Apparatus and method for locking onto a psuedo-noise code in an is- 95 spread spectrum communications system

A method for locking onto a received pseudo-noise code, comprising the steps of:

• generating an on-time pseudo-noise signal, an early pseudo-noise signal delayed by less than one-half of a chip interval, and a late pseudo-noise signal advanced by less than one-half of a chip interval, in response to an error signal;
• and
• correlating a received signal with the early and late pseudo-noise signals to generate the error signal;
• whereby a loop is created in which the on-time pseudo-noise signal tracks the pseudo-noise code.

An apparatus for locking onto a received pseudo-noise code, comprising:

• means for generating an on-time pseudo-noise signal, an early pseudo-noise signal delayed by less than one-half of a chip interval, and a late pseudo-noise signal advanced by less than one-half of a chip interval, in response to an error signal;
• and
• means for correlating a received signal with the early and late pseudo-noise signals to generate the error signal;
• whereby a loop is created in which the on-time pseudo-noise signal tracks the pseudo-noise code.

A computer-useable medium embodying computer program code for causing a computer to lock onto a received pseudo-noise code by performing the steps of:

• generating an on-time pseudo-noise signal, an early pseudo-noise signal delayed by less than one-half of a chip interval, and a late pseudo-noise signal advanced by less than one-half of a chip interval, in response to an error signal;
• and
• correlating a received signal with the early and late pseudo-noise signals to generate the error signal;
• whereby a loop is created in which the on-time pseudo-noise signal tracks the pseudo-noise code.