PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8862060-B2
Application Number: US-201213397440-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Methods for mitigating effects of radio-frequency interference

Abstract:
An electronic device may include sensitive circuitry such as radio-frequency receiver circuitry. A noise source may produce radio-frequency interference that can disrupt operation of the sensitive circuitry. The noise source may include a first transmitter such as a cellular telephone transmitter and as second transmitter such as a wireless local area network transmitter. Interference may be produced by simultaneous operation of the first and second transmitters. The radio-frequency receiver circuitry may be satellite navigation system receiver circuitry that includes one or more satellite navigation receivers. The impact of interference may be reduced by blanking the satellite navigation system receiver, by imposing a duty cycle limitation on the second transmitter, by switching between alternative receivers in the satellite navigation system receiver circuitry, by using an interference-dependent cross-correlation protection scheme, or by using a combination of these schemes.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for mitigating the impact of radio-frequency interference on sensitive circuitry in an electronic device, wherein the radio-frequency interference interferes with the sensitive circuitry and is produced by a noise source in the electronic device, the method comprising:
 with control circuitry in the electronic device, determining whether the radio-frequency interference is present; and 
 in response to detection of the radio-frequency interference by the control circuitry, imposing duty cycle limitations on the noise source. 
 
     
     
       2. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the noise source includes at least a first radio-frequency transmitter and a second radio-frequency transmitter, wherein the radio-frequency interference is produced due to simultaneous operation of the first and second radio-frequency transmitters, and wherein imposing the duty cycle limitations on the noise source comprises imposing a duty cycle requirement on the second radio-frequency transmitter. 
     
     
       3. The method defined in  claim 2  wherein the sensitive circuitry comprises satellite navigation system receiver circuitry and wherein imposing the duty cycle requirement on the second radio-frequency transmitter comprises cycling the second radio-frequency transmitter on and off while operating the satellite navigation system receiver circuitry. 
     
     
       4. The method defined in  claim 3  wherein the first radio-frequency transmitter comprises a cellular telephone transmitter, wherein the second radio-frequency transmitter comprises a wireless local area network transmitter, and wherein imposing the duty cycle requirements comprises cycling the wireless local area network transmitter on and off while the cellular telephone transmitter is operating. 
     
     
       5. The method defined in  claim 2  wherein the sensitive circuitry comprises satellite navigation system receiver circuitry and wherein imposing the duty cycle requirement on the second radio-frequency transmitter comprises cycling the second radio-frequency transmitter on and off while selectively blanking the satellite navigation system receiver circuitry in synchronization by temporarily deactivating the satellite navigation system receiver circuitry whenever the second radio-frequency transmitter is cycled off. 
     
     
       6. The method defined in  claim 5  wherein the first radio-frequency transmitter comprises a cellular telephone transmitter, wherein the second radio-frequency transmitter comprises a wireless local area network transmitter, and wherein imposing the duty cycle requirement comprises cycling the wireless local area network transmitter on and off while the cellular telephone transmitter is operating. 
     
     
       7. A method for mitigating the impact of radio-frequency interference on satellite navigation system receiver circuitry in an electronic device, wherein the radio-frequency interference is produced by a noise source in the electronic device and wherein the satellite navigation system receiver circuitry comprises a first satellite navigation system receiver and a second satellite navigation system receiver, the method comprising:
 receiving location data from the first satellite navigation system receiver with control circuitry in the electronic device while using the control circuitry to determine whether radio-frequency interference from the noise source that interferes with operation of the first satellite navigation system receiver is present; and 
 in response to determining that the radio-frequency interference that interferes with the operation of the first satellite navigation system receiver is present, using the control circuitry to switch the second satellite navigation system receiver into use in place of the first satellite navigation system receiver so that the control circuitry receives location data from the second satellite navigation system receiver. 
 
     
     
       8. The method defined in  claim 7  wherein the noise source includes at least a first radio-frequency transmitter and a second radio-frequency transmitter and wherein the radio-frequency interference is produced from simultaneous operation of the first and second radio-frequency transmitters, the method further comprising:
 using the control circuitry to determine whether radio-frequency interference from the noise source that interferes with operation of the second satellite navigation system receiver is present. 
 
     
     
       9. The method defined in  claim 8  wherein the first satellite navigation system receiver comprises a Global Positioning System receiver and wherein the second satellite navigation system receiver comprises a Global Navigation Satellite System receiver, the method further comprising:
 in response to determining that the radio-frequency interference that interferes with the operation of the Global Navigation Satellite System receiver is present, using the control circuitry to switch the Global Positioning System receiver into use in place of the Global Navigation Satellite System receiver so that the control circuitry receives location data from the Global Positioning System receiver. 
 
     
     
       10. A method for mitigating the impact of radio-frequency interference on satellite navigation system receiver circuitry in an electronic device, wherein the radio-frequency interference for the satellite navigation system receiver circuitry is produced by a noise source in the electronic device, the method comprising:
 with control circuitry in the electronic device, measuring a satellite signal received from a first satellite to produce a first satellite signal value; 
 with the control circuitry, measuring an additional satellite signal associated with a second satellite to produce a second satellite signal value; 
 with the control circuitry, applying a cross-correlation validation test to the second satellite signal value and the first satellite signal value to determine whether the second satellite signal is valid; 
 with the control circuitry, determining whether the radio-frequency interference for the satellite navigation system receiver circuitry is present; and 
 in response to determining that the radio-frequency interference is present, changing the cross-correlation validation test. 
 
     
     
       11. The method defined in  claim 10  wherein the noise source comprises a first radio-frequency transmitter and a second radio-frequency transmitter, wherein the radio-frequency interference is produced due to simultaneous operation of the first and second radio-frequency transmitters, and wherein changing the cross-correlation validation test comprises switching a no-interference-present threshold value for the cross-correlation validation test to an interference-present threshold value for the cross-correlation validation test. 
     
