Telit Introduces Ultra-Slim, Smart Antenna GNSS Location Module - Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design

Telit Introduces Ultra-Slim, Smart Antenna GNSS Location Module

The SL876Q5-A ultra-slim family of smart antenna GNSS receiver modules. Photo source: Telit.

Telit announced the introduction of a new, ultra-slim family of smart antenna GNSS receiver modules on May 18. These fully integrated SL876Q5-A modules include a comprehensive feature set that eliminates the need for additional components, making them well suited for Internet of Things (IoT) projects with size, cost, and time constraints.

Telit announced the introduction of a new, ultra-slim family of smart antenna GNSS receiver modules on May 18. These fully integrated SL876Q5-A modules include a comprehensive feature set that eliminates the need for additional components, making them well suited for Internet of Things (IoT) projects with size, cost, and time constraints.

Easing the burden for developers with little or no RF design experience, the SL876Q5-A is compliant with regulatory and industry standards specifications, according to the company. The module combines an omni-directional low profile embedded antenna and an internal RF switch. This combination is well suited for applications needing two antennas, such as personal trackers and alarms, which must be equipped with a main and a backup antenna when the signal becomes compromised.

The turnkey solution includes features such as an additional Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filter, and efficient power management technology in an ultra-slim Leadless Chip Carrier (LCC) package. The inclusion of several low power modes reduces total power consumption while maintaining position accuracy, which extends battery life — a critical requirement for wearables, personal trackers, and other battery-dependent applications.

“IoT developers continuously search for solutions that simplify the design process,” said Ronen Ben-Hamou, Telit’s EVP of Products and Solutions. “We’ve developed a compact solution with features that deliver industry-leading performance without compromising performance. Not only does the SL876Q5-A eliminate the need for additional components in most use cases, but also cuts development time and costs considerably.”

Product Features
Full GNSS for optimal coverage:
•    Quad-GNSS: GPS/ QZSS and GLONASS or BeiDou and it is Galileo ready
•    A-GNSS: Onboard generation and server-generated file injection that can be stored into the embedded flash memory
•    Omni-directional antenna design delivers high performance in sensitivity, tracking performance, and accuracy
•    MEMS wakeup feature offers low power consumption
•    Built in LNA for improved sensitivity

Simplify integration
    •    Primary port: UART, I2C, or SPI. Secondary port: UART or I2C, I2C supports MEMS wakeup only
    •    Embedded RF switch allows easy integration with external antennas

The slim SL876Q5-A antenna modules feature an 11 x 11.9 x 2.3 millimeter LCC package for space constrained devices; flash memory enables firmware upgrades, customization, and AGPS file storage, which is ideal for battery-dependent devices.

Availability begins in the second quarter of 2017. Learn more about the new SL876Q5-A slim antenna module.

Previously, Telit had introduced new and advanced positioning modules in the SE868xx-Ax family featuring multi-constellation GNSS receivers with a 9 x 9 millimeter patch antenna. The SE868Kx-Ax series offers high performance and is ideal for space constrained applications such as wearables, tracking, telematics, and security, according to Telit. The integrated antenna modules include advanced features that significantly increase RF sensitivity, allowing for a much simpler integration without external components.

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