Atmel and u-blox AG have announced a GPS weak signal tracking technology called SuperSense, supporting Atmel's ANTARIS GPS chipsets and GPS modules from u-blox. With this GPS software, accurate GPS navigation becomes possible in building interiors, deep urban canyons, covered roads and other locations where GPS reception has been impossible. Previously, such areas prevented effective GPS navigation due to systems' inability to effectively receive faint GPS tracking signals.
SuperSense targets mass-market, automotive and hand-held, FCC E-911 Phase II-compliant GPS product applications. Of particular benefit is the high sensitive dynamic navigation performance of existing and future ANTARIS-based chipsets from Atmel and modules from u-blox. Because of ANTARIS SuperSense-based products' sensitivity, antennas can be moved to a vehicle's interior, allowing products with integrated antennas mounted in glove compartments and under seats, thus reducing automotive GPS installation costs when compared with systems requiring a separate, external antenna.
The ANTARIS GPS engine, jointly developed by Atmel and u-blox, is ideal for indoor GPS reception. The 16-channel ANTARIS features 8,192 simultaneously operating time/frequency search windows. This improves acquisition sensitivity for stand-alone and assisted GPS (A-GPS) operation, enabling satellite search and position calculation in previously GPS-dead areas. SuperSense combines superior tracking sensitivity beyond -158 dBm, low power consumption and high navigation performance. It is available as a beta release when purchasing the SuperSense Evalkit or the TIM-LH GPS module. It will support the ANTARIS GPS portfolio from Atmel as well as TIM-LH modules from u-blox.
The Atmel ANTARIS chipset (ATR0600, ATR0610, ATR0620) uses external Flash memory to control u-blox's SuperSense. The complete GPS electronics module provides exceptional tracking of weak signals and can be integrated into a single platform applicable to multiple products thus eliminating redesign of critical RF electronics.
For more information about the ANTARIS chipset, contact Atmel. For information on TIM-LH GPS modules and SuperSense, contact u-blox.
Atmel Corp. • (408) 441-0311 • www.atmel.com
U-blox • 41 (44) 722 74 44 • www.u-blox.com