The design and validation of RF front-end platform for GPS receiver

The RF (radio frequency) front-end achieves the down-conversion and analog-digital conversion for the original signal in GPS receivers, providing the required information for the follow-up base-band signal processing. Analyze the structure of RF front-end, and point out that the IF (intermediate frequency) digitalization structure is easy to realize, the RF digitalization structure is suitable for multi-band GNSS signals. Research on the low-noise amplifier, down-converter, filter, AGC (auto gain control) and ADC (analog-to-digital converter) applied in the RF front-end to complete the components level design. Meanwhile, impedance matching, differential lines design, placement, routing and electromagnetic interference were studied to solve the practical problems in the realization process. On this basis, the RF front-end platform was implemented; test results verify that the design could effectively acquire the satellite signal to accomplish the baseband processing.