Lock threshold deterioration induced by antenna vibration and signal coupling effects in hypersonic vehicle carrier tracking system of Ka band

The envelope of a hypersonic vehicle is affected by severe fluctuating pressure, which causes the airborne antenna to vibrate slightly. This vibration mixes with the transmitted signals and thus introduces additional multiplicative phase noise. Antenna vibration and signal coupling effects as well as their influence on the lock threshold of the hypersonic vehicle carrier tracking system of the Ka band are investigated in this study. A vibration model is initially established to obtain phase noise in consideration of the inherent relationship between vibration displacement and electromagnetic wavelength. An analytical model of the Phase-Locked Loop(PLL), which is widely used in carrier tracking systems, is established. The coupling effects on carrier tracking performance are investigated and quantitatively analyzed by imposing the multiplicative phase noise on the PLL model. Simulation results show that the phase noise presents a Gaussian distribution and is similar to vibration displacement variation. A large standard deviation in vibration displacement exerts a significant effect on the lock threshold. A critical standard deviation is observed in the PLL of Binary Phase Shift Keying(BPSK) and Quadrature Phase Shift Keying(QPSK) signals. The effect on QPSK signals is more severe than that on BPSK signals. The maximum tolerable standard deviations normalized by the wavelength of the carrier are 0.04 and 0.02 for BPSK and QPSK signals,respectively. With these critical standard deviations, lock thresholds are increased from à12 andà4 d B to 3 and à2 d B, respectively.     

GPS软件接收机的捕获与跟踪算法

研究了GPS软件接收机的捕获与跟踪算法。分析了时域串行滑动相关捕获算法和频域基于FFT的并行相关捕获算法,设计了适合GPS软件接收机的并行算法,实现了对空中可见卫星的捕获。针对GPS信号的特点,设计了基于DLL与PLL相结合方法的GPS跟踪算法。利用实测中频信号对上述捕获与跟踪算法进行了验证分析,测试结果表明,基于FFT的并行相关捕获算法能够有效增强软件接收机的捕获能力,采用DLL与PLL相结合的方法能够实现对GPS信号的有效跟踪。     

基于锁相环的光电振荡器频率稳定化研究

通过构建小数分频锁相环,将一个工作于X波段的OEO(OptoElectronic Oscillator,光电振荡器)与OCXO(Oven-Controlled Crystal Oscillator,恒温晶体振荡器)进行锁相,得到了输出信号相位噪声和长期频率稳定度的提升。从PLL(Phase-Locked Loop,锁相环)环路传输特性出发,理论分析了PLL输出信号环路带宽内相位噪声水平和作用范围。为降低OEO整体的相位噪声,采用SIL(Self-Injection-Locking,自注入锁定)使OEO在10Hz~10kHz频偏处的相位噪声得到20dB以上的抑制。在此基础上将此SIL OEO与一个频率为100 MHz的OCXO锁相,获得了频率为9.95GHz、相位噪声为-55dBc/Hz@10Hz和-124dBc/Hz@10kHz的微波信号输出,其频率的重叠阿伦方差在100s平均时间内达到1.14×10~(-11),证明了提出的方案对提升OEO频率稳定性具有一定的实际意义。     

Instantaneous GPS attitude determination

A procedure for instantaneous GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) attitude determination, i.e., a solution for the GPS integrated carrier Doppler wavelength ambiguities using only measurements at a single epoch, is described. Most previous techniques to solve the phase ambiguity problem have required some form of time history processing relying on GPS satellite and/or user motion to provide enough geometry change to eliminate false solutions. The algorithm described assumes three noncollinear antennas and integrated carrier Doppler measurements from four or more satellites. Double-difference processing provides at least three independent observables for the two antenna separation vectors to compute the three attitude Euler angles     

Random Weighting Estimation Method for Dynamic Navigation Positioning

This paper presents a new random weighting estimation method for dynamic navigation positioning.This method adopts the concept of random weighting estimation to estimate the covariance matrices of system state noises and observation noises for controlling the disturbances of singular observations and the kinematic model errors.It satisfies the practical requirements of the residual vector and innovation vector to sufficiently utilize observation information,thus weakening the disturbing effect of the kinematic model error and observation model error on the state parameter estimation.Theories and algorithms of random weighting estimation are established for estimating the covariance matrices of observation residual vectors and innovation vectors.This random weighting estimation method provides an effective solution for improving the positioning accuracy in dynamic navigation.Experimental results show that compared with the Kalman filtering,the extended Kalman filtering and the adaptive windowing filtering,the proposed method can adaptively determine the covariance matrices of observation error and state error,effectively resist the disturbances caused by system error and observation error,and significantly improve the positioning accuracy for dynamic navigation.     

