Method and apparatus for accurately determining the position of satellites in geosynchronous orbits
US6535801B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S19/46
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of determining the position of a satellite in a near geosynchronous orbit includes receiving at least one main lobe signal from an antenna on a first GPS satellite. A GPS signal, including GPS time and Doppler, is received from a pseudolite positioned on the Earth and an approximate position of each of a plurality of second GPS satellites is determined from an onboard almanac. Side lobe signals and accompanying noise are received from antennas on the plurality of second GPS satellites. The GPS signal and known sequential data bits are used for sorting or integrating the side lobe signals from the accompanying noise and the position of the satellite in a near geosynchronous orbit is determined using the one or more main lobe signals and the sorted side lobe signals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.