Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to an atomic clock and, more particularly, to a Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC)-based atomic clock for providing timing information synchronized with an atomic clock onboard a satellite, for example, the NavIC satellite.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, accurate timing information is essential for the operation of modern technological systems, including telecommunications, global positioning systems (GPS), financial networks, and scientific research. The synchronization of standard time across the systems is typically achieved using atomic clocks, which provide the highest level of precision. For example, in India, the Indian Standard Time (IST) is the official time standard, maintained by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). However, ensuring that IST remains synchronized with the atomic clocks onboard satellite systems, such as the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) has been a challenge.

[0003] NavIC provides highly accurate positioning and timing information over a vast region. The satellites in the NavIC constellation are equipped with onboard atomic clocks, which are synchronized with a master atomic clock maintained by a receiver station. Despite the high accuracy of the NavIC atomic clocks, achieving direct and independent synchronization of IST with the NavIC atomic clocks without reliance on external timing sources has been difficult. This challenge leads to delays and potential discrepancies in timekeeping, which can have adverse effects on various critical applications.

[0004] Traditionally, GPS-based systems are used for time synchronization, which requires dependency on external satellite systems operated by other countries. This dependency raises concerns about the reliability, security, and autonomy of timekeeping infrastructure. Further, a few patent references related to the synchronization of time and the atomic clock are discussed as follows.

[0005] US20160149610 of Yoshiyuki Maki entitled “Time synchronization system” discloses a time synchronization system comprising a clock supply apparatus and a time synchronization apparatus. The clock supply apparatus includes an oscillator to generate a first time signal. Further, the time synchronization apparatus comprises a fluctuation reducing unit, and a GPS receiver to receive a satellite signal emitted from a GPS satellite. The GPS receiver generates a second time signal based on the GPS satellite signal. Additionally, the time synchronization system is used in the network synchronization based on a master-slave synchronization method. The fluctuation reducing unit is configured to reduce the phase fluctuation of the second time signal and to improve the short-term time accuracy of the second time signal.

[0006] US11774601 of Joseph Gomez et al., entitled “Satellite signal propagation delay test device” discloses a test device for determining a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal propagation delay in a radio access network. The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) uses a satellite having an atomic clock that is synchronized to a master atomic clock located at an Earth base station. Further, a first Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver receives GNSS signals from a GNSS satellite through a reference GNSS signal distribution system (GSDS) having a known signal propagation delay. The first GNSS receiver calculates and outputs a corresponding reference One Pulse Per Second (1PPS) signal. A second GNSS receiver receives the GNSS signals through a device under test (DUT) including a GSDS having an unknown signal propagation delay. The second GNSS receiver calculates and outputs a corresponding DUT 1PPS signal. The test device determines the unknown signal propagation delay of the DUT by comparing the reference 1PPS signal to the DUT 1PPS signal.

[0007] However, the existing systems face challenges in achieving independent synchronization with highly accurate atomic clocks. Further, the usage of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to synchronize time with satellite time also experiences timing errors when used in the Indian subcontinent. The timing errors can lead to inaccuracies in applications that require precise timing, such as telecommunications, financial transactions, and navigation systems.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC)-based atomic clock for providing timing information synchronized with an atomic clock onboard a satellite, for example, the NavIC satellite. Further, the atomic clock needs to synchronize time with the satellite’s atomic clock independently without any other timing source.

SUMMARY

[0009] The present invention discloses a Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC)-based atomic clock. The NavIC-based atomic clock comprises a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna. The GNSS antenna is configured to receive GNSS signals from one or more global navigation satellite systems. The GNSS antenna is a dual-band antenna. The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) includes, but not limited to, Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) and Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC). The GNSS antenna is connected to the atomic clock via a Sub Miniature version A (SMA) connector.

[0010] The NavIC-based atomic clock further comprises a processor in communication with the GNSS antenna. The processor is configured to receive and process the GNSS signals and generate National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) data. Further, the signals include L1 and L5 band signals.

