Patent · US Expired

Optical RF support network

US6107954A · kind A · utility

61Cited by
10References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 14, 1994
Grant dateAug 22, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 14, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S13/86
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

This invention relates to advanced RF support systems which utilize optical fibers or direct lasers to achieve RF transmission and reception of navigation signals from widely separated supporting sites. The functional goals of these systems are to support navigation, guidance, control, and survey systems. A RF supporting network according to the present invention comprises a master supporting site; a number of secondary supporting sites; and a network of optical RF link systems which links secondary supporting sites with the master supporting site. The stable clock, GPS signal generators, and receivers are located only at the master site, which is also the processing, command, and control center. A network architecture of the present invention will provide a low cost mean to users in need of precision navigation and time information. Furthermore, the present invention furnishes an advance means in determining the instantaneous velocity of GPS satellites with high accuracy. The present invention drastically increases our navigation and survey capabilities as well as other applications.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.