Product category:
Wireless Communications
News Release from: Sarantel | Subject: SmartAntenna F02
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 11 September 2003
Antenna integrates GPS receiver
The SmartAntenna F02 is an integrated antenna-receiver for global positioning applications.
The SmartAntenna F02 is an integrated antenna-receiver for global positioning applications This groundbreaking module provides a complete solution for OEMs who need to build GPS into their end products, without investing time and effort into designing their own
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 27 Jun 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Omnidirectional bonus for miniature GPS antenna
Antenna specialist Sarantel has announced the PowerHelix GPS-P, a miniature GPS antenna which is omnidirectional and therefore tolerant of the orientation of the GPS receiver.
Novel GPS antenna picks up more satellites
The GeoHelix-H is a new-technology high-gain active antenna for portable GPS receivers which enables more satellites to be acquired than conventional patch devices.
Additionally the ability of the GeoHelix antenna to operate predictably close to human tissue, makes this new device ideal for personal positioning applications.
The SmartAntenna F02 combines Sarantel's omnidirectional GPS antenna with Fastrax's popular ultra-low-power Trax02/4 GPS receiver chipset.
The antenna's innovative GeoHelix design offers exceptionally high levels of immunity to RF interference thereby simplifying the integration process.
Further reading
GPS antenna slides into CompactFlash designs
In the last four months four companies have designed the Sarantel ultra-small GeoHelix GPS antenna into CompactFlash GPS modules in current production.
GPS antenna connects cellphone addon
Sarantel has acheived a significant design win for its advanced GeoHelix GPS (global positioning system) antenna which is to feature in the new GPS addon for the Ericsson T60c cellphone.
It is particularly small at 32 x 32 x 10.8mm, weighs less than 30g, and consumes just 100mW at 2.7V in continuous operation, making it ideal for portable applications and for vehicle, personal, and mobile asset tracking where battery power is used.
Fast acquisition times are a feature of the 12-channel iTrax02/4 receiver, which has a 32MIPS DSP core and dedicated GPS search engine.
This combined with the broad antenna beam width of the PowerHelix antenna enables the F02 can see more satellites more rapidly and it can therefore provide more accurate GPS fixes under a wider variety of situations.
The position fix is normally accurate to within 10m, worldwide.
"There is a growing demand for effective positioning from integrators who understand the benefits of GPS but not its implementation", said Barrie Foley, CEO of Sarantel.
"Matching our antenna with one of the best low-power GPS receivers in this way ensures developers get excellent results with minimal development time".
The mounting arrangements are flexible; serial data interface (RS232) and 3.3V and ground are the only connections needed, all made via one standard 14-way header.
The SmartAntenna F02 does not require a ground plane and therefore suits applications where size, weight and accuracy are key requirements.
Operating on the GPS L1-band (1575.42MHz), the SmartAntenna F02 uses Sarantel's patented GeoHelix design in which copper tracks, deposited on to a small ceramic cylinder, are individually and automatically laser-trimmed for optimum frequency response.
The antenna-receivers are fully shielded and can be mounted side-by-side in combined applications such as Bluetooth and GSM without loss of performance.
A development kit is available which allows the more advanced user to make use of the pre-emptive real time operating system, and 16bit DSP core, for other tasks.
Sample and production quantities of SmartAntenna F02 are available now.
• Sarantel: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