     
       12. The method defined in  claim 11  wherein the electronic device comprises at least one correlator implemented on the control circuitry that processes received satellite signals using an integration interval, the method further comprising:
 increasing the integration interval in response to determining that the radio-frequency interference is present. 
 
     
     
       13. The method defined in  claim 12  wherein the first radio-frequency transmitter comprises a cellular telephone transmitter, wherein the second radio-frequency transmitter comprises a wireless local area network transmitter, and wherein the radio-frequency interference is produced due to simultaneous operation of the cellular telephone transmitter and the wireless local area network transmitter. 
     
     
       14. The method defined in  claim 11  wherein the first radio-frequency transmitter comprises a cellular telephone transmitter, wherein the second radio-frequency transmitter comprises a wireless local area network transmitter, and wherein the radio-frequency interference is produced due to simultaneous operation of the cellular telephone transmitter and the wireless local area network transmitter. 
     
     
       15. The method defined in  claim 11  wherein the first radio-frequency transmitter comprises a cellular telephone transmitter, wherein the second radio-frequency transmitter comprises a wireless local area network transmitter, and wherein switching the no-interference-present threshold value for the cross-correlation validation test to the interference-present threshold value for the cross-correlation validation test comprises reducing the non-interference-present threshold value to a lower value. 
     
     
       16. A method for mitigating the impact of radio-frequency interference on sensitive circuitry in an electronic device, wherein the radio-frequency interference interferes with the sensitive circuitry and is produced by a noise source in the electronic device, the method comprising:
 with control circuitry in the electronic device, determining whether persistent radio-frequency interference is present; and 
 in response to determining that persistent radio-frequency interference is not present, operating the electronic device in a first radio-frequency interference mitigation mode using the control circuitry; and 
 in response to determining that persistent radio-frequency interference is present, operating the electronic device in a second radio-frequency interference mitigation mode using the control circuitry, wherein the sensitive circuitry comprises radio-frequency receiver circuitry, wherein the noise source includes at least a first radio-frequency transmitter and a second radio-frequency transmitter, and wherein operating the electronic device in the first radio-frequency interference mitigation mode comprises operating the electronic device in a receiver blanking mode in which the radio-frequency receiver circuitry is temporarily deactivated. 
 
     
     
       17. The method defined in  claim 16  wherein the radio-frequency receiver circuitry comprises satellite navigation system receiver circuitry and wherein operating the electronic device in the second radio-frequency interference mitigation mode comprises performing interference-dependent cross-correlation protection operations using the control circuitry. 
     
     
       18. The method defined in  claim 17  wherein performing the interference-dependent cross-correlation protection operations comprises:
 with the control circuitry, measuring a satellite signal received from a first satellite to produce a first satellite signal value; 
 with the control circuitry, measuring an additional satellite signal associated with a second satellite to produce a second satellite signal value; and 
 with the control circuitry, applying a cross-correlation validation test to the second satellite signal value and the first satellite signal value to determine whether the second satellite signal is valid. 
 
     
     
