Method and system for repurposing of a global navigation satellite system receiver for receiving low-earth orbit communication satellite signals
View Patent ↗Methods and systems for repurposing of a global navigation satellite system receiver for receiving low-earth orbit (LEO) communication satellite timing signals may comprise receiving a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite signal and/or a LEO signal in a receiver of the communication device. The MEO or LEO signal may be down-converted, and a position of the communication device may be calculated utilizing the down-converted signal. The signal may be down-converted utilizing a local oscillator signal generated by a phase locked loop (PLL), which may be delta-sigma modulated via a fractional-N divider. A clock signal may be communicated to the PLL utilizing a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator. The signal may be down-converted to an intermediate frequency or down-converted directly to baseband frequencies. The signal may be processed utilizing surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters. In-phase and quadrature signals may be processed in the RF path utilizing a two-stage polyphase filter.
1. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:
in a communication device that is capable of receiving both medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite signals and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signals:
receiving a MEO satellite signal and/or a LEO satellite signal in a receiver of said communication device;
down-converting either said received LEO satellite signal or said received MEO satellite signal;
calculating a position of said wireless device utilizing said down-converted signal; and
synchronizing absolute time of said communication device utilizing said down-converted signal.
2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising down-converting said received LEO satellite signal or said received MEO satellite signal utilizing a local oscillator signal generated by a phase locked loop (PLL).
3. The method according to claim 2 , comprising delta-sigma modulating said PLL.
4. The method according to claim 2 , comprising delta-sigma modulating said PLL via a fractional-N divider.
5. The method according to claim 2 , comprising communicating a clock signal to said PLL utilizing a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator.
6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising down-converting said received LEO satellite signal or said received MEO satellite signal to an intermediate frequency before down-converting to a baseband frequency.
7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising down-converting said received LEO satellite signal or said received MEO satellite signal directly to a baseband frequency.
8. The method according to claim 1 , comprising processing said LEO satellite signal and/or said MEO satellite signal utilizing one or more surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters.
9. The method according to claim 1 , comprising processing in-phase and quadrature signals in said communication device.
10. The method according to claim 1 , comprising processing said in-phase and quadrature signals utilizing a two-stage polyphase filter in said communication device.
11. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:
one or more circuits for use in a communication device that is capable of receiving both medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite signals and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signals, said one or more circuits being operable to:
receive a MEO satellite signal and/or a LEO satellite signal in a receiver of said communication device;
down-convert either said received LEO satellite signal or said received MEO satellite signal;
calculate a position of said wireless device utilizing said down-converted signal; and
synchronize absolute time of said communication device utilizing said down-converted signal.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to down-convert said received LEO satellite signal or said received MEO satellite signal utilizing a local oscillator signal generated by a phase locked loop (PLL).
13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to delta-sigma modulate said PLL.
14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to delta-sigma modulate said PLL via a fractional-N divider.
15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to communicate a clock signal to said PLL utilizing a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator.
16. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to down-convert said received LEO satellite signal or said received MEO satellite signal to an intermediate frequency before down-converting to a baseband frequency.
17. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to down-convert said received LEO satellite signal or said received MEO satellite signal directly to a baseband frequency.
18. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to process said LEO satellite signal and/or said MEO satellite signal utilizing one or more surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters.
19. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to process in-phase and quadrature signals in said communication device.
20. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:
one or more circuits for use in a communication device that is capable of receiving both medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite signals and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signals, said one or more circuits being operable to:
receive a MEO satellite signal and/or a LEO satellite signal in a receiver of said communication device;
down-convert either said received LEO satellite signal or said received MEO satellite signal;
process in-phase and quadrature signals in said RF path;
calculate a position of said wireless device utilizing said down-converted signal; and
synchronize absolute time of said communication device utilizing said down-converted signal.