Pulse, a Technitrol (News - Alert) company specializing in electronic component and subassembly design and manufacturing, has introduced its W4000 series of GPS active antennas.

 

According to a press release, these ultra-thin, oval-shaped antennas offer great versatility in installation, as they can be positioned on the dashboard or window without orientation concerns. Pulse (News - Alert) GPS antennas are designed for in-vehicle mounting and combine the advantages of a Pulse ceramic chip antenna with a low noise amplifier or LNA.

The antenna is reportedly more than 50 percent thinner than standard GPS antennas and can receive, amplify and filter GPS signals for telematics applications like in-car infotainment, navigation and location, intelligent vehicle safety and fleet management and tracking. The device also assists in asset monitoring, risk management, and “pay-as-you-drive” insurance applications.

The W4000 GPS antennas measure only 5.45 mm in height and 50 mm x 30 mm at the widest points of the oval with uniform thickness throughout. The antennas operate at 1575.42 MHz with a maximum gain of 1.5 dB isotropic and 28 dB with an LNA having 1dB noise figure, said Pulse sources.

 

The antennas also include a 5 m long RG-174 cable and are available in four models with different connectors such as W4000D197 MMCX male straight connector, W4000G197 SMA (News - Alert) male straight connector, W4000J197 MCX male straight connector, W4000L197 FME male straight connector. In addition the company also provides other cable and connector options on request.

Pulse antennas are individually packaged with double-sided tapes that facilitate installation with any side facing upwards. This necessitates the requirement of only one antenna with either glass or dashboard mounts. The W4000 series is most suitable for after-market installations.

“Telematics devices are being used by insurance companies for risk assessment, by the navigation sector, and by freight companies for tracking and proof of regulatory compliance. In addition, GPS devices are more routinely integrated into consumer vehicles,” said Beatrice Colbeau, product manager for Pulse, in the release.

Colbeau continued, “Pulse has developed a cost-effective method for manufacturing these antennas while at the same time producing antennas that give consistent performance, have diverse uses, and are easily installed.”

Pulse designs and manufactures sub-assembly electronic components which are used in web infrastructure, computing, networking, communications, power conversion, defense and aerospace, automotive, wireless equipment, and hand-held technologies.