5G Positioning Using Code-Phase Timing Recovery

To facilitate 5G-based positioning applications, Release 16 of the 3GPP 5G standard has defined the Positioning Reference Signal (PRS), which can be used to measure Time of Arrival (TOA) for downlink positioning. However, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signals are sensitive and vulnerable to synchronization errors. Moreover, the highly configurable 5G PRS in Release 16 calls for a unique allocation pattern on the subcarriers. Existing timing recovery methods that have been employed for reference signals, which are evenly inserted in the subcarrier symbols, may not perform well. To solve the timing recovery issue of the OFDM signal through 5G standard-compliant PRS, we propose a three-stage timing recovery scheme. We use the 5G PRS as pilot symbols to estimate the path time delay and complete receiver sampling clock synchronization. We propose a generalized path time delay estimation method that can correct timing errors larger than one sample. In addition, we incorporate a delay-locked loop (DLL) that can track the PRS code-phase when the phase errors are within one sample, which showcases the precise positioning possible with a standard-compliant 5G New Radio (NR) signal.