Difference between revisions of "Microduino-Module GPS"

Microduino-NEO

This probably the most beautiful GPS module you've seen, adopting UBLOX NEO-6M as it core with high sensitivity and update rate up to 5Hz. Besides, it owns a mini ceramic antenna with IPEX interface as well as a rechargeable backup battery.

Feature

• High sensitivity
• Update rate up to 5Hz
• Own a powerful PC support: u-center;
• With PPS indicator, it is very convenient for us to judge the current status of the module;
• Own a built-in rechargeable backup battery(support warm or hot start);
• Small, cheap, stackable and open;
• Open hardware circuit design and Arduino compatible programming development environment;
• Uniformed Microduino interface standard and rich peripheral modules, capable of having a fast and flexible connection and extension with other modules and sensors in accord with Microduino interface standard;
• Easy to be integrated to pegboards with a 2.45-pitch female header connector interface.

Specifications

• Communication protocol：
  • Microduino NEO-6M module adopts NMEA-0183 protocol to output GPS data and configures the module through UBX protocol.

• Receiving characteristics
  • Channel 50，GPS L1(1575.42Mhz) C/A 码，SBAS:WAAS/EGNOS/MSAS
  • Capture tracking sensitivity：-161dBm

• Positioning accuracy
  • 2.5 mCEP （SBAS：2.0mCEP）

• Update rate
  • The maximum rate of 5Hz

• Capture time
  • cold start：27S（Shortest time）
  • warm start：27S
  • hot start：1S

• Note：
  • Cold Start: Restart the system when the stored history GPS receiving information of the module gets lost, equivalent to that both the main power and the backup battery are out of charge.
  • Warm Start: Restart the system when the module saves the history GPS receiving information but the current visual satellite information is not the same with the stored information.
  • Hot Start: Restart the system when the module has saved the history GPS receiving information which keeps consistent with the current visual satellite information.

• Interface characteristics
  • TTL,3.3V/5V microcontroller system compatible
  • Serial communication baud rate：
    • Microduino NEO-6M module supports several kinds of baud rate：4800,9600,38400(defult),57600；

• Set baud rate from two resistors of the module (R3 and R4. 1k recommended)：

Pin Description

Microduino-NEO6M-Pinout

Microduino-NEO6M-Pinout

Document

Eagle PCB File:Microduino-NEO6M.zip

Main components

• GPS module：UBLOX NEO-6M：File:NEO-6 DataSheet (GPS.G6-HW-09005).pdf
• Super capacitor：XH414H File:XH414H.pdf

• NMEA-0183 protocol： File:NMEA-0183 CN.pdf,File:NMEA-0183 EN.pdf
• u-center GPS evaluation software User Guide： File:U-center GPS evaluation software User Guide.pdf

Development

• Please first make sure the +3.3 v power supply current can reach 200ma. (Using FT232R to debug directly is not recommended for the electric current is too small.)

• We suggest using Microduino Core32u4 to debug the Neo-6m module:
  • 32u4 module can make use of the USB port to simulate 0(Serial) and Neo-6m uses the Core32u4's serial 1 (RX0,TX1). So you don't need to change the existing jumper (RX0,TX1) and it won't impact the program downloading and the serial's function.
• Microduino Neo-6m uses the default serial RX0,TX1 to communicate with Core module, so it can not connect with Microduino FT232 directly.

Use PC to debug

• Use serial directly：
  • No need to stack the FT232 directly and just cross connect the FT232 and NEO-6M's RX0,TX1.

Use FT232R and Core to download and debug

• If you keep using the default jumper (RX0、TX1)：
  • Please unplug the Microduino NEO-6M during download program;
• If you want to change the jumper cables to meet your requirement：Just cut the connection between the middle of two groups of pads and RX0/TX1, and then connect them to D2, D3.
  • If you change the jumper, you need to change the serial connection between Microduino NEO-6M and Microduino Core from "TX-RX0、RX-TX1" to:
    • TX-D2、RX-D3 (For Core+'s Serial port)

Arduino library and support package

• Microduino_GPS:https://github.com/Microduino/Microduino_Tutorials/tree/master/Microduino_Libraries/_05_Microduino_GPS
• Microduino_OLED_U8glib:https://github.com/Microduino/Microduino_Tutorials/tree/master/Microduino_Libraries/_01_Microduino_OLED_U8glib

