Application Watch: Positioning precision, response time key R&D goals in GPS modules for security products

Makers of GPS modules in China are enhancing product performance and pursuing miniaturization to boost market uptake.

A key market, products for security purposes account for 20 to 30 percent of China's shipments of GPS modules. The components are used primarily for positioning and mapping in devices not counted under this categorization, but have increasingly served a security function. These are in drones, wearable electronics, smartphones and many other consumer electronics.

To meet the evolving requirements in various applications, suppliers in the line in China concentrate on improving precision and response time. They are also keeping up with the trend for miniaturization while addressing accompanying interference and power dissipation issues in smaller circuits.

For vehicles, including motorcycles, the typical positioning precision is 5 to 15m. Aiming for a shorter range, Techtotop has realized static and dynamic positioning precision of 1 and 3m in its recently released BDS B1/GPS L1 modules. Compared with other products requiring 5V, the units operate on 3.3V or even 1.8V, minimizing power dissipation.

Other makers focus on developing more compact modules. Getcharm offers a model that is 40 percent the size of conventional GSM+GNSS modules. The C2503, measuring 18.7x16x2.1mm and weighing 1.3g, is widely adopted in shared bicycle locks, wearable devices, pet trackers and driving recorders. It runs on the 850, 900, 1,800 or 1,900MHz frequency band and has 5 to 15m positioning precision. The rated voltage is 3.3 to 4.6V, operating current about 60mA and standby current less than 3mA. The unit supports temperatures of -40 to 80 C. It has CE approval, in addition to 3C and CTA certification.

Domestic companies will also pursue R&D on modules based on China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System or BDS, which are capable of sending short messages as well. They say two-in-one or combination BDS and GPS modules will be hot in coming years. Despite this upbeat projection, however, GPS modules are expected to continue leading output, including of China suppliers. At present, these represent more than 90 percent of the global market.

Gradual recovery

From about 15 percent growth in sales value in the past several years, China's manufacturing sector for GPS modules experienced a slump in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most makers, however, are optimistic about prospects for the rest of the year. They have increased production by about 10 percent and are hoping to maintain current output until end-2020.

Most are exporters, allotting 30 to 50 percent of shipments to overseas markets. The main destinations include North America, Europe and East Asia, although more suppliers will be drawn toward opportunities in South America and the Middle East.

The line in China has hundreds of companies, over 80 percent of which are locally owned. Most are small and midsize businesses, churning out entry- and midlevel products. Some of the key homegrown players are Skylab and Asir. The foreign suppliers operating in China include u-blox, Fastrax, Parallax and Maestro.

More than 40 percent of this pool gathers in Guangdong province. The rest are spread over the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Sichuan and Shaanxi, and in Shanghai and Beijing.

Mainstream selection

Widely available GPS modules from makers in China have enhanced sensitivity and low power dissipation. The typical specifications are about -160dBm sensitivity, 5 to 10m positioning precision, 1sec hot start, 2 to 5sec warm start, about 25sec cold start and -40 to 85 C operating temperature.

Many companies offer products with CE approval and manufactured under ISO/TS 16949 requirements.

OEM and ODM projects are generally accepted, and account for 30 to 60 percent of shipments.

The main components used in GPS modules include chips, amplifiers, antennas, passive components, temperature-compensated crystal oscillators or TXCOs and PCBs. The first comes mostly from foreign providers such as Analog Devices, Philips, Qualcomm and Infineon. For the rest of the manufacturing inputs, companies turn to local or foreign sources, depending on customers' requests.

Passive components and TXCOs have been in short supply due to the pandemic, raising costs. To remain competitive, a number of makers have kept a lid on price increases.

All this is expected to stabilize once normalcy is restored.