VersaLogic VL-EPMs-U1, VL-EPMs-U1A, VL-EPMs-U1B, VL-EPMs-U1C, VL-EPMs-U1D Reference Manual

Reference
Manual

DOC. REV. 4/9/2013

VL-EPMs-U1

SUMIT-ISM™ Serial
Communications + GPS Module

WWW.VERSALOGIC.COM

12100 SW Tualatin Road
Tualatin, OR 97062-7341

[phone]

Fax [phone]

Copyright © 2013 VersaLogic Corp. All rights reserved.

Notice:

Although every effort has been made to ensure this document is error-free, VersaLogic makes no
representations or warranties with respect to this product and specifically disclaims any implied warranties
of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.

VersaLogic reserves the right to revise this product and associated documentation at any time without
obligation to notify anyone of such changes.

PC/104 and the PC/104 logo are trademarks of the PC/104 Consortium. SUMIT, ISM, SUMIT-ISM, and the
SUMIT logo are trademarks of the Small Form Factor Special Interest Group (SFF-SIG). All other product
names and trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks are property of their respective owners.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual ii

Product Release Notes

VersaTech KnowledgeBase

Rev 1.00 – Commercial Release.

Support Page

The VL-EPMs-U1 support page, at http://www.versalogic.com/private/epmsu1support.asp, contains
additional information and resources for this product including:

 Reference Manual (PDF format)
 Device drivers
 Datasheets and manufacturers’ links for chips used in this product
 Photograph of the circuit board
 BIOS information and upgrades
 Utility routines and benchmark software

This is a private page for VL-EPMs-U1 users that can be accessed only by entering this URL address
directly. It cannot be reached from the VersaLogic public website.

The VersaTech KnowledgeBase is an invaluable resource for resolving technical issues with your
VersaLogic product.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual iii

Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1

Features ............................................................................................................................... 1

Technical Specifications ..................................................................................................... 2

Block Diagram .................................................................................................................... 3

RoHS-Compliance .............................................................................................................. 4

About RoHS ........................................................................................................... 4

Warnings ............................................................................................................................. 4

Electrostatic Discharge .......................................................................................... 4

Technical Support ............................................................................................................... 5

Repair Service ........................................................................................................ 5

Physical Description ..................................................................................................... 6

Dimensions and Mounting .................................................................................................. 6

Hardware Assembly ............................................................................................... 8

Stacking Restrictions ............................................................................................. 9

External Connectors ......................................................................................................... 10

VL-EPMs-U1 Connectors.................................................................................... 10

VL-EPMs-U1 Connector Functions and Interface Cables .................................. 11

Jumper Blocks .................................................................................................................. 12

Jumpers As-shipped Configuration ..................................................................... 12

Jumper Summary ................................................................................................. 13

Operation ..................................................................................................................... 14

Serial Ports ........................................................................................................................ 14

Serial Port Connectors ......................................................................................... 15

GPS and Antenna .............................................................................................................. 18

Antenna Connector (J5) ....................................................................................... 18

Battery Back-up ................................................................................................... 18

Coordinate Systems ............................................................................................. 20

Performance Characteristics ................................................................................ 21

Start-up ................................................................................................................ 22

SUMIT-A Top Connector (J6) ......................................................................................... 23

SUMIT-B Top Connector (J7) .......................................................................................... 24

PC/104 (ISA) Connector (J10) ......................................................................................... 25

SUMIT-B Bottom Connector (J11) .................................................................................. 25

SUMIT-A Bottom Connector (J12) .................................................................................. 26

Appendix A – References............................................................................................ 27