多峰值信号的伪码相位估计法

 考虑到多峰值信号的出现以及传统相位估计法的不足与缺陷, 特别是针对传统方法无法提取多峰值信号主峰的不足,以及在非整数采样条件时相位误差估计的较大缺陷,提出了一种提高多峰值信号伪码相位精度的估计方法。首先通过频域提取处理去除副峰引发的模糊性,达到提取主峰的目的;然后建立了插值方程,从而提高相位估计精度。在此基础上进行了验证与评估,结果表明,此估计法可以正确提取多峰值信号的主峰,相对于传统方法而言,相位估计精度明显提高。     

基于UKF准开环结构的高动态载波跟踪环路

 对高动态环境下的全球卫星导航系统（GNSS）载波信号跟踪方法进行了研究。在分析高动态载波信号模型的基础上,提出了一种基于无迹卡尔曼滤波（UKF）的准开环载波跟踪方法。此方法能够消除导航数据二进制相移键控(BPSK)调制的影响,并采用四维UKF相位估计模型提高跟踪精度,同时对估计值进行补偿以减少滤波器的滞后性。通过模拟接收机的高动态运动轨迹,从跟踪误差、跟踪结果和补偿效果3个方面,与基于卡尔曼滤波（KF）的锁频环(FLL)辅助锁相环(PLL)结构的传统跟踪方法进行比较,结果表明基于UKF的准开环跟踪方法能够有效地完成高动态环境下的载波跟踪。     

Receiver-channel based adaptive blind equalization approach for GPS dynamic multipath mitigation

Aiming at mitigating multipath effect in dynamic global positioning system (GPS) satellite navigation applications, an approach based on channel blind equalization and real-time recursive least square (RLS) algorithm is proposed, which is an application of the wireless communication channel equalization theory to GPS receiver tracking loops. The blind equalization mechanism builds upon the detection of the correlation distortion due to multipath channels; therefore an increase in the number of correlator channels is required compared with conventional GPS receivers. An adaptive estimator based on the real-time RLS algorithm is designed for dynamic estimation of multipath channel response. Then, the code and carrier phase receiver tracking errors are compensated by removing the estimated multipath components from the correlators’ outputs. To demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed approach, this technique is integrated into a GPS software receiver connected to a navigation satellite signal simulator, thus simulations under controlled dynamic multipath scenarios can be carried out. Simulation results show that in a dynamic and fairly severe multipath environment, the proposed approach achieves simultaneously instantaneous accurate multipath channel estimation and significant multipath tracking errors reduction in both code delay and carrier phase.     

A novel multistage estimation of signal parameters

A multistage estimation scheme is presented for estimating the parameters of a received carrier signal possibly phase-modulated by unknown data and experiencing very high Doppler, Doppler rate, etc. Such a situation arises, for example, in the case of the Global Positioning Systems (GPS). In the proposed scheme, the first-stage estimator operates as a coarse estimator of the frequency and its derivatives, resulting in higher RMS estimation errors but with a relatively small probability of the frequency estimation error exceeding one-half of the sampling frequency (an event termed cycle slip). The second stage of the estimator operates on the error signal available from the first stage, refining the overall estimates, and in the process also reduces the number of cycle slips. The first-stage algorithm is a modified least-squares algorithm operating on the differential signal model and referred to as differential least squares (DLS). The second-stage algorithm is an extended Kalman filter, which yields the estimate of the phase as well as refining the frequency estimate. A major advantage of the proposed algorithm is a reduction in the threshold for the received carrier power-to-noise power spectral density ratio (CNR) as compared with the threshold achievable by either of the algorithms alone     

北斗/GPS双频载波相位单点定位模型及精度分析

针对海洋工程实时米级绝对定位需求,利用双频伪距、载波相位观测量和同时估计接收机位置、接收机钟差和载波相位模糊度,构建了一种双频载波相位实时单点定位方法.亚太区域14个测站试验结果显示:北斗水平和高程定位RMS分别为1.33m和1.81m,GPS为0.60m和0.85m,北斗/GPS组合为0.56m和0.72m;船载动态试验结果显示:北斗水平和高程定位RMS分别为1.40m 和2.46m,GPS为0.69m 和0.90m,北斗/GPS组合为0.65m和0.83m.