u-blox Releases TIM-4R Dead Reckoning GPS Module

u-blox Releases TIM-4R Dead Reckoning GPS Module

November 28, 2006

(Picture is available at http://www.u-blox.com/news/tim_4r.jpg )

    THALWIL, Switzerland, Nov. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
u-blox AG, the leading Swiss provider of GPS chips, modules
and services, today released the TIM-4R GPS module with dead
reckoning technology that ensures 100% road coverage in even
the most challenging GPS signal environments.

    Powered by u-blox' 16-channel ANTARIS(R) 4 positioning
engine, this GPS module provides uninterrupted positioning
in environments where GPS operation was previously not
possible and offers better navigation performance using
less power than its predecessor, the TIM-LR.

    u-blox' dead reckoning technology uses additional
sensors that detect travelled distance with an odometer and
turn rate using a gyroscope, supplementing GPS data and thus
providing an accurate position in tunnels, indoor parking
facilities, roofed logistics centers, urban canyons and any
other environment where obstructed GPS signals hinder
positioning.

    Continuous coverage allows for GPS-enabled applications
such as emergency vehicle services, asset and vehicle
tracking products and road pricing systems, which require
uninterrupted navigation.

    "The TIM-4R is a gateway technology that
simplifies the creation of a wide range of GPS-enabled
applications that require a highly accurate positioning
solution with non-stop road coverage, even in the harshest
signal environments," said Thomas Nigg, Head of
Product Marketing and Application Engineering.

    Other systems use either GPS or dead reckoning, both of
which have shortcomings. In contrast to switching between
GPS and dead reckoning, which can lead to errors, the
module's speciality lies in its weighted mix of both
approaches that counters their respective disadvantages.
Its built-in extended Kalman filter algorithm uses a
combination of GPS and sensor data where the weighting
depends on the quality of the GPS signals. Depending on the
quality of the GPS signal and on how well the dead-reckoning
sensors are calibrated, a weighted mix of both GPS and dead
reckoning generates optimal results.

    Narrow streets between high-rise buildings also cause
multi-path effects, resulting in degraded navigation
accuracy and reliability. The TIM-4R's algorithmic approach
eliminates these multi-path effects, position inaccuracies,
and distortions from jamming sources.

    Samples will be available in February 2007.

    A photograph can be downloaded from
http://www.u-blox.com/news/tim_4r.jpg .

    About u-blox

    u-blox is an international company headquartered in
Switzerland, with sales organizations in the Americas,
Europe and Asia. Founded in 1997, u-blox develops leading
positioning technology, products and services based on
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), including GPS
and Galileo, for the automotive and mobile communications
markets. For more information, please visit
http://www.u-blox.com .

    For more information, please contact:

     Georg zur Bonsen, 
     Business Marketing
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Alicia Montoya, 
     Marketing Communications
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  u-blox AG