Overview
A Gold code, also known as Gold sequence, is a type of binary sequence used in telecommunications (CDMA) and satellite navigation (GPS). Gold codes are named after Robert Gold. Gold codes have bounded small cross-correlations within a set, which is useful when multiple devices are broadcasting in the same frequency range. A set of Gold code sequences consists of 2 n + 1 sequences each one with a period of 2 n − 1. A set of Gold codes can be generated with the following steps. Pick two maximum length sequences of the same length 2 n − 1 such that their absolute cross-correlation is less than or equal to 2 (n+2)/2 , where n is the size of the linear-feedback shift register used to generate the maximum length sequence.
The set of the 2 n − 1 exclusive-ors of the two sequences in their various phases (i.e. translated into all relative positions) together with the two maximum length sequences form a set of 2 n + 1 Gold code sequences. The highest absolute cross-correlation in this set of codes is 2 (n+2)/2 + 1 for even n and 2 (n+1)/2 + 1 for odd n. The exclusive or of two different Gold codes from the same set is another Gold code in some phase. Within a set of Gold codes about half of the codes are balancedthe number of ones and zeros differs by only one. Gold codes are used in GPS. The GPS C/A ranging codes are Gold codes of period 1,023.
See also
*Hadamard code *Hamming code *JPL code *Kasami code *Zadoff–Chu sequence *Complementary sequences *Space Network – a NASA system that uses Gold codes
Further reading
* * (xii+201+1 pages) * (xiv+225 pages) de:Linear rückgekoppeltes Schieberegister#Gold-Folgen