Rake receiving apparatus and method in a direct sequence CDMA mobile communication system

A method of making different fingers track multi-path signals allocated to the respective fingers in a rake receiving apparatus in which the respective fingers are allocated with the multi-path signals received through different paths and demodulate the multi-path signals allocated to the respective fingers, the method comprising the steps of:

• outputting code tracker selection signals corresponding to the respective fingers in accordance with differences among time delays being tracked by the fingers allocated with adjacent path signals with reference to timing control signals generated from the respective fingers in order to track the allocated multi-path signals;
• the respective finger selecting any one of the timing control signals of other fingers and an internal timing control signal in accordance with the code tracker selection signals;
• and
• tracking the path signal allocated to the corresponding finger using the selected timing control signal.

An apparatus for making different fingers track multi-path signals allocated to the respective fingers in a rake receiving apparatus in which the respective fingers are allocated with the multi-path signals received through different paths and demodulate the multi-path signals allocated to the respective fingers, the apparatus comprising:

• a code tracker for generating an internal timing control signal for obtaining an optimum sample position from the allocated path signals;
• a timing control signal selector for receiving the internal timing control signal from the code tracker and the timing control signals from other fingers, and selecting and outputting any one of the internal timing control signal and the timing control signals from other fingers in accordance with a time delay difference between the finger allocated with the path signal and the finger allocated with an adjacent path signal;
• and
• a demodulator for demodulating the allocated path signal in accordance with the selected timing control signal.

A method of making different fingers track multi-path signals allocated to the respective fingers in a rake receiving apparatus in which the respective fingers are allocated with the multi-path signals received through different paths and demodulate the multi-path signals allocated to the respective fingers, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating an internal timing control signal for obtaining an optimum sample position from the allocated path signals;
• receiving the internal timing control signal and the timing control signals from other fingers, selecting and outputting any one of the internal timing control signal and the timing control signals from other fingers in accordance with a time delay difference between the finger allocated with the path signal and the finger allocated with an adjacent path signal;
• and
• demodulating the allocated path signal in accordance with the selected timing control signal.