[0011] The NavIC-based atomic clock further comprises a controller in communication with the processor. Further, the controller is configured to receive and process the NMEA data, and determine timing information. The timing information is synchronized with the time of the atomic clock in the GNSS system.

[0012] The NavIC-based atomic clock further comprises a user interface in communication with the controller. The user interface enables the user to perform one or more operations and access one or more information provided by the controller. Further, the user interface comprises a display. The display is a seven-segment light-emitting diode display.

[0013] Further, the controller is configured to enable the user interface to display the timing information. The time information is displayed in a standard format including hours, minutes, and seconds. The controller is further configured to provide a time synchronized with the atomic clock of the NavIC satellite with an accuracy of up to 10 nanoseconds. Further, the NavIC-based atomic clock is synchronized independently with the atomic clocks onboard the NavIC satellites without relying on external timing sources.

[0014] The NavIC-based atomic clock further comprises one or more power sources. The power source supplies power for the operation of the atomic clock. Further, the power source comprises an external power source and a rechargeable power pack. The rechargeable power pack is configured to supply power on interruption of power supplied from the external power source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of a NavIC-based atomic clock, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a table of parameters and technical specifications of the atomic clock, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a NavIC-based atomic clock 100 comprises a GNSS antenna 102 configured to receive global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals from one or more global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). The GNSS antenna 102 is connected to the atomic clock 100 via a connector. In one embodiment, the connector is a SubMiniature version A (SMA) connector. In one embodiment, the GNSS antenna 102 is a dual-band antenna. The GNSSS antenna 102 is placed near a window or open to the sky to enable the GNSSS antenna 102 to receive the GNSS signals. The GNSS antenna 102 is also referred as antenna 102 throughout this document. In one embodiment, the GNSS includes, but not limited to, Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), and Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC). In one embodiment, the dual-band antenna is designed for NavIC (IRNSS), GLONASS, and GPS frequency bands for navigational applications.

[0018] The atomic clock 100 further comprises a processor 104 in communication with the antenna 102. The processor 104 is configured to receive and process the GNSS signals and generates National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) data. The signals include L1 and L5 band signals. In one embodiment, the processor 104 is a NavIC processor.

[0019] The atomic clock 100 further comprises a controller 106 in communication with the processor 104. The controller 106 is configured to receive and process the NMEA data. The controller 106 is a microcontroller unit (MCU)for further processing of data received at the controller 106. In one embodiment, the microcontroller unit is a STM32 microcontroller unit (MCU).

[0020] The atomic clock 100 further comprises one or more power sources. The power source is configured to provide for operation of the atomic clock 100. The power source supplies power to the processor 104, the controller 106, and a user interface 112. The power source comprises an external power source 108 and a rechargeable power pack 110. The external power source 108 supplies power to operate the atomic clock 100. Further, the rechargeable power pack 110 is configured to supply power. In one embodiment, the rechargeable power pack 110 provides output ranging from 5-volt to 12-volt DC power. In one embodiment, in case of power failure, the rechargeable power pack 110 provides a 12-volt DC power output for the atomic clock 100.

[0021] The atomic clock 100 further comprises the user interface 112 in communication with the controller 106. The user interface 112 comprises a display. In one embodiment, the display is a seven-segment light-emitting diode (LED) display. The display is configured to display time information received from the controller 106. The seven-segment LED display provides the time information in a standard format of HH: MM: SS (HH: Hours, MM: Minutes, and SS: Seconds).

[0022] The controller 106 is configured to receive and process the NMEA data, and determine timing information. The controller 106 enables the user to perform one or more operations and access one or more information provided by the controller 106. The controller 106 is further configured to enable the user interface 112 to display the timing information. The timing information is synchronized with the time of the atomic clock of the global navigation satellite systems.

