Down-converter for GPS applications

Abstract

An RF down/up converter system is presented for indoor GPS applications. Transmission of GPS signals directly into indoor environments are limited and in some cases prohibited for regular operation of GPS system. However, ISM frequency bands, especially 433MHz can be used to retransmit the GPS signals to indoors. In this paper, RF down-converter building blocks are designed and implemented for sending GPS signals in ISM band. The down-converter system has heterodyne architecture which has LNAs, mixer, oscillator and filters. Received signals from the satellites are amplified, downconverted, filtered and again amplified. The overall performance of the designed system is 54.3dB gain and 2 dB noise figure while it is drawing 78mA current with 3V supply.