Circuit arrangement for processing satellite signals
View Patent ↗A circuit arrangement is provided for processing satellite signals comprising a first circuit part, which is made as a processor for computing position and/or speed signals from satellite signals, a second circuit part, which is made as a real-time clock to provide a time signal, at least two voltage sources, which are provided to supply at least one circuit part, and switching means, which are provided for switching the supply of at least one circuit part between the first voltage source and the second voltage source. According to an embodiment, the switching means have at least one voltage monitor with a bandgap voltage reference circuit to determine a switching voltage. The circuit arrangement can be used for GPS-supported navigation systems.
1. A circuit arrangement for processing satellite signals, the arrangement comprising:
a first circuit part, which is made as a processor for computing position and/or speed signals from satellite signals;
a second circuit part, which is made as a real-time clock to provide a time signal, at least two voltage sources, which are provided to supply at least one circuit part; and
a switch, which switches a supply of at least one circuit part between the first voltage source and the second voltage source,
wherein the switch has at least one voltage monitor with a bandgap voltage reference circuit to determine a switching voltage.
2. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a voltage monitor, which is provided with a bandgap voltage reference circuit for determining a supply voltage, is assigned to at least one circuit part.
3. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the switch has at least one voltage regulator for providing a predefinable supply voltage to at least one circuit part.
4. The circuit arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein an output signal of the voltage regulator is applied via a voltage monitor at a reset input of the circuit part and wherein the voltage monitor has a bandgap voltage reference circuit.
5. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first circuit part, the second circuit part, and the switch are implemented on a common semiconductor substrate as an integrated circuit.
6. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the switch is designed in such a way that when the supply of the second circuit part is switched to the second voltage source, the first circuit part is separated from the first voltage source.
7. A system comprising:
an antenna unit for receiving satellite signals;
an amplifier circuit for amplifying the satellite signals;
a conditioning circuit for filtering the satellite signals;
at least one circuit arrangement comprising:
a first circuit part, which is made as a processor for computing position and/or speed signals from satellite signals;
a second circuit part, which is made as a real-time clock to provide a time signal, at least two voltage sources, which are provided to supply at least one circuit part; and
a switch, which switches a supply of at least one circuit part between the first voltage source and the second voltage source, the switch having at least one voltage monitor with a bandgap voltage reference circuit to determine a switching voltage; and
an oscillator circuit for providing a clock frequency to the first circuit part.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the first circuit part has at least one activation line, which for control of the amplifier circuit and/or the conditioning circuit is provided with an activation signal that is outputted by the first circuit part.
9. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the second circuit part has at least one activation line, which for the control of the oscillator circuit is provided with an activation signal that is outputted by the second circuit part.
10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the activation line is ANDed with an output signal of the switch in such a way that control of the oscillator circuit can occur only in the simultaneous presence of the output signal of the switch and of the activation signal of the second circuit part.
11. The system for operating a system according to claim 7 , wherein different operating modes are assumed depending on supply voltages and depending on internal switching states of the second circuit part.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein, in a normal mode, the supply voltage of the first voltage source is applied by the switch at the at least two circuit parts and activation signals are provided by the circuit parts to the first and second activation lines, in order to activate the amplifier circuit, the conditioning circuit, and the oscillator circuit and to enable determination of position and/or time and/or speed signals from satellite signals.
13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein, in a power-saving mode, the supply voltage of the first voltage source is applied by the switch at the at least two circuit parts and an activation signal is provided by the first circuit part to the first activation line, in order to activate the oscillator circuit and to enable the performance of computations in the first circuit part.
14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein in a resting mode the supply voltage of the first voltage source is applied by the switch at the at least two circuit parts, wherein without the clock frequency of the oscillator circuit, the first circuit part is in a resting state from which a rapid start in the power-saving mode or normal mode can occur.
15. The system according to claim 11 , wherein in a sleep mode the supply voltage of the second voltage source is applied by the switching means at the second circuit part and wherein in the second circuit part information from the first circuit part is temporarily stored, which when a sufficient supply voltage is present of the first voltage source can be provided for a rapid activation of the first circuit part.