10/12/13
TTU-12x0 Hardware & Installation Guide - PULS Wiki
https://puls.calamp.com/wiki/TTU-12x0_Hardware_%26_Installation_Guide
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Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is the sudden and momentary electric current that flows between two objects at different
electrical potentials caused by direct contact or induced by an electrostatic field. The term is usually used in the electronics
and other industries to describe momentary unwanted currents that may cause damage to electronic equipment.
ESD Handling Precautions
ESD prevention is based on establishing an Electrostatic Protective Area (EPA). The EPA can be a small working station or a
large manufacturing area. The main principle of an EPA is that there are no highly charging materials in the vicinity of ESD
sensitive electronics, all conductive materials are grounded, workers are grounded, and charge build-up on ESD sensitive
electronics is prevented. International standards are used to define typical EPA and can be obtained for example from
International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) or American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
This ESD classification of the sub assembly will be defined for the most sensitive component, therefore the following
classifications apply:
Class 1B – Human Model (< 1 kV)
Class M1 – Machine Model (< 100V)
When handling the TTU-12x0’s™ main-board (i.e. sub assembly) by itself or in a partial housing proper ESD precautions
should be taken. The handler should be in an ESD safe area and be properly grounded.
GPS Ceramic Patch Handling
When handling the sub assembly it may be natural to pick it up by sides and make contact with the antenna boards. In an
uncontrolled ESD environment contact with the center pin of ceramic patch antenna can create a path for electrostatic
discharge directly to the GPS Module. The GPS Module is very sensitive to ESD and can be damaged and rendered non-
functional at low levels of ESD.
One should avoid contact with the center pin of the patch during handling. The Factory will be placing a protective layer of
Kapton® tape over the patch element to eliminate this ESD path.
Packaging
Anytime the sub assembly is shipped and it is not fully packaged in its final housing it must be sealed in an ESD safe bag.
Electrical Over-Stress (EOS)
The GPS receiver can be damaged if exposed to an RF level that exceeds its maximum input rating. Such exposure can
happen if a nearby source transmits an RF signal at sufficiently high level to cause damage.
Storage and Shipping
One potential source of EOS is proximity of one TTU-12x0™ GPS Antenna to another TTU-12x0™ GSM Antenna.
Should one of the units be in a transmit mode the potential exists for the other unit to become damaged. Therefore any TTU-
12x0™ GPS Antenna should be kept at least four inches apart from any active TTU-12x0™ GSM Antenna or any other
active high power RF transmitter with power greater than 1 Watt.
3.1.2 Battery Back-up devices
Please properly dispose of the battery in any of the CalAmp products that utilize one, do not just throw used batteries,
replaced batteries, or units containing a back-up battery into the trash. Consult your local waste management facility for
proper disposal instructions.