New acquisition algorithm for direct sequence spread spectrum signals

Aiming at improving acquisition performance for direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signals, a new acquisition algorithm based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) is proposed. The code phases are parallel searched throughout the Doppler frequency domain. Since the influence of Doppler frequency errors on peak-to-average ratios of correlation power shows a pattern similar to the sinc function, it is our belief that by judging on peak-to-average ratios for different Doppler frequency errors false alarm probabilities should be lowered. Analyses have supported the underlying principle of this new algorithm. Simulation results have also indicated that the new algorithm can effectively improve the acquisition performance for DSSS signals.