GPS receiver platform delivers tracking sensitivity of -162dBm
EDN Europe, 21 Jul 2011
u-blox has upgraded the u-blox 6 GPS receiver platform and offers access to features and benefits such as improved sensitivity, significantly lower power consumption, improved anti-jamming performance, jamming detection and shorter time to first fix for customers. The platform’s firmware delivers a tracking sensitivity of -162dBm by using an improved acquisition and re-acquisition feature. The platform also incorporates assist now autonomous, a free feature similar to Assisted-GPS without the need for a host or external network connection. This reduces the time-to-first-fix by using the periodic nature of GPS satellites and allows the GPS receiver to autonomously predict satellite positions. An intelligent power management technique has also been implemented and allows the receiver to independently power-down unnecessary circuitry. The company has also introduced the jamming detection feature that enables the GPS receiver to detect the possible presence of GPS jammers. This adds a significant level of security and robustness when dealing with vehicle theft. Security systems can use this feature to activate an alarm or alert signal, or initiate a backup positioning system such as one based on GSM cellular positioning. Another feature that has been added to the GPS platform is the support of the radio technical commission for maritime services protocol that allows receivers to increase positional accuracy in maritime applications.