• u-center-8.0

How to use the library

• For Adafruit_GPS library：
  • Make sure the baud rate of the GPS is 38400 in function "void setup()",that is：GPS.begin(38400);
  • If you don't change the jumper cable：
    • Unplug the Microduino NEO-6M module when downloading program;
    • When you use the Core or Core+ to debug, please make sure that the program is defined as "Adafruit_GPS GPS(&Serial)";
  • If you have changed the jumper cable:
    • When you use Core+ to debug，please make sure that the program is defined as "Adafruit_GPS GPS(&Serial1)";
    • When you use Core to debug, please make sure that the program is defined as "SoftwareSerial mySerial(3, 2)" and "Adafruit_GPS GPS(&mySerial)";

PPS Status indicator

• The indicator is connected to the TIMEPULSE port of the UBLOX NEO-6M module and the output characteristics of the port can be set by the program;
• The PPS indicator has two status under the default condition(without program setup):
  • Always keeping on means that the indicator has started work but failed to achieve positioning;
  • Keeping flashing means the module has achieved positioning.
• By the PPS indicator, it is very easy for us tojudge the current status of the module.

Application

Download program

Test Program：File:Program Test NEO-6M.zip

Test Microduino NEO-6M

• Hardware：Microduino FT232R,Microduino Core,Microduino OLED and Microduino NEO-6M;
• Software：Arduino IDE（version 1.0 and higher), Adafruit_GPS library and Microduino test program（Arduino part);
• Test environment：Open area;
• Put the downloaded library into libraries of the Arduino IDE installation folder；
• Start Arduino IED，open the test program，choose "Microduino Core (Atmega328P@16M,5V)" and download directly;
• If using the default jumper pin (RX0,TX1)：
  • Unplug the Microduino NEO-6M module when downloading program；Since Microduino NEO-6M module has the same RX0/TX1 pin position with Microduino FT232R, the communication will be influenced if you stack these two modules together.
• After the download, you'd better cut off the power supply firstly and then stack them for fear of causing short circuit. .
• Observe the OLED after the download is completed:
  • Data and time will be displayed half minute later;
  • Keep waiting. When you see the PPS indicator flashes, the index of the speed, latitude and longitude should be displayed. If not, please restart Microduino-Core.
• Players can change jumpers on the back of the module：Cut off the connection between the middle of the bonding pads and RX0/TX1, then weld the middle of the bonding pads to D2 and D3. The purpose of changing jumper is to download program easily. Once you change the jumper, you superimpose three boards together to download program.
  • If you use the changed jumper connection method, it will change the serial connection from TX-RX0,RX-TX1 to TX-D2,RX-D3 between Microduino NEO-6M and Core.

Test Mocroduino NEO-6M using PC

Connection method

There are two connection methods: 1. Use the default pin (RX0、TX1)：

• You need the Microduino FT232R module to connect the PC, but can't superimpose the FT232R, NEO-6M and Core module directly. Because the FT232 and NEO-6M has the same RX/TX defination and position on board, but the normal serial communication should be cross connected with RX/TX.
  • Stack up the FT232 and microduino core, then conect them to PC with microUSB to download program；
  • Use jumpers to cross connect the RX0/TX1 of FT232 and NEO-6M, that is to connect the RX0 of NEO-6M to the TX1 of FT232, and the TX1 of NEO-6M to RX0 of FT232.
  • Connect the 3V3 pin of NEO-6M module to 3V3 pin of FT232 and GND to GND for modules' power supply.

crossover configuration

2. Use the changed jumper mode If you have changed the jumper as it describes above, you can stack up FT232, NEO-6M and Core module together, then connect to PC for debugging.

Use u-center configuration module to update rage

• Firstly, place the Microduino NEO-6M into an open area, and then connect it to PC through Microduino FT232R;
• Start "u-center" software:
  • Set the baud rate firstly：Menu：“Receiver”-“Baudrate”-“38400”；

set baud rate

• • Open the serial to start the communication：Menu：“Receiver”-“Port”- choose the port that Microduino FT232R using.

set port

• • Now，you can see the data on the "u-center";

data

• Update rate
  • Open menu：“View”-“Messages View”，display the "Messages" window；
  • Open“UBX”-“CFG(Config)”-“RATE(Rates)”，supposing you need 2HZ update rate, you just need to set the "Measurement Period" to 500ms；
  • After the configuration,just click the "Send" button on the bottom of the left and send the configuration to Microduino NEO-6M module. If the data update rate turns faster on other information window, that means the setup is successful.

Configure window

Bug

History

Picture

Microduino NEO Front

Microduino NEO Back

Video