Abstract: A novel two-stage code acquisition scheme for direct-sequence spread-spectrum communication is presented in this paper. The acquisition scheme uses a passive matched filter as an acquisition-aiding device in the first stage. The matched filter has rapid search capability but the hardware is always excessive. In order to reduce the hardware requirement,the 1-bit quantization method is used. In the second stage, a bank of active and mutual independent correlators are employed, and the long active correlators contribute to decision reliability. In addition, the bank of mutual independent active correlators solve the problem of engaged correlators which usually exist in the traditional two-stage scheme. An analytical model based on queuing and detection theory is developed and optimization of the scheme is treated. Finally, the numerical results of theoretical performance are presented. This code acquisition scheme can be used in burst direct-sequence spread-spectrum communication, especially in mobile satellite burst communication.

Key words: direct-sequence spread-spectrum communication, code acquisition, queue theory, correlator, matched filter