Universal multi-channel gnss signal receiver

A multi-channel receiver comprising:

• an antenna for receiving a GNSS signal;
• a plurality of RF tracts connected to the antenna, the RF tracts providing a digitized version of the GNSS signal to a plurality of channels;
• a central processor;
• each channel accessing a memory coupled to the central processor for storing code sequence words;
• each channel also generating memory code sequences;
• each channel also including
• an intermediate frequency generator producing an intermediate frequency signal,
• a code frequency generator producing a code frequency signal, and
• first, second, and third correlators,
• wherein, in each channel
• the intermediate frequency signal and the memory code sequences are multiplied to produce a first reference signal, and the first correlator correlates the digitized version of the GNSS signal with the first reference signal, and accumulates a first result;
• a phase shifted intermediate frequency signal and the memory code sequences are multiplied to produce a second reference signal, and the second correlator correlates the digitized version of the GNSS signal with the second reference signal, and accumulates a second result;
• the intermediate frequency signal and a strobe signal that indicates a transition of the first reference signal are multiplied to produce a third reference signal, and the third correlator correlates the digitized version of the GNSS signal with the third reference signal, and accumulates a third result;
• wherein the first and second results are used to estimate a carrier phase of the GNSS signal,
• wherein the third result is used to adjust a phase of the memory code sequences, and
• wherein the central processor determines spatial coordinates based on the first, second and third results.