       19. The method defined in  claim 18  wherein performing the interference-dependent cross-correlation protection operations further comprises:
 with the control circuitry, determining whether the radio-frequency interference for the satellite navigation system receiver circuitry is present; and 
 in response to determining that the radio-frequency interference is present, adjusting a threshold value for the cross-correlation validation test.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to mitigating the effects of radio-frequency interference in electronic devices. 
     Electronic devices such as portable computers and cellular telephones are often provided with sensitive circuitry. For example, an electronic device may contain wireless receiver circuitry such as satellite navigation system receiver circuitry. If care is not taken, sources of interference such as wireless transmitters and other sources of radio-frequency signals may interfere with the proper operation of a receiver or other sensitive circuit. For example, the use of transmitter circuitry in an electronic device may prevent a satellite navigation system receiver from accurately detecting a user&#39;s location. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved ways in which to mitigate the effects of radio-frequency interference in an electronic device. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may include sensitive circuitry such as radio-frequency receiver circuitry. The radio-frequency receiver circuitry may be satellite navigation system receiver circuitry. The satellite navigation system receiver circuitry may include one or more satellite navigation system receivers such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) receiver. 
     Components in the electronic device may serve as a noise source producing radio-frequency interference that can disrupt operation of the sensitive circuitry. The noise source may include a first transmitter such as a cellular telephone transmitter and as second transmitter such as a wireless local area network transmitter. Interference may be produced during simultaneous operation of the first and second transmitters. 
     The impact of interference that is produced by simultaneous operation of the first and second transmitters may be reduced by blanking the satellite navigation system receiver, by imposing a duty cycle limitation on the second transmitter, by switching between alternative receivers in the satellite navigation system receiver circuitry, by using an interference-dependent cross-correlation protection scheme, or by using a combination of these schemes. In configurations in which an electronic device uses multiple interference-mitigation schemes, the device may switch between different schemes depending on whether or not persistent interference is detected. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of illustrative components in an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of an illustrative satellite navigation receiver in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a set of timing diagrams showing how receiver circuitry can be temporarily disabled when interference from simultaneously operating transmitters is detected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of illustrative operations involved in operating an electronic device while monitoring for radio-frequency interference and temporarily deactivating receiver circuitry when interference is detected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a set of timing diagrams showing how transmitter circuitry can be temporarily operated using a duty cycle when interference from simultaneously operating transmitters is detected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of illustrative operations involved in operating an electronic device while monitoring for radio-frequency interference and temporarily imposing a duty cycle on a transmitter when interference is detected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a set of timing diagrams showing how transmitter circuitry can be temporarily operated using a duty cycle and how receiver circuitry can be temporarily deactivated when interference from simultaneously operating transmitters is detected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of illustrative operations involved in operating an electronic device while monitoring for radio-frequency interference and in temporarily imposing a duty cycle on a transmitter and temporarily deactivating receiver when interference is detected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a set of timing diagrams showing how an electronic device can switch between different receiver circuits in response to detection of interference in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram of illustrative operations involved in switch between different receiver circuits in an electronic device in response to detection of interference in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing how control circuitry in an electronic device may be used to implement correlators with different integration times in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram of an illustrative operations involved in operating an electronic device with sensitive circuitry such as satellite navigation system circuitry in an environment that may exhibit interference in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram of illustrative steps involved in operating an electronic device in an environment that may exhibit persistent interference in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices such as electronic device  10  of  FIG. 1  may be provided with sensitive circuitry. For example, device  10  may contain wireless receiver circuitry or other circuitry that is susceptible to radio-frequency interference. Radio-frequency interference may be generated by a noise source such as a radio-frequency transmitter, a clock, other circuits, or a combination of such circuits operating simultaneously. Interference may be associated with a fundamental frequency produced by a noise source, a harmonic frequency produced by a noise source, or sum or difference frequencies produced by noise-generating circuits (e.g., interference due to intermodulation). 
     In general, noise sources in electronic device  10  may be formed from any circuit that produces signals (clocks, component driver circuits, communications circuits, wireless circuits such as wireless transmitters, etc.). Radio-frequency interference from noisy circuitry in device  10  may adversely affect the operation of any circuitry that is sensitive to the presence of undesired radio-frequency signals. For example, radio-frequency interference may affect the operation of a sensor, a display, a communications circuit, a wireless receiver, or other sensitive circuit. 
