A segmented matched filter for CDMA code synchronization in systems with Doppler frequency offset

This paper presents a segmented matched filter (SMF) for codephase acquisition in direct sequence spread spectrum systems. While conventional matched filters provide fast acquisition in the presence of high co-user noise, they are unable to handle significant carrier frequency offset (Doppler). This problem is alleviated by segmentation with non-coherent summation. The paper develops expressions to approximately relate the matched filter partitioning to the pre-detection filter and dwell time integrator of the conventional non-coherent correlator. It also investigates 1-bit versus 2-bit quantization. A mixed-signal application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) has been fabricated to implement a 512 chip SMF with half chip codephase resolution. The paper presents calculated and measured probability density functions (pdf) for the filter output decision variable for 10, 25, and 50 co-users with 0 to 20 kHz Doppler shift. For the example of a GPS receiver, expected acquisition time is shown as a function of multiple access interference and carrier Doppler shift