Time-domain Approach to the Performance Analysis of GPS Phase Locked Loop

The frequency-domain approach is widely used in Global positioning system (GPS) receiver tracking loop performance analysis. In realization, the Digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) is used. There is difference between phase errors by traditional frequency-domain analysis and real receiver output because of discretization errors. In order to get more precise result, this paper uses time-domain difference equations to analyze the phase tracking errors under the influence of thermal noise and the dynamic stress on different orders of PLL. The simulation results show that the traditional frequency-domain approach has phase error deviation under long integration time (i.e., more than 10ms), while the time-domain approach has good accordance with receiver simulation output. Thus, the proposed time-domain approach can provide more precise solution for PLL performance analysis.