GENERAL INFORMATION

Fleet Management and Car Security are one of the most popular applications using GSM/GPRS and GPS technology. Very often the same hardware is used in both applications, and the final functionality depends on the software.

Fleet management is the management of a company's vehicle fleet, includes vehicle tracking, mechanical diagnostics, and driver behaviour tracking.

Basic function in all Fleet Management systems, is the vehicle tracking component usually based on GPS receiver.
Advanced systems provide additional features as:

• vehicle's data (speed/overspeed, fuel consumption, distance etc)
• remote security and control of fleet vehicles
• fleet management software allows function such as driver/vehicle profiling, trip profiling, dispatch, vehicle efficiency, etc.

The most important features requested by the manufacturers of the fleet management systems are :

• high quality and reliability - due to high service cost of units already installed in the cars, and problems to access cars on the field
• noise immunity - especially GPS system is always sensitive on noise sources, such as GSM, Bluetooth, vehicle's onboard computers etc
• high GPS sensitivity - enables navigation under weak conditions, in urban canyons, makes possible to hide the GPS antenna
• GSM/GPRS communication - for flexible, not expensive information flow
• forward/backward compatibility - not to waste time and money for the new designs, manufacturers with clear roadmap and using the same (pin compatible) form factors in future designs are preferred
• low power consumption
• extended temperature range

Fleet Management application usually consists of :

• GPS positioning unit
• GSM/GPRS communication unit
• accessories (antennas, connectors, adapter cables, SIM card holder)
• additional features (Bluetooth module, GSM hands free set, RFID identification etc.)

Microdis supports customers involved in fleet management systems since over 9 years, from the very early stage of device concept, through design up to the mass production.
We have collected experience and knowledge deep enough to select the right products, and to be a stable partner  able to fulfil all customers' requirements.

SOLUTION

GPS positioning unit

The heart of the fleet management is the positioning unit. We recommend GPS modules, based on the latest, u-blox5 technology, and produced by the company u-blox, an expert in GPS technology.

Our selection: LEA-5H

Features :

• high quality, swiss products, every GPS module is tested on GPS simulator before delivery, modules are produced in Austria according automotive ISO/TS16949 standards
• small, reliable form factor without any connectors, for automatic placement and soldering process
• backward and forward compatible products - which are pin compatible with previous versions (ANTARIS4 and ANTARIS modules) as well as future products (u-blox6 forecasted for 2008)
• extended noise immunity, and corrupted signals filtering
• ultrahigh sensitivity (-160dBm)
• very low power consumption (39mA at 3.0V)
• ultrafast TTFF (Time To First Fix), including A-GPS support
• additional feature, flexibility and access to plenty of GPS settings enable tuning the performance according to the application needs
• Galileo ready design - extending number of useful satellites
• full support from our application engineers as well as the manufacturer
• application flexibility - due to availability of full range of products (low cost, standard sensitivity, high sensitivity, dead reckoning with gyroscope, time measurement) customer can easily swith between units depending on the final product requests

More information regarding u-blox products can be found on our GPS section.

GSM/GPRS communication unit

Depending on the application we recommend 3 solutions :

GE864- for typical projects

• the smallest GSM/GPRS unit (30x30x2.8mm) in reliable BGA form factor without any connectors
• compatibility with the standard smt soldering process increase the production yield
• quad band - to be used worldwide
• easy to handle GPRS - using easyGPRS procedures
• pin-to-pin compatible version with possibility to integrate customer's application using Python interpreter
• additional GSM features described on our GSM section
• forward and backward compatible product, with necessary certificates
• full support from our application engineers and the manufacturer

GE863-GPS - if combo solution is preferred

• the smallest GSM/GPRS/GPS module in GE863 BGA form factor, for customers which request combo solution
• integrated SiRF Star III GPS receiver
• complete of advantages described in section: GE864

GE863-PRO³ - for compact designs

• combination of GSM/GPRS unit with additional, external ARM9 microcontroller fully dedicated to the customer's application, available in one, GE863, BGA module. Excellent solution wherever compact design is necessary
• 200MIPS and resources of Atmel's ARM 91SAM9260
• C++ and Python programmable
• drivers for camera, keyboard, display, ethernet, SD Card etc
• reference designs for: Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, CAN bus etc
• complete of advantages described in section GE864, and GE863-PRO3 news

GPS and GSM Antenna

Wide portfolio of antennas is described in our Antennas section, and enable to select the product fitting the best into the application.

The most typical GPS antennas used in the cars are :

• active antenna with magnet, mounted inside the car (if there is no metal around there is an option to stick the antenna)
• active antenna screwed down in the hole, usually on the roof

We do suggest 3 or 5 meters cable, with SMA male connector.

Recommended GSM antenna is :

• passive, flat strip, "I" type antenna - with 3m cable and FME female or SMA male connector, hidden inside the car (type: ME500L)

In case of compact solution combo antenna (GSM and GPS) could be used, usually magnet or screwed on the roof.

Antenna connectors and adapter cables

Due to high reliability necessary for automotive, we suggest :

• SMA female connectors (for GPS or/and GSM antenna), mounted on the edge of PCB in smt
• MCX connectors - to be used also with adapter cables
• Adapter cables between PCB and antenna connector

More information are available in our Wireless accessories section.

In case of technical or application questions, our international team of application engineers will be pleased to support You under the following e-mail address:

marketing@microdis.net

Broad range of services offered by Microdis are available by our sales offices across Eastern Europe.