Ambiguity resolution based on modulation symbols

This paper proposes a novel method to resolve carrier phase estimation ambiguities based on modulation symbols. The differential time delay between received channels is estimated and then ambiguous number is obtained. Any interelement spacing can be larger than half-wavelength and no redundant antennas are required in this method. Multi-phase shifting keying (MPSK) signal is detailedly analyzed as an example to prove that the influence of signal modulation on carrier phase differences estimation is negligible. Data accumulation technique of time delay estimation is also discussed to improve the probability of correct resolution, which can efficiently meet high dynamic condition. The simulation results show that the probability of unwrapping phase ambiguity is insensitive to baseline length and incident angle. The probability of correct resolution may converge 1 as accumulation time increasing.