     With one illustrative configuration, which is sometimes described herein as an example, electronic device  10  may contain sensitive circuitry such as receiver circuitry  16 . Radio-frequency interference may be produced by internal components in device  10  such as transceiver circuitry  18 , transceiver circuitry  20 , and/or additional components  22  (e.g., clocks, component driver circuits, communications circuits, additional wireless transmitter circuitry, etc.). For clarity, an illustrative configuration in which interference for receiver circuitry  16  is produced during the simultaneous operation of transceiver circuitry  18  and transceiver  20  is sometimes described herein as an example. This is, however, merely illustrative. In general, electronic device  10  may have any suitable sensitive circuitry and may contain any type of noise-producing circuitry. 
     As shown in the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 1 , device  10  may have antenna structure such as antenna structures  14 . Antenna structures  14  may include one or more antennas. Antenna structures  14  may be coupled to transceiver circuitry such as circuitry  16 ,  18 , and  20 . During signal reception operations, radio-frequency signals that have been received by antenna structures  14  may be processed by one or more receivers in receiver circuitry  16 , by a receiver in transceiver  18  such as receiver  30 , or by a receiver in transceiver  20  such as receiver  34 . During signal transmission operations, antenna structures  14  may be used in transmitting radio-frequency signals that have been produced by a transmitter in transceiver  18  such as transmitter  28  and/or radio-frequency signals that have been produced by a transmitter in transceiver  20  such a transmitter  32 . 
     Transceiver  18  may be, for example, a cellular telephone transceiver (e.g., a 2G, 3G, or 4G cellular transceiver or other suitable cellular telephone transceiver). Transceiver  20  may be, for example, a wireless local area network transceiver such as an IEEE 802.11 transceiver that operates in the 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz communications bands (as an example). Satellite navigation system receiver circuitry  16  may include one or more receivers for handling satellite navigation system signals from one or more satellite navigation systems. As an example, satellite system receiver circuitry  16  may include a first satellite navigation system receiver such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver  24  and a second satellite navigation system receiver such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) receiver  26 . Other satellite navigation system receivers may be included in satellite navigation system receiver circuitry  16  if desired. 
     With a configuration of the type shown in  FIG. 1 , the simultaneous operation of cellular telephone transmitter  28  and wireless local area network transmitter  32  may produce interference for GPS receiver  24  or GLONASS receiver  26 . GPS receiver  24  may operate at a frequency of about 1575 MHz, whereas GLONASS receiver  26  may operate at a frequency of about 1602 MHz. Accordingly, GPS receiver  24  and GLONASS receiver  26  may be impaired under different operating conditions. 
     As one example, interference may be produced for receiver  24  when transmitter  28  is operating at a channel associated with a frequency of 837 MHz while transmitter  20  is operating at a channel associated with a frequency of 2412 MHz, because 2412 MHz−837 MHz (an intermodulation distortion signal that may be produced) is 1575 MHz (i.e., a frequency that falls in the receive band for receiver  24 ). As another example, interference may be produced for receiver  26  when transmitter  18  is operating at a channel associated with a frequency of 827 MHz while transmitter  20  is operating at a channel associated with a frequency of 2422 MHz, because 2422 MHz−827 MHz is 1595 MHz (which is close to the 1602 MHz operating frequency of receiver  26 ). Other combinations of channels for transmitters  28  and  32  may also produce interference for receiver  24  or receiver  26 . The foregoing examples are merely illustrative. 
     To mitigate the effects of interference, control circuitry in device  10  can monitor for the presence of interference. When interference conditions are detected, the control circuitry can take appropriate mitigating actions. For example, the control circuitry may temporarily deactivate (i.e., blank) GPS receiver  24  and/or GLONASS receiver  26 , may impose a duty cycle on an interference-producing transmitter such as transmitter  32 , may implement a combination of transmitter duty cycle limitations and satellite navigation system receiver blanking functions, may dynamically adjust the performance of satellite navigation system receiver circuitry  16  (e.g., by adjusting the strategy used for implementing cross-correlation protection), and/or may use intelligent combinations of these schemes or other suitable interference mitigation schemes. 
     The control circuitry in device  10  may include processor integrated circuits such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, baseband processors, application-specific integrated circuits, microcontrollers, and other processing circuitry. The control circuitry in device  10  may also include storage such as volatile memory, non-volatile memory, hard-drive storage, solid state storage devices, removable media, and other storage devices. As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, the control circuitry in device  10  may include at least one processor such as application processor  12  (e.g., a microprocessor that is used in implementing software applications and operating system functions for device  10 ). 
     Application processor  12  and other storage and processing circuitry in device  10  (e.g., baseband processors associated with transceiver circuitry  16 ,  18 , and/or  20 ) may serve as control circuitry that is used in implementing control algorithms that control the operation of device  10 . For example, the control circuitry of device  10  may be used in storing and running software that monitors and controls the operations of transceiver circuitry  16 ,  18 , and  20 . The control circuitry of device  10  may, for example, determine which combination of channels is being used by transmitters  28  and  32  and may adjust the operation of receivers  24  and  26  and the operation of transmitters  28  and  32  accordingly. Activity that may create radio-frequency interference (e.g., certain combinations of transmitted channels) may be monitored by monitoring input-output control signals associated with the operation of transceivers  18  and/or  20 , may be monitored using radio-frequency signal sensors, or may be monitored by examining which control signals have been conveyed to transceivers  18  and  20  (as examples). 
