LEA-6 / NEO-6 / MAX-6 - Hardware Integration Manual
UBX-14054794
Production Information
Hardware description
Page 9 of 85
1.3.2
Operating modes
u-blox 6 modules with FW 7.0x or ROM6.02 have two continuous operating modes (Maximum Performance and
Eco) and one intermittent operating mode (Power Save mode). Maximum Performance mode freely uses the
acquisition engine, resulting in the best possible TTFF, while Eco mode optimizes the use of the acquisition
engine to deliver lower current consumption. At medium to strong signals, there is almost no difference for
acquisition and tracking performance in these modes.
1.3.2.1
Maximum Performance mode
In Maximum Performance mode, u-blox 6 receivers use the acquisition engine at full performance to search for
all possible satellites until the Almanac is completely downloaded.
As a consequence, tracking current consumption level will be achieved when:
A valid GPS position is fixed
Almanac is entirely downloaded
Ephemeris for all satellites in view are valid
1.3.2.2
Eco mode
In Eco mode, u-blox 6 receivers use the acquisition engine to search for new satellites
only when needed
for
navigation:
In cold starts, u-blox 6 searches for enough satellites to navigate and optimizes use of the acquisition
engine to download their ephemeris.
In non-cold starts, u-blox 6 focuses on searching for visible satellites whose orbits are known from the
Almanac.
In Eco mode, the u-blox 6 acquisition engine limits use of its searching resources to minimize power
consumption. As a consequence the time to find some satellites at weakest signal level might be slightly
increased in comparison to the Maximum Performance mode.
u-blox 6 deactivates the acquisition engine as soon as a position is fixed and a sufficient number (at least 4) of
satellites are being tracked. The tracking engine continues to search and track new satellites without orbit
information.
1.3.2.3
Power Save mode
u-blox 6 receivers include a Power Save Mode. Its operation is called cyclic tracking and allows reducing the
average power consumption significantly. The Power Save Mode can be configured for different update periods.
u-blox recommends an update period of 1s for best GPS performance. For more information, see the
u-blox 6
Receiver Description including Protocol Specification
Dead Reckoning, PPP and Precision Timing features should not be used together with Power Save Mode.
Power Save Mode is not supported in GLONASS mode.
1.4
Antenna supply - V_ANT (LEA-6)
LEA-6 modules support active antenna supply and supervision use the pin
V_ANT
to supply the active antenna.
Use a 10
resistor in front of
V_ANT
. For more information about antenna and antenna supervisor, see
section
If not used, connect the V_ANT pin to GND.
