GPS modul med SiRFstarIV med ROM

Atlantik Elektronik markedsfører nu GPS-modul med den seneste SiRFstarIV ROM version.

With the GPS module A2200-A Atlantik Elektronik offers a solution for all designers requiring highest GPS performance on smallest available real estate – designed in no time at all but also at lowest costs.

The new A2200-A is based on the latest SiRFstarIV ROM version, is adapted for a 3.3V environment, and allows easiest design as well as production with its castellated pads. This way the Maestro Wireless offers the perfect cost-benefit ratio when realizing GPS in many applications such as fleet management, tracking, surveillance and recovery of goods, vehicles or people.

Other than the SiRFstarIV GPS products A2100-A/B (GPS receiver) and A2035-H (GPS antenna module), which are both based on a flash design and therefore capable of storing satellite (Ephemeris – real as well as extrapolated ones) and configuration data, the new GPS receiver module A2200-A now relies on the latest SiRFstarIV ROM masks released by CSR.

This ROM version 2.2 mirrors the most recent software version 4.1.2 available now for flash-based modules. Hence the A2200-A supports power safe modes (such as SiRFaware with a current draw from 50μA to 500μA only) which are especially important in handheld, battery-powered applications. In addition it shines with highest accuracy due to the inherent SiRFnav technology. Highest sensitivity down to -163dBm for tracking satellites along with lowest Time-To-First-Fix (the time from a wake-up to presenting a first valid position) fulfill toughest requirements.

By working in a 3.3V environment the designer avoids additional voltage regulators allowing an extremely cost-effective implementation on smallest real estate with a footprint of 10 x 14 mm only.

Two important features of the SiRFstarIV technology are additional highlights of the new A2200-A module: As jammers in the GPS frequency band – either intentional ones resulting from external GPS blockers or unintentional ones having their origin e.g. in harmonics of internal circuits of the unit itself – can badly influence the capability of a GPS receiver to calculate a position, the module supports active jammer detection and removal! Using sophisticated algorithms it is also capable of extrapolating currently available satellite data (Ephemeris) without the need of an additional host processor or server (Client Generated Extended Ephemeris).

As the module doesn’t offer a non-volatile memory like the flash-based modules, the controller in the system can read out and store this information before shutting down the GPS module. By re-loading the data the Time-To-First-Fix (TTFF) is clearly reduced after the next wakeup.

The module simply knows the satellite position and can thus calculate its own nearly instantly. As the typical applications require an outdoor use the module supports the full temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. A first but also close look can be taken with the evaluation board. These boards are powered by and connected via USB to a PC where the included software SiRFlive allows use of different modes as well as statistical analysis.

The module A2100-A/B with its flash memory offloads a controller from reading and re-loading satellite data as it stores those automatically in its own memory. On top of this, the A2035-H holds its own antenna and is therefore optimally suited for designers approaching their target with even limited RF know-how.

The GPS receiver module A2200-A, the evaluation board EVA2200-A, as well as all other Maestro Wireless modules are available at Atlantik Elektronik.