Altimetry method
US5546087A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 1994 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S13/003
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An altimetry method uses one or more sources of opportunity, for example transmitters on satellites of the "GPS" satellite navigation system. One or more receivers on board an aircraft or a satellite in low Earth orbit are used. Multiple correlation is applied between the direct signal received from the transmitter and the reflected signal. The coordinates of the point of specular reflection are derived from the measured delay achieved by said multiple correlation and comparison with a theoretical model of the terrestrial sphere. The device for implementing the method includes a signal processor, a variable delay circuit, a discrete delay line, a bank of correlators and detectors. A specific application of the method and device is ocean altimetry.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.