The MC891G is a self-contained vehicle tracking device that combines GPS location with
CDMA connectivity.
Logically, the ION appears to a user or a server application as a single endpoint device. It can
be queried, updated and configured either through a serial connection, or an over the air
CDMA IP connection, or through SMS messaging. The MC891G presents itself over these
connections as an enhanced cellular modem with attached functional elements. These
elements include:
GPS location engine
2 General Purpose Bidirectional I/ O (GPIO) pins
1 Relay drive pin output
Serial UART port
Input voltage monitor (optional)
Tim e r s
Watchdog lockup protection (Dedicated watchdog circuit is optional)
Fa ct o ry load option for motion detection
Access to these elements and general purpose interfaces is done through an extended AT
command set as defined herein.
Application scene:
T
his product will be designed based on the VIA CBP8.2 CDMA 1X 800M&1900M Baseband
chipset, which includes GPS functionality, ARM CPU and CDMA protocol. This baseband
external connection 256M serial flash, CDMA 800M/1900M/GPS RF Transceiver, and RF
Front end circuit.
The device will use one dual band antenna(CDMA800&CDMA1900)and one dedicate GPS
antenna.
The MC891G provides support for specialized hardware features through extended AT
commands. The features supported include the following.
GPS
The major functionality of the GPS module is to compute the correlation results between the
incoming signal and the selected PRN code based on certain Carrier Doppler Frequency, Code
Doppler Frequency, code phase, carrier phase, and the particular satellite the module is
tracking or acquiring.
GPIO
internal analog input scaled (Optional)
Required
No
Required(Dedicate Watchdog is Optional)
Optional(GPS/Sensor)
2 LED required
2 LEDs(one is RED,one is Green)
Build in battery(80MAH Lion)
4hours
No
8 colors
8 pin
< 5Watts
Two GPIO pins, GP1 and GP2, are presented to the external environment on the main
connector. They are general purpose bidirectional lines capable of providing system
interrupts to generate a report or drive logic levels to external devices. These lines are 2.8V
logic level and are 15V tolerant. These pins default to input. GP1 is pulled down representing
0 when disconnected; GP2 is pulled up representing logical 1 when disconnected. They
should be asserted to a known value if used. GP1 is intended to use for Ignition Sensing.
LED’s
Two LED status indicators are provided to verify correct installation and operation. The
status LEDs are color coded and directly convey the status of the CDMA and GPS subsystems
as described in the table below. Their valid operation also indicates operational status and
power.
LED Function Status
Red GPS On: GPS satellites acquired and
Locked
Flash Slow: GPS satellite search is
in progress
Off: No power or GPS subsystem
fault
Green CDMA/CDMA Connection On: Indicates CDMA connection is
made
Flash Slow: CDMA subsystem
initialized but no connection
Flash Fast: CDMA initialization in
process
Off: No power or CDMA
subsystem fault
The ION provides user control allowing the LEDs to be extinguished once installation is
verified. This feature reduces power and further conceals the ION Tracker from untrained
parties wishing to defeat its operation.
UART
A UART port is provided for AT command and data interaction and optionally for application
specific control. When in power down mode, a character must be sent to the UART first to
wake it up. The port will stay awake for 5 seconds after any character received.
Relay Driver
A 500mA sink capable output pin is provided. This pin is meant to drive a relay coil indented
to interrupt the starter solenoid relay for the ignition circuit to a car.
Battery Monitor
The battery monitor is internal analog input scaled such that the DC value of the power input
pin to the ION system is measured. This value is scaled to span the most significant 8 bits of
the A/D and consequently covers a scale from 0 to 25.5 Volts.
Timers
Timers resident on the CDMA baseband chip generate periodic interrupts for power down
wakeup, watchdog support, report generation and other timer related functions. Report
timers are supported by related AT command and cause generation of periodic reports.