     In some operating scenarios, it may be desirable to temporarily deactivate (blank) the operation of satellite navigation system receiver circuitry  16  (i.e., receiver  24  and/or receiver  26 ). An illustrative satellite navigation system receiver circuit is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , receiver  16  may include an input such as input  36  that receives radio-frequency signals from antenna structures  14 . These radio-frequency signals may include satellite signals from a constellation of satellites orbiting the earth. The satellite signals for a given satellite navigation system may include numerous orthogonal codes (sometimes referred to as coarse acquisition codes) that are broadcast on a common carrier (e.g., codes broadcast on the 1575 MHz carrier in a GPS system). Each satellite may have a respective code. By processing the signals, receiver  16  can determine the geographic location of receiver  16 . Output  44  may be used to supply corresponding digital geographic location data to control circuitry in device  10 . 
     Amplifier  38  may amplify the signals on input  36  for use by satellite navigation system processing circuitry  40 . Processing circuitry  40  may receive control signals on control input  42  (e.g., control signals from application processor  12  and/or other control circuitry in device  10 ). These control signals may be used to activate or deactivate the receiver. Processing circuitry  46  can implement an automatic gain control function for amplifier  38  by producing a gain control signal GAIN_CONTROL on path  46 . During operation of receiver  16 , circuitry  46  can make adjustments to GAIN_CONTROL to adjust the gain that is exhibited by amplifier  38 . With one suitable satellite navigation system receiver blanking technique, the receiver can be blanked (temporarily deactivated) in response to a blanking control signal supplied to input  42  by locking automatic gain control functions (i.e., by holding the gain of amplifier  38  constant using GAIN_CONTROL to avoid saturating amplifier  38 ) and by inserting logic “zeros” into processing circuitry  40  or otherwise ignoring the data produced by processing circuitry  40  at output  44 . Other receiver blanking techniques may be used if desired. 
       FIG. 3  contains a set of timing diagrams that illustrate the use of receiver blanking techniques to mitigate the effects of radio-frequency interference in device  10 . In the example of  FIG. 3 , device  10  is operating a sensitive circuit such as receiver RX. Receiver RX of  FIG. 3  may be, for example, satellite navigation system receiver circuitry  16  (e.g., a GPS or GLONASS receiver). Device  10  is also operating transmitters TX 1  and TX 2 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 3  (and the following examples), transmitter TX 1  may be a cellular telephone transmitter such as transmitter  28  of  FIG. 1  (e.g., a 3G transmitter or other transmitter that is impossible or impractical to blank without disrupting cellular traffic) and transmitter TX 2  may be a wireless local area network transmitter (e.g., a WiFi® transmitter operating in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 protocols). 
     Transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  and receiver RX may either be active or inactive, as indicated by the “ON” and “OFF” labels in the traces of  FIG. 3 . When receiver RX is on, receiver RX is vulnerable to interference. As described previously, certain combinations of transmitted frequencies from transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  have the potential to generate interference for receiver RX. To avoid the creation of erroneous data, receiver RX may be temporarily deactivated (i.e., receiver RX may be blanked) whenever the control circuitry in device  10  detects that a potential interference-creating combination of channels is being transmitted by transmitters TX 1  and TX 2 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 3 , transmitter TX 1  is always on. Transmitter TX 2  is activated during the time period between time t 1  and time t 2 . By monitoring transmitters TX 1  and TX 2 , control circuitry in device  10  may determine that a potential interference-creating combination of channels is being transmitted between time t 1  and time t 2 . In response to detecting this interference, the control circuitry may temporarily deactivate (blank) receiver RX between time t 1  and time t 2 . This prevents receiver RX from producing erroneous output resulting from erroneous input during the time period between time t 1  and time t 2  due to the presence of interference. 
     Illustrative operations involved in performing the satellite navigation blanking functions of  FIG. 3  during the operation of device  10  are shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     At step  48 , device  10  may use receiver RX to receive and process satellite navigation system signals. Control circuitry in device  10  may monitor the states of transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  to determine whether a potentially interference-producing combination of wireless channels is being used. When interference is detected by the control circuitry, satellite navigation system receiver circuitry RX may be deactivated (step  50 ). While receiver RX is deactivated, the control circuitry may monitor for the presence of interference (step  52 ). So long as interference for receiver RX is detected, receiver RX may remain deactivated. When interference is no longer detected (e.g., because transmitter TX 2  is turned OFF at time t 2  of  FIG. 3 ), receiver RX can be activated by the control circuitry (step  54 ) and normal receiver operations can continue at step  48 . 
     Another way in which the effects of interference can be mitigated is illustrated in the example of  FIG. 5 . In the  FIG. 5  example, transmitter TX 1  is off at times before time t 2 . Accordingly, transmitter TX 2  may be allowed to operate normally during time period N 1 , without any need to blank receiver RX. At time t 2 , transmitter TX 1  is activated. At time t 3 , device  10  wishes to activate transmitter TX 2 . The combination of channels associated with transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  (in this example) will create interference for receiver RX. To prevent this interference from overwhelming receiver RX, a duty cycle limitation may be imposed on transmitter TX. For example, transmitter TX may only be allowed to operate with a 50% duty cycle (e.g., 10 ms ON and 10 ms OFF) during duty cycle period DC. Other duty cycles (e.g., duty cycles larger than 50% or smaller than 50%) may also be used if desired. Once transmitter TX 1  is no longer active (times after time t 5 ), no interference will be present when transmitter TX 2  operates, so transmitter TX 2  may operate normally (without a duty cycle limitation) during time period N 2  (times after time t 6 ). 
     Receiver RX may use correlators to identify the satellite navigation system codes (e.g., GPS coarse acquisition codes) that are received. Each correlator may perform an integration of the type shown in equation 1 to produce satellite signal data C k  for each visible satellite.
 
