Satellite navigation system having redundant signal processing and matched filtering

摘要

Satellite navigation systems and receivers of the invention include an antenna which receives satellite signals from multiple satellites. Radio frequency circuitry coupled to the antenna converts the satellite signals into intermediate signals. Multiple signal processors coupled to the radio frequency circuitry implement similar or identical signal processing algorithms on the received satellite signals to provide redundant ranging information (i.e., code and carrier measurements). One or more navigation processors coupled to the signal processors process the ranging information and provide positioning data outputs. The navigation processor implements smoothing filter functions that combine the redundant ranging data in a manner which enhances the positional accuracy. The navigation processor also implements unique fault-detection filter functions on the redundant ranging information. The characteristic response of the fault-detection filter functions are matched to the response of the smoothing filter functions, ensuring that signal-processing faults are detected and before the smoothed data exhibits excessive errors.