PN code sync detection and carrier frequency offset estimation for the direct sequence spread spectrum receiver

1. A method of detecting PN code synchronization for a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signal comprising:

receiving, by a demodulator, a DSSS data signal comprising a data stream of data frames comprised of I and Q symbols, at least a portion of each data frame comprising a unique word;

demodulating, by the demodulator, the data signal into I and Q chip samples;

filtering, by a filter, the I and Q chip samples and outputting the filtered I and Q chip samples to a chip stream controller;

outputting, by the chip stream controller, a plurality of chip streams to an m×n correlation matrix;

correlating the plurality of chip streams with the chipped unique word using m×n correlation cells within the correlation matrix and outputting a correlated data stream;

running a plurality of Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs) on the correlated output data stream and searching for a frequency bin having a maximum frequency bin power of each FFT run using a processor;

searching for a maximum frequency bin power among the plurality of FFT runs using a PN synchronization detector;

determining, by the PN synchronization detector, whether PN synchronization is present; and

determining an offset frequency and identifying a primary chip stream and a secondary chip stream.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each chip stream among the plurality of chip streams is output to a separate m×n correlation matrix.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of chip streams comprises an even chip stream and an odd chip stream.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising time-stamping each of the I and Q chip samples using a frame clock.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising receiving, by a chip buffer, a plurality of chips from the plurality of chip streams from the chip stream controller.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the chip buffer continues receiving chips from the chip stream controller until the PN synchronization detector detects that PN synchronization is present.

7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising simultaneously correlating the plurality of chip streams in parallel among the separate m×n correlation matrices.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sampling the primary chip stream closer to an eye diagram opening than the secondary chip stream is sampled.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sampling each chip stream among the plurality of chip streams at a midpoint between an eye diagram opening and an eye diagram closing.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising outputting at least one of a primary and a secondary chip stream indicator, a PN synchronization shift value, and a carrier frequency offset in response to detecting that PN synchronization is present.

11. A system for detecting PN code synchronization for a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signal comprising:

a demodulator configured to:

receive a DSSS data signal comprising a data stream of data frames comprised of I and Q symbols, at least a portion of each data frame comprising a unique word; and

demodulate the data signal into I and Q chip samples;

a filter configured to filter the I and Q chip samples and outputting the filtered chipped I and Q symbol samples to a chip stream controller, the chip stream controller configured to output a plurality of chip streams to an m×n correlation matrix;

a processor configured to:

correlate the plurality of chip streams with the chipped unique word using m×n correlation cells within the correlation matrix and outputting a correlated data stream;

run a plurality of Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs) on the correlated output data stream and searching for a frequency bin having a maximum frequency bin power of each FFT run; and

determine a carrier signal offset frequency and identify a primary chip stream and a secondary chip stream; and

a PN synchronization detector configured to:

search for a maximum frequency bin power among the plurality of FFT runs; and

determine whether PN synchronization is present.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein each chip stream among the plurality of chip streams is output to a separate m×n correlation matrix.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of chip streams comprises an even chip stream and an odd chip stream.

14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a frame clock configured to time-stamp each of the I and Q chip samples.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a chip buffer configured to receive a plurality of chips from the plurality of chip streams from the chip stream controller.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the chip buffer is further configured to continue receiving chips from the chip stream controller until the PN synchronization detector detects that PN synchronization is present.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to simultaneously correlate the plurality of chip streams in parallel among the separate m×n correlation matrices.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the chip stream controller is further configured to sample the primary chip stream closer to an eye diagram opening than the secondary chip stream is sampled.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the chip stream controller is further configured to sample each chip stream among the plurality of chip streams at a midpoint between an eye diagram opening and an eye diagram closing.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to output at least one of a primary and a secondary chip stream indicator, a PN synchronization shift value, and a carrier frequency offset in response to detecting that PN synchronization is present.