U-blox

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Ø  About u-blox

u-blox is a leading fabless semiconductor provider of embedded positioning and wireless communication solutions for the consumer, industrial and automotive markets. Our solutions enable people, devices, vehicles and machines to locate their exact position and wirelessly communicate via voice, text or video.

With a broad portfolio of GPS modules, cards, chips, and software solutions together with wireless modules and solutions, u-blox is uniquely positioned to enable OEMs to develop innovative solutions quickly and cost-effectively. Headquartered in Switzerland and with global presence in Europe, Asia and the Americas, u-blox employs 200 people. Founded in 1997, u-blox is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Ø  Products

u-blox provides highly integrated solutions for embedded GPS and wireless applications. Our market-proven products can be found in demanding automotive and industrial environments, as well as in mobile and handheld consumer devices where size, performance and power consumption are critical.

Combining industry-leading sensitivity and noise suppression with innovative features and packaging, u-blox products are designed to meet our customer’s stringent requirements. Whether as GPS or wireless modules, chips or complete GPS or wireless solutions, we offer the right solution with the right performance to suit your designs.

Ø  GPS and GALILEO receiver engines

- u-blox 6 families

50 channels (GPS, GALILEO, SBAS), 2 million correlators
Acquisition: < 1 second TTFF
Sensitivity: -160 dBm tracking, -147 dBm acquisition

5Hz update rate

Supports ultra low-power logging and geo-tagging applications based on proprietary Capture & Process technology
Intelligent, user configurable power management for radically lower power consumption

Supports u-blox AssistNow Online and AssistNow Offline A-GPS services and is OMA SUPL compliant

Automotive qualified (AEC-Q100)

Cost effective: Crystal oscillator or TCXO
GALILEO ready
Interface : UART, USB V2.0, SPI, DDC (I2C compatible)

Available as single-chips, chipset, or complete modules (AMY, MAX, NEO and LEA families)     

Ø  AssistNow – assisted GPS service that reduces GPS position acquisition to below 1 second.

Free best-effort service to all u-blox OEM customers and their end-users

Guaranteed service availability option as per individual service level agreement

World’s fastest Time-To-First-Fix (TTFF): under 1 second

Works on all u-blox GPS receiver modules, chips and cards

"Always-On"-Service: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Easy to install and operate

- AssistNow Online

With AssistNow Online, a GPS device with mobile or Internet connectivity accesses and downloads assistance data from our Global Reference Network of GPS receivers at system start-up.

Employing User Plane communication and open standards such as TCP/IP, AssistNow Online works on all standard mobile communication networks that support Internet access, including GPRS, UMTS and Wireless LAN. No special arrangements with mobile network operators are needed to enable AssistNow Online, making this solution network operator independent and globally available. u-blox only sends Ephemeris data for those satellites currently visible to the mobile device requesting the data, thus minimizing the amount of data transferred.

- AssistNow Offline

With u-blox' AssistNow Offline service, users can download Differential Almanac Correction Data from the Internet or wireless network at their own convenience from anywhere in the world. Afterwards the GPS device requires no connectivity at system start-up, thus enabling users to enjoy instant positioning, even when no network connection is available.

Users can download Differential Almanac Correction Data files anytime they have an Internet connection, for example at home, in the office or through a wireless network such as GPRS, UMTS or a Wireless LAN. The correction data is then downloaded to the mobile terminal via TCP/IP, serial port, memory card, etc, and can be stored in the GPS receiver’s Flash EPROM (if available) or in the memory of the application processor.

u-blox provides Differential Almanac Correction Data files with corrections valid from 1 to 14 days. The size of these files increases with the length of the prediction period, from as little as 3 KB to 90 KB. Positioning accuracy decreases with the length of the correction file duration, with 1-3 day files providing relatively high accuracy and 10-14 day files progressively less accuracy. Regular updates help to ensure a high level of position accuracy.

Ø  Wireless (GSM/GPRS and UMTS/HSPA) modules

- LEON quad-band GSM/GPRS module families

Full feature quad-band GSM/GPRS modem module, class 10

TCP/IP and UDP/IP internal stack(multiple sockets & multiple IP addresses)

FTP, HTTP, SMTP

Jamming indication (GSM)

Firmware update through UART

Firmware update over-the-air(FOTA) – LEON-G200 only

Lowest standby current: <1.6mA

Extended operating temperature range: -40°C to +85°C

Small form factor: only 18.9 x 29.5 x 3 mm

SMT mountable for automatic assembly

Simple integration of u-blox GPS and A-GPS (Access to u-blox GPS via GSM modem)

AssistNow client for fastest GPS Time-To-First-Fix

Innovative CellLocate^TM(Location based on cellular network) positioning

Interface: 1 UART, DDC(I2C compatible) for interfacing to u-blox GPS modules, 2 GPIO

- LISA UMTS/HSPA modules families

Dual-band HSPA: HSUPA 5.76 Mb/s, HSDPA 7.2Mb/s

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, class 12

TCP/IP and UDP/IP stack (multiple sockets & multiple IP addresses)

SSL software (HTTP, FTP)

Internet: FTP, HTTP, SMTP

Easy migration from u-blox GSM/GPRS modules (SW & HW)

Firmware update through UART and USB

Low idle mode current : < 2 mA

Extended temperature range: -40°C to +85°C

SMT form factor, small foot-print

Simple integration of u-blox GPS and A-GPS(Access to u-blox GPS via LISA)

AssistNow software for fastest GPS Time-To-First-Fix

Innovative CellLocate^TM(Location based on cellular network) positioning

Interface: 1 UART, DDC(I2C) for u-blox GPS, SPI, USB, 5 GPIO