Time synchronization

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Keywords: Time synchronization, Timing, High precision positioning, GNSS, L1+L2, L1+L5

Precise time is very important for a lot of our daily activities all over the world. Operating relatively behind the scenes & unknown to the general public, the precision time services offered by GNSS satellite navigation systems have become an essential feature of our most vital infrastructures. Every GNSS satellite is installed with a few atomic clocks and can deliver precise time data in its transmitted signal. GNSS receiver decodes this time data and synchronize its internal clock with the atomic clock. Therefore, GNSS receivers are widely used for time synchronization around the world. Here are some examples to illustrate how time synchronization technology impacts our day to day life:

• Mobile telecommunication operators use GNSS time services to keep the clock of their base stations synchronized and allow all mobile phones to share frequency spectrum more efficiently.
• Companies around the world use GNSS precision time service for setting synchronized internal clock and have business transactions stamped with the precise time. Accurate & consistent transaction records and traceability can be established. Vast amount of international transaction of financial institutions all over the world can be secured.
• Electrical power companies have the needs to obtain precision time for their management system to enable efficient power transmission and distribution. Power line blackouts can occasionally occur in their power grid system. Analyses of these blackouts have demonstrated to these power companies that precision time synchronization throughout their power grid systems is needed. GNSS-based precision time service is the most cost effective way to synchronize their devices in power plants and substations. Utilizing the precise timing data, engineers of the power companies can determine the exact location of a power line failure to expedite their repair process.

As discussed above, accurate timing sources are crucial for large varieties of industries. GNSS-based precision time services work extremely well for all applications and devices that are dispersed around the world. GNSS receivers are needed to receive useful signals from at least three GNSS satellites to obtain the precise time data. In the past, usually, only L1 frequency is used to calculate the precise time. However, as technology advanced with time, more accurate time data is required for various devices and applications. Nowadays, multiple frequency GNSS receivers which are able to receive signals of L1+L2, L1+L5, or even L1+L2+L5 frequencies have been used to satisfy the need for more precise time.

Why Unictron?

Unictron supports clients who offer an extensive product range for synchronizing financial data centers, trading solutions, and analytical engines as well as transaction processing systems. Our high-performance components ensure best-in-class synchronization accuracy and enable clients to optimize their latency measurement solutions and fulfill all legal requirements concerning timestamp accuracy.

Unictron has established a wide variety of high precision positioning antenna modules that show excellent signal receiving quality of multiple frequency bands from various constellations including L1+L2, L1+L5, and L1+L2+L5. Combining timing information received from multiple frequency bands can significantly improve the accuracy. Unictron’s high precision positioning antenna modules with various shapes and dimensions under mass production have been approved by internationally renowned companies. Unictron has also developed a patented monolithic Castle patch antennas with multiple frequencies receiving capability. This compact patch antenna can be installed inside a plastic housing and still achieves high signal receiving the quality of L1+L2, L1+L5 or L1+L2+L5 frequency bands.

Featured Products:

GM48W

GM44DR

Castle patch antenna

GB-01 (time sync)- 1PPS

 

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