 C   k   =∫e ^(2 π*j*f*t ) P ( t −τ) k   S ( t ) dt   (1)
 
In equation 1, index k is a satellite identifier (i.e., k=1 for the 1 st  satellite with τ being the spreading code offset at the receiver), e^(2π*j*f*t) is a complex multiplier with f being the intermediate mixing frequency to strip of carrier signal and Dopplers, 2 for the second satellite, etc.), P k  corresponds to the satellite code (e.g., the GPS coarse acquisition code that is being transmitted by the k th  satellite), and S corresponds to the radio-frequency signal input at input  36  of satellite receiver circuitry  16  (i.e., the radio-frequency signal received by antenna structures  14 ). The integration interval (sometimes referred to as the detection interval or correlation interval) is generally different for different correlators in device  10 . As an example, strong signal correlators (correlators for acquiring strong satellite signals) may have an integration interval of 1-30 ms, medium signal correlators may have an integration interval of 80-100 ms, and weak signal correlators may use an integration interval of 1 s (as examples).
 
     The duty cycle and the ON and OFF time periods of transmitter TX 2  during duty cycle period DC may be chosen so as to ensure that operation of the satellite navigation system receiver is not disrupted. For example, the OFF (unjammed) time periods during duty cycle period DC may be chosen to have a length that is greater than or equal to one half of the strong signal integration interval. If this integration interval is 20 ms, as an example, the OFF period for transmitter TX 2  during duty cycle period DC may be 10 ms or more. 
     Illustrative operations involved in performing the transmitter duty cycle operations of  FIG. 5  during the operation of device  10  are shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     At step  56 , device  10  may use receiver RX to receive and process satellite navigation system signals. Control circuitry in device  10  may monitor the states of transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  to determine whether a potentially interference-producing combination of wireless channels is being used. When interference is detected by the control circuitry, satellite navigation system receiver circuitry RX may continue to operate receiver RX (as shown in the lowermost trace of  FIG. 5 ), while imposing a duty cycle on transmitter TX 2 , as shown in period DC in the middle trace of  FIG. 5  (step  58 ). 
     During the operations of step  58  (i.e., during duty cycle period DC), the control circuitry in device  10  may continue to monitor for the presence of interference. So long as interference for receiver RX is detected, transmitter TX 2  may only be allowed to transmit using a series of ON and OFF periods (i.e., using a duty cycle). When interference is no longer detected (e.g., because transmitter TX 1  is turned OFF at time t 5  of  FIG. 5 ), transmitter TX 2  may be allowed to transmit normally (i.e., continuously, without a duty cycle). 
     In the example of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the level of interference produced due to the simultaneous operation of transmitter TX 1  and transmitter TX 2  during duty cycle period DC is not severe enough to prevent satisfactory operation of receiver RX. Accordingly, receiver RX may be operated continuously during duty cycle period DC, without blanking, as shown in the lowermost trace of  FIG. 5 . 
     In some situations, however, the interference that is produced during duty cycle period DC may be severe. In these situations, control circuitry in device  10  may impose blanking on receiver RX in addition to imposing the duty cycle on transmitter TX 2 . This type of approach is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     In the  FIG. 7  example, transmitter TX 1  is off at times before time t 2 . Accordingly, transmitter TX 2  may be allowed to operate normally during time period N 1 , without need to impose a duty cycle on transmitter TX 2  or a need to blank receiver RX. At time t 2 , transmitter TX 1  is activated. At time t 3 , device  10  wishes to activate transmitter TX 2 . The combination of channels associated with transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  (in this example) will create interference for receiver RX. To prevent this interference from overwhelming receiver RX, a duty cycle limitation may be imposed on transmitter TX (during duty cycle period DC) and receiver RX may be selectively blanked (during period DCB). During duty cycle period DC, transmitter TX 2  may be turned on and off. Each time transmitter TX 2  is turned on during period DC, receiver RX is temporarily turned off. Each time transmitter TX 2  is turned off during duty cycle period DC, receiver RX is turned ON. Once transmitter TX 1  is no longer active (times after time t 5 ), no interference will be present when transmitter TX 2  operates, so transmitter TX 2  may operate normally (without a duty cycle limitation) during time period N 2  (i.e., at times after time t 6 ). 
     Illustrative operations involved in performing the transmitter duty cycle and synchronous receiver blanking operations of  FIG. 7  during the operation of device  10  are shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     At step  60 , device  10  may use receiver RX to receive and process satellite navigation system signals. Control circuitry in device  10  may monitor the states of transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  to determine whether a potentially interference-producing combination of wireless channels is being used. When interference is detected by the control circuitry, a duty cycle limitation may be imposed on transmitter TX 2  to ensure that transmitter TX 2  will only operate using a duty cycle (ON/OFF periods). Receiver RX may be selectively blanked in synchronization with transmitter TX 2 . As shown in period DCB of  FIG. 7 , for example, receiver RX may be deactivated whenever transmitter TX 2  is transmitting and may be activated whenever transmitter TX 2  is inactive and not transmitting. So long as interference for receiver RX is detected, transmitter TX 2  may only be allowed to transmit using a series of ON and OFF periods (i.e., using a duty cycle) and receiver RX may be blanked whenever TX 2  is transmitting. When interference is no longer detected (e.g., because transmitter TX 1  is turned OFF at time t 5  of  FIG. 7 ), transmitter TX 2  may be allowed to transmit normally (i.e., without a duty cycle) and receiver RX may be allowed to receive normally (i.e., without blanking). 
     Some combinations of operating frequencies for transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  may create interference for GPS receiver  24  but not GLONASS receiver  26 , whereas other combinations of operating frequencies for transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  may create interference for GLONASS receiver  26  but not GPS receiver  24 . Either GPS receiver  26  or GLONASS receiver  26  may be used to supply location data for applications running on device  10 . During operation of device  10 , device  10  can therefore switch dynamically between GPS receiver  24  and GLONASS receiver  26  to avoid interference. 
