Module marries mobile communications, GPS
By Warren Webb -- EDN, May 27, 2005
Parvus Corp recently announced the OrbiTrak GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), a PC/104 module for intelligent-vehicle and airborne-computing systems requiring worldwide GSM/GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) roaming and GPS positioning. The module combines a Siemens 900/1800/1900-MHz MC45 GSM/GPRS wireless modem with a 12-channel, low-power iTrax02 GPS receiver supporting NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) and Binary protocols (Picture). The compact 3.550×3.775-in. PC/104 form factor sustains high mechanical stress and thermal shock and operates at extended temperatures.
Supporting full interrupt-sharing for all its serial ports, the board includes a four-channel 16C550 UART with two RS-232 serial ports free for other devices. EEPROM-board configuration settings eliminate banks of interrupts and base-address jumpers. A 16-bit-wide programmable digital-I/O interfaces to low-power digital devices, and two automotive-level digital inputs connect to 12 or 24V digital signals. A headset-audio-interface port supports user voice communications. Designers can install a standard SIM (subscriber-identity-module) card into the board’s onboard locking cardholder. The module will become available early in the third quarter of this year, and prices will range from $298 to $398 each (100 units or more).
Parvus Corporation, www.parvus.com.