[0023] In one embodiment, the controller 106 is configured to provide time synchronized with the atomic clock of the NavIC satellite with an accuracy of up to 10 nanoseconds. The time information from the atomic clock 100 is transmitted for use in timing and synchronisation circuits. In another embodiment, the atomic clock 100 enables to synchronize the Indian Standard Time (IST) with the atomic clock of the NavIC satellite independently without any other timing source. The atomic clock 100 uses multi-GNSS-based timing and synchronization information for providing highly accurate timing information. The atomic clock 100 is highly stable. The stability of the atomic clock 100 is rigorously tested with pulse per second (PPS).

[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, a table 200 provides various parameters and specifications of the atomic clock 100. The atomic clock 100 receives satellite signals from NavIC (IRNSS). The atomic clock 100 operates on frequency bands including the L1 and the L5 bands. Further, rubidium clocks are used in NavIC (IRNSS) satellites. The atomic clock on the satellite is highly accurate, with a precision of ten nanoseconds per year.

[0025] Additionally, the resolution of the atomic clock 100 is set to 01 seconds. The atomic clock 100 includes the seven-segment LED display. Further, the atomic clock 100 includes a time format. The time format used could be Indian Standard Time (IST). Further, the synchronization is possible throughout India. The stability of atomic clock 100 is well-tested with pulses per second (PPS). Further, the atomic clock 100 operates on a direct current (DC) power supply. The operating voltage includes 5 V and 12 V DC power supplies. In one embodiment, the weight of the atomic clock 100 is 156 grams and has dimensions of 153.1 mm in length, 17.5 mm in width, and 63.5 mm in height. In one embodiment, the atomic clock 100 could be mounted on walls or a table.

[0026] Advantageously, the atomic clock 100 uses reference of the atomic clocks onboarded on the NavIC satellites. The time information from the atomic clock 100 is transmitted for use in timing and synchronization circuits. The atomic clock 100 is configured to synchronize with the NavIC satellite’s clock independently without any other timing source, with an accuracy of upto 10ns. The atomic clock 100 provides highly reliable, high precision, and synchronized time reference. The atomic clock 100 uses timing and synchronization technology that utilizes signals from multiple Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). , Claims:We Claim:

1. A Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC)-based atomic clock (100), comprising:

a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna (102) configured to receive GNSS signals from one or more global navigation satellite system; a processor (104) in communication with the GNSS antenna (102) configured to receive and process the GNSS signals and generate National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) data, wherein the signals include L1 and L5 band signals; a controller (106) in communication with the processor (104) configured to receive and process the NMEA data, and determine timing information, and a user interface (112) in communication with the controller (106) enables the user to perform one or more operations and access one or more information provided by the controller (106), wherein the user interface (112) comprises a display, wherein the controller (106) is configured to enable the user interface (112) to display the timing information, wherein the timing information is synchronized with the time of atomic clock of at least one global navigation satellite systems.

2. The NavIC-based atomic clock (100) of claim 1, wherein the global navigation satellite system comprises Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) and Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC).

3. The NavIC-based atomic clock (100) of claim 1, wherein the display is a seven-segment light-emitting diode display.

4. The NavIC-based atomic clock (100) of claim 1, wherein the time information is displayed in a standard format including hours, minutes, and seconds.

5. The NavIC-based atomic clock (100) of claim 1, wherein the GNSS antenna (102) is connected to the atomic clock (100) via a SubMiniature version A (SMA) connector.

6. The NavIC-based atomic clock (100) of claim 1, wherein the controller (106) is configured to provide time synchronized with the atomic clock of NavIC satellite with an accuracy of up to 10 nanoseconds.

7. The NavIC-based atomic clock (100) of claim 1, is synchronized independently with the atomic clock onboard the NavIC satellites without relying on external timing sources.

8. The NavIC-based atomic clock (100) of claim 1, further comprises one or more power sources, wherein the power source supplies power for operation of the atomic clock (100), wherein the power source comprises an external power source (108) and a rechargeable power pack (110).

9. The NavIC-based atomic clock (100) of claim 8, wherein the rechargeable power pack (110) is configured to supply power on interruption of power supplied from the external power source (108).

10. The NavIC-based atomic clock (100) of claim 1, wherein the GNSS antenna (102) is a dual- band antenna.