     This type of approach is illustrated in the graphs of  FIG. 9 . As shown in the example of  FIG. 9 , a first transmitter such as transmitter TX 1  may be on. At time t 1 , a second transmitter TX 2  may be switched from an off state to an on state. Receiver RX 1  may be GPS receiver  24  and receiver RX 2  may be GLONASS receiver  26  (or vice versa). When transmitter TX 2  is turned on, interference is created for receiver RX 1 , but not receiver RX 2  (in this example). Accordingly, device  10  can deactivate impaired receiver RX 1  while activating unimpaired receiver RX 2 . By switching receiver RX 2  into use in place of receiver RX 1 , the effects of interference from the simultaneous operation of transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  may be avoided. If transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  begin transmitting signals on channels that create interference for receiver RX 2  while receiver RX 2  is being used to produce location data for device  10 , receiver RX 1  can likewise be switched into use in place of receiver RX 2 . 
     Illustrative steps involved in operating a device with multiple satellite navigation system receivers (or other sensitive circuits) is shown in  FIG. 10 . At step  64 , device  10  may be operated using a selected satellite navigation system receiver. Control circuitry in device  10  can monitor for interference. When interference for the currently selected satellite navigation system receiver is detected, control circuitry  10  can deactivate the currently selected satellite navigation system receiver and can activate an alternate satellite navigation system receiver (step  66 ). By switching the alternative satellite navigation system receiver into use in place of the current satellite navigation system receiver, interference due to the combination of channels being transmitted by transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  may be avoided. Following the operations of step  66 , operations may return to step  64 , where device  10  may monitor for interference that affects the newly activated satellite navigation system receiver. If the frequencies transmitted by transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  change to a combination that produces interference for the newly activated satellite navigation system receiver, device  10  can switch the original satellite navigation system receiver back into use (during swapping step  66 ). Processing can continue in this way, so that whenever interference is created for the current satellite navigation system receiver, device  10  switches the alternate receiver into use. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , storage and processing circuitry  12  or other control circuitry in device  10  may be used to implement multiple satellite navigation system correlators such as correlators  68 , correlators  70 , and correlators  72 . Correlators  68 ,  70 , and  72  may be used to perform the decoding operations of equation 1 using different integration intervals. As an example, correlators  68  may have an integration interval of 1-30 ms (e.g., for sensing strong signals), correlators  70  may have an integration interval of 80-100 ms (e.g., for sensing medium signals), and correlators may use an integration interval of 1 s (e.g., for sending weak signals). Other integration intervals may be used by the correlators in device  10  if desired. These are merely illustrative integration integral examples. 
     Satellite navigation system codes (e.g., GPS coarse acquisition codes) are not completely orthogonal. Cross-correlation effects may therefore potentially generate false satellite acquisitions in the presence of strong signals. For example, if a first satellite is producing a strong signal S 1 , the correlators of device  10  can erroneously compute a (weak) non-zero value of C 2  for a second satellite. The erroneous C 2  value, which is sometimes referred to as a cross-correlation (XCORR) is not a result of using equation 1 to properly detect the presence of a signal S 2  with code P 2  from satellite  2 , but rather is a false reading that results from the large size of the strong signal S 1  from satellite  1  in combination with the non-orthogonality of code P 1  of satellite  1  and code P 2  of satellite  2 . 
     The process of avoiding this type of false satellite navigation system data is sometimes referred to as cross-correlation protection. To provide cross-correlation protection, device  10  may perform additional operations to validate weak signal detections. These additional operations may be performed, for example, by using a correlator with an extended integration time. Using an extended integration time allows the correlator to discriminate between valid signals and invalid cross-correlation events. If a weak signal passes closer inspection during validation operations, device  10  can use the weak signal as valid satellite navigation system data (e.g., as a data point for computing the location of the satellite navigation system receiver). If, however, a weak signal does not pass closer inspection during validation operations, device  10  can conclude that the weak signal is due to an undesired cross-correlation and can ignore the weak signal. 
     Satisfactory cross-correlation protection can be adversely affected by the presence of interference (e.g., interference due to the simultaneous transmission of radio-frequency signals from transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  that fall within the receive band of a satellite navigation system receiver). In the presence of interference, cross-correlation protection operations may be compromised, because the sensitivity of device  10  in detecting satellite signals is degraded. 
     Consider as an example, a situation in which the received signal C 1  (i.e., carrier-to-noise density power ratio C/N 0  for satellite  1 ) is measured as being 44 dB-Hz and the received signal C 2  (i.e., carrier-to-noise density power ratio C/N 0  for satellite  2 ) is measured as being 22 dB-Hz in the absence of interference. Initially, a strong correlator (e.g., a correlator such as first correlator  68  of  FIG. 11  that has a relatively short integration time) may be used in producing the 22 dB-Hz measurement when searching for satellite  2 . By comparing the 44 dB-Hz and 22 dB-Hz measurements, it can be determined whether the strong signal (i.e., the 44 dB-Hz signal) is sufficiently strong relative to the weak signal (i.e., the 22 dB-Hz signal) to warrant validation of the weak signal using a correlator with a longer integration time (i.e., a correlator such as the second correlator of  FIG. 11 ). 
     With one illustrative arrangement, the 44 dB-Hz and 22 dB-Hz values may be compared by computing the difference between these two signals and comparing the difference to a predetermined threshold of 20 dB-Hz. In particular, the test of equation 2 may be used to compare the C 1  and C 2  values.
 
