Single-chip GPS receiver gains Windows CE support

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Aug. 07, 2007

u-Nav Microelectronics has introduced software aimed at easing the task of designing its GPS controllers into Windows CE-based devices. The "Install n Go" application run on devices with ARM-based embedded processors.

(Click for larger image of u-Nav's single-chip GPS receiver)

u-Nav says its Install n Go application initializes the company's uN3010 single-chip GPS receiver (depicted above), manages associated Orion 2.1 navigation software, and provides a standard NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) interface for Windows mapping software through an integrated virtual serial communication port. It's said to utilize standard Windows CE drivers for serial communication to the GPS IC and control lines to the GPS subsystem.

u-Nav says the Orion navigation software provides support for 2G receiver dynamics, and has been optimized for navigation and ground track performance under harsh urban canyon conditions.

The company lists the following key features and specifications for the uN3010 single-chip GPS receiver:

High sensitivity operation with autonomous, AGPS, and multi-mode GPS support:
- -144 dBm cold start acquisition (unaided)
- -156 dBm acquisition (aided)
20-channel GPS support:
- 8 independent 1/4-chip search engines for simultaneous search
- 12 tracking channels with 4 fingers per channel and individual power-down modes
Multiple frequency support from 13 to 33 MHz
I/O ports:
- 3 UARTS, 2 high-speed SPI ports
- 19 GPIO ports for external I/O
- 10 channel ADC with 13 multiplexed inputs
- Pulse measurements, 1PPS, multiple timers
Power consumption:
- 60 mW Acquisition mode
- 50 mW Tracking mode @ 1Hz
- 13.5 mW Sleep mode
Package options:
- 5.5 x 5.1 x 0.8 mm CSP (110 ball, 500 mm pitch)
- 7 x 7 x 1.2 mm BGA (169 ball, 500mm pitch)

u-Nav director of worldwide software Peter Benschop stated, "With this quick integration software solution, no additional GPS software porting is needed to implement a fully functional cost optimized 20-channel GPS receiver. Our solution [eliminates]... the complexity of device driver development and other modifications at the kernel level."

Install n Go, the Orion software, and the uN3010 single chip are all available now. Pricing was not disclosed.

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