Abstract
In this paper, a new, noncoherent architecture for global navigation satellite system tracking loops is proposed and analyzed. A noncoherent phase discriminator, able to extend the integration time beyond the bit duration, is derived from the maximum likelihood principle and integrated into a Costas loop. The discriminator is noncoherent in the sense that the bit information is removed by using a nonlinear operation. By jointly using such a discriminator and noncoherent integrations at the delay lock loop level, a fully noncoherent architecture, able to operate at low carrier-power-to-noise density ratio (C/N 0), is obtained. The algorithms proposed have been tested by means of live GPS data and compared with existing methodologies, resulting in an effective solution for extending the total integration time.
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The authors would like to kindly acknowledge and thank Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) for funding this work.
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Borio, D., Lachapelle, G. A non-coherent architecture for GNSS digital tracking loops. Ann. Telecommun. 64, 601 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12243-009-0114-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12243-009-0114-1