44 dB-Hz−22 dB-Hz&gt;20 dB-Hz  (2).
 
If the test of equation 2 is satisfied, device  10  can conclude that the C 1  signal is sufficiently larger than the C 2  signal to raise the possibility that the C 2  signal is a cross-correlation due to the presence of signal C 1 . Accordingly, if the test of equation 2 is satisfied, the C 2  signal can be rejected.
 
     In this example, 44 dB-Hz−22 dB-Hz is equal to 22 dB-Hz. Because 22 dB-Hz is larger than 20 dB-Hz, it is possible that the C 2  signal is a cross-correlation, so the C 2  signal can be rejected. 
     In the presence of interference, the use of equation 2 as a test to determine whether a signal is a cross-correlation can be compromised. Consider, as an example, a scenario in which 3 dB-Hz of noise is present. For a given signal strength, the value C 1  (i.e., carrier-to-noise density power ratio C/N 0 ) will decrease in the presence of increased noise. For example, the 44 dB-Hz value of signal C 1  will become a 41 dB-Hz value in the presence of 3 dB-Hz noise. Using the threshold test of equation 2, device  10  would determine (in this illustrative scenario) that 41 dB-Hz−22 dB-Hz is 19 dB-Hz, which is less than 20 dB-Hz. Because 19 dB-Hz is less than 20 dB-Hz, it would appear to device  10  as if the C 2  signal is not a cross-correlation. 
     As this example demonstrates, a conventional cross-correlation protection scheme that does not change its validation strategy due to the presence or absence of noise can be compromised in the presence of interference. To avoid this possibility, device  10  preferably adjusts its cross-correlation protection strategy whenever interference is detected. As an example, device  10  may dynamically adjust the validation threshold for weak signal detections (e.g., the 20 dB-Hz threshold in the example above), thereby ensuring that strong signals that have been reduced in strength due to the presence of interference (e.g., the 41 dB-Hz C 1  signal in the example above) will still be strong enough to satisfy the test of equation 2 so that cross-correlation signals (e.g., the C 2  signal in the example above) can be properly rejected. If desired, device  10  may also increase the integration interval used when performing the comparison of equation 2 to increase sensitivity (e.g., the strong signal integration interval can be increased). 
     Illustrative steps involved in operating device  10  while dynamically adjusting the cross-correlation protection strategy used by device  10  in response to the presence of radio-frequency interference are shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     Three parallel processes are shown in  FIG. 12 : process PR 1 , process PR 2 , and process PR 3 . These processes may be performed concurrently by the control circuitry in device  10 . 
     The operation of process PR 1  (step  74 ) may involve performing a search for strong signals (e.g., using a first correlator  68  having an integration interval TI). The strong signals that are detected (e.g., signals such as the C 1  signal in the preceding example) may be added to a strong signal list. 
     In parallel with the operations of process PR 1 , device  10  may use its control circuitry to perform the operations of process PR 2 . The operations of process PR 2  may be used to detect valid weak signals. In the example of  FIG. 12 , device  10  is using the operations of process PR 2  to evaluate signals associated with satellite  2 , but, in practice, process PR 2  is used to evaluate signals from all other satellites as well as satellite  2 . 
     At step  76 , device  10  may search for a satellite signal associated with satellite  2  (i.e., device  10  may use a strong signal correlator  68  to measure satellite signal C 2 ). 
     At step  78 , device  10  may determine whether satellite signal C 2  is weak enough to be a potential cross-correlation signal. For example, device  10  may compare the value of C 2  to a strong signal threshold value (e.g., 31 dB-Hz). If the magnitude of C 2  is greater than the threshold amount, the C 2  signal is too strong to be a cross-correlation and the C 2  signal is therefore validated. The validated C 2  signal can then be used by device  10  as satellite navigation system data in determining the geographic coordinates of device  10  (step  86 ). In response to determining, at step  78 , that the magnitude of C 2  is less than the strong threshold amount, the value of C 2  can be compared to the values of the strong signals in the strong signal list (step  80 ). 
     As an example, there may be a strong signal C 1  in the strong signal list. During the operations of step  80 , device  10  can perform the comparison of equation 2 (and may, if desired, apply other suitable criteria). If the test of equation 2 is not satisfied (i.e., if C 1 -C 2  is less than 20 dB-Hz), the C 2  signal is not a cross-correlation. Device  10  may therefore validate the C 2  signal and may use signal C 2  as satellite navigation system data in determining the geographic coordinates of device  10  (step  86 ). If, however, the test of equation 2 is satisfied (i.e., if C 1 -C 2  is greater than 20 dB-Hz), device  10  can conclude that signal C 2  is a cross-correlation. The C 2  signal can then be rejected by device  10  at step  82 . 
     Under some operating conditions, interference will be present for the satellite navigation receiver. The interference may result from the simultaneous operation of transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  using a combination of channels that creates noise with a frequency that falls within the satellite navigation system receiver operating band. To ensure that the presence of interference does not compromise the cross-correlation protection strategy implemented using processes PR 1  and PR 2 , process PR 3  may be used to dynamically update the cross-correlation protection strategy used by device  10  for processes PR 1  and PR 2 . By dynamically adjusting the cross-correlation protection strategy, an appropriate strategy can be selected depending on whether or not interference is present. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , when no interference is present, process PR 3  may involve using control circuitry in device  10  to monitor for the presence of interference while performing the validation operations of process PR 2  using a cross-correlation protection strategy that is appropriate for situations in which no interference is present (step  88 ). If interference is detected, device  10  may, at step  90 , switch to use of a cross-correlation protection strategy that is appropriate for situation in which interference is present. 
     Any suitable interference-present cross-correlation protection strategy may be used. As an example, cross-correlation protection thresholds and/or other criteria can be switched from no-interference-present settings to interference-present settings. 
     Consider, as an example, the situation in which 3 dB-Hz of interference is present. When a condition that produces interference is detected, the 20 dB-Hz threshold that is used in performing the comparison operations of step  80  may be decreased. The 20 dB-Hz threshold may, for example, be decreased by 3 dB-Hz to a value of 17 dB-Hz. By using a 17 dB-Hz threshold instead of a 20 dB threshold, the comparison of step  80  using equation 2 will accurately discriminate between cross-correlation events and valid signals, despite the presence of the 3 dB-Hz of interference. 
     In addition to adjusting the validation threshold of step  80 , the cross-correlation protection strategy switching operations of step  90  may also involve changes to the integration time used by the correlator of process PR 1  (e.g., to increase the sensitivity of this correlator to recover the sensitivity that is lost due to the presence of interference). If, as an example, the correlator used during process PR 1  initially was configured to detect strong signals in a range of 51 to 31 dB-Hz, but would only be able to detect signals in a range of 51 to 34 dB-Hz in the presence of 3 dB-Hz of interference, the operations of step  90  may be used to increase the integration time T 1  of the correlator to increase the sensitivity of the correlator to allow signal detection in the range of 51 to 31 dB-Hz. 
     After adjusting the validation threshold for weak signals and/or increasing the integration time T 1  for the correlator used in maintaining the strong signal list, device  10  may, at step  92 , monitor for interference while performing the validation operations of process PR 2  using the interference-present settings. 
     In response to detecting that interference is no longer present, device  10  may, at step  94  switch the cross-correlation protection strategy that is being used back to its original no-interference-present settings. These no-interference settings may then be used during the signal validation operations of step  88 . 
     If desired, device  10  may intelligently select between different possible schemes for mitigating the effects of interference in real time. As an example, device  10  can dynamically switch between a first mode of operation in which a receiver blanking scheme of the type shown in  FIG. 4  is used to mitigate the effects of interference and a second mode of operation in which more complex software-implemented processes such as processes PR 1 , PR 2 , and PR 3  of  FIG. 12  are used. 
     Device  10  may choose to operate in the first radio-frequency interference mitigation mode or the second radio-frequency interference mitigation mode based on the type of interference that is being experienced. If, for example, intermittent interference is present (e.g., interference that lasts no more than a predetermined amount of time), receiver blanking operations may be satisfactory in overcoming the adverse effects of interference. When persistent interference (e.g., interference that lasts longer than the predetermined amount of time due to the need for device  10  to upload a large file over a wireless local area network connection while maintaining a cellular telephone link or to otherwise performing a wireless function that requires extensive use of transmitters TX 1  and TX 2 ), device  10  may use an interference-sensitive cross-correlation detection scheme of the type shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     Illustrative steps involved in using device  10  to dynamically switch between operating modes in this way depending on the type of interference that is present are shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     At step  96 , the control circuitry in device  10  may be used to monitor for persistent receiver interference while using receiver blanking to mitigate the effects of any interference that is present. For example, whenever transmitters TX 1  and TX 2  are operated simultaneously, receiver RX can be momentarily deactivated as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Upon detection of persistent interference (i.e., interference that is present for a long enough period of time to prevent the satisfactory use of the receiver blanking mode of step  96 ), the control circuitry in device  10  may switch to an alternative operating mode (step  98 ). In the operating mode of step  98 , device  10  may, as an example, use an interference-dependent cross-correlation protection strategy such as the signal validation technique of  FIG. 12 . When the persistent interference is no longer present, operations may return to step  96 . 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20120215
Publication Date: 20141014
Grant Date: 20141014
Priority Date: 20120215
Inventors: MAYOR ROBERT W.
HAKIM JOSEPH
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04B1/525", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B15/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/525", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3805", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B15/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3805", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 48945973