The new Furuno Model VN-301D is an Evaluation Kit for the GH-81 GPS receiver. It is a 16-channel parallel reciever specifically designed for handheld devices. The GH-81 incorporates technologies that offer incredibly low power consumption and set new standards for miniaturization. High-speed search engines in each of it's 16 channels enables incredibly fast TTFF (Time to First Fix). Thanks to our newly developed digital chip and power management algorithm, this faster TTFF is implemented without an increase in power requirements or circuitry size.

In full operation, the receiver starts searching and tracking satellites and then obtains the position fix. Next, the receiver sleeps in order to save power, shutting down as many circuits as possible. When in this full operation status and with the sleeping status cyclically repeated autonomously, we call it Intermittent Operation Mode. This enables a much lower power consumption. The Intermittent Operation Mode can be initiated simply by sending commands to the receiver.

The VN-301D has, in addition to our Long Term Intermittent Operation Mode, a newly developed Short Term Operation Mode. The difference between the Short term and Long term is the unit of time used for power management. The Long term mode will switch the operation status and sleeping status back and forth in a multiple of one second; for example, 40 seconds full operation and 30 seconds sleep. The Short term will switch the status within a second; for example, you may set the receiver to search/track satellites and output position fix within 400 milliseconds and then let it sleep for the remaing 600 milliseconds. In this case, you will reduce the current requirement down to 1/3 of the full operation current and still the GH-81 appears as if it is in full and continuous operation.

Features:

• Designed specifically for the handheld device market
• Fast search engine offers incredibly rapid TTFF without increase in power requirement or circuitry size
• Same small size as GH-80 GPS Receiver - 21mm X 21mm
• Software compatible with the GH80
• Intermittent Operation Mode enables a much lower power consumption:

• <2 mA in Low Power Intermittent Mode
• 17 mA in Full Satellite Tracking Mode
• 22 mA in Satellite Searching Mode
  (All values given at @ 3.3VDC Main Power)
  

VN-301D Technical Specifications

VN-301D Dimensional Drawings

VN-301D Quick Installation Guide