Method and apparatus using slant-path water delay estimates to correct global positioning satellite survey error
US6067852A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 7, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 30, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S19/41
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An atmospheric water vapor sensing system uses Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) to determine the refractivity and Slant-path Water Vapor Delay (SWD) between an Earth-based GPS receiver and a plurality of satellite-based GPS transmitters. The system provides improved precision in position calculation measurements by eliminating the refractivity effects of water vapor. No other system inputs are required apart from conventional GPS satellite signals and conventional satellite orbit data to implement the method. SWD arises from the refractivity in the integrated atmospheric water vapor in a column of atmosphere at an acute angular line-of-sight path between the Earth-based GPS receiver and any one of the plurality of satellite-based GPS transmitters. The system is especially useful in monitoring the Earth's crustal deformation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.