SPREAD SPECTRUM LOCALIZERS

摘要

A network of localizers (100) determines relative locations in three-dimensional space to within 1 cm by cooperatively measuring propagation times of pseudorandom sequences of electromagnetic impulses. The propagation time is determined from a correlator (114) which provides an analog pseudo-autocorrelation function sampled at discrete time bins. The correlator has a number of integrators (1430), each integrator providing a signal proportional to the time integral of the product of the expected pulse sequence delayed by one of the discrete time bins, and the non-delayed received antenna signal. With the impulses organized as doublets the sampled correlator output can vary considerably in shape depending on where the autocorrelation function peak falls in relation to the nearest bin. Using pattern recognition the time of arrival of the received signal can be determined to within a time much smaller than the separation between bins. Because operation of standard CMOS circuitry generates noise over a large frequency range, only low-noise circuitry operates during transmission and reception. To provide the time accuracy necessary for distancing, a high-frequency clock (120) operates during inter-localizer communications. The high-frequency clock uses a PLL circuit to increase the clock rate and a programmable delay to provide finer time graduations.