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual iv

Model

Availability

Serial

Channels

GPS

Connectors

VL-EPMs-U1A

Standard

4

No

SUMIT-A

VL-EPMs-U1B

Standard

6

No

SUMIT-A

VL-EPMs-U1C

Standard

4

No

SUMIT-AB + ISA

VL-EPMs-U1D

Special Order

6

No

SUMIT-AB + ISA

VL-EPMs-U1E

Standard

2*

Yes

SUMIT-A

VL-EPMs-U1F

Special Order

4*

Yes

SUMIT-A

VL-EPMs-U1G

Special Order

2*

Yes

SUMIT-AB + ISA

VL-EPMs-U1H

Special Order

4*

Yes

SUMIT-AB + ISA

 Transient Voltage Suppression

(TVS) devices on I/O interfaces
for protection against power
spikes and surges

 Designed to provide -40° to

+85°C operation for reliable use
in harsh environments

 Full compliance with EU Directive

2002/95/EC (RoHS) for devices used in
Europe

 SUMIT-ISM (Legacy Type 1) form factor

1

Features

The VL-EPMs-U1 is an embedded serial communications module with global positioning system
(GPS) capability. Based on the SUMIT-ISM form factor, the VL-EPMs-U1 supports SUMIT and
PC/104 stackable expansion buses on a 95 mm x 96 mm (3.76” x 3.78”) footprint.
Configurations and feature sets include:

Introduction

* Indicates the number of serial channels available for user I/O. The two serial channels

(COM3-4) dedicated to the GPS interface are not included in this number.

All boards include the following features:

The VL-EPMs-U1 features high-reliability design and construction. All VL-EPMs-U1 boards are
subjected to functional testing and are backed by a limited two-year warranty. Careful parts
sourcing and US-based technical support ensure the highest possible quality, reliability, service,
and product longevity for this exceptional board.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 1

Technical Specifications

Board Size:

ISM™/PC/104™ standard:

90 mm x 96 mm (3.55” x 3.78”)

Power Requirements:

+5V @ 140 mA (700 mW)

Stackable Bus:

SUMIT: SUMIT-A, SUMIT-B*
PC/104*: ISA (pass-through only)

Operating Temperature:

-40° to +85°C

Storage Temperature:

-40° to +85°C

Airflow Requirements:

Free air from -40° to +85°C

COM1/COM2:

RS-232, 16C550A compatible, 115 Kbps, full
handshaking to support DB-9 connector
(TVS protected)

COM3/COM4:

RS-232/422/485, 16C550A compatible, 460
Kbps. 4-line RS-232: Tx/Rx Data and
CTS/RTS. TVS protected. Consumed by
GPS module in GPS versions.

COM5/COM6:

RS-232/422/485, 16C550A compatible, 460
Kbps. 4-line RS-232: Tx/Rx Data and
CTS/RTS. TVS protected.

GPS*:

Trimble® Lassen® iQ GPS module

- 12-channel GPS functionality

- Supports NMEA 0183, TSIP, TAIP, and
DGPS protocols

- Consumes COM3 and COM4

- Battery-backed almanac (estimated

power-off battery life 10 yrs)

Weight:

VL-EPMs-U1A – 0.041 kg (0.088 lb)
VL-EPMs-U1B – 0.043 kg (0.096 lb)
VL-EPMs-U1C – 0.066 kg (0.146 lb)
VL-EPMs-U1E – 0.054 kg (0.120 lb)

SUMIT Resources

Form Factor: SUMIT-ISM (Legacy Type 1)

SUMIT

A

SUMIT

B*

PCIe x1

–

–

PCIe x4

–

USB

–

ExpressCard

–

LPC

1

SPI / µWire

–

SMBus / I2C

–

+12V

–

+5V





+5Vsb

–

–

+3.3V

–

–

Introduction

* Optional

Data represents standard operation at +25°C with +5V supply unless otherwise noted.
Specifications are subject to change without notification.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 2

Block Diagram

SUMIT

Connectors

SCH3114

or
SCH3116
Super I/O

COM1

RS-232

COM2

RS-232

COM3

RS-232/422/485

COM6

RS-232/422/485

COM4

RS-232/422/485

COM5

RS-232/422/485

GPS Module Header

Introduction

Figure 1. VL-EPMs-U1 Block Diagram

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 3

RoHS-Compliance

The VL-EPMs-U1 is RoHS-compliant.

ABOUT ROHS

In 2003, the European Union issued Directive 2002/95/EC regarding the Restriction of the use of
certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment.

The RoHS directive requires producers of electrical and electronic equipment to reduce to
acceptable levels the presence of six environmentally sensitive substances: lead, mercury,
cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and the presence of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) flame retardants, in certain electrical and electronic
products sold in the European Union (EU) beginning July 1, 2006.

VersaLogic Corp. is committed to supporting customers with high-quality products and services
meeting the European Union’s RoHS directive.

Warnings

Introduction

ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage boards, disk drives, and other components. The circuit
board must only be handled at an ESD protective workstation. If an approved station is not
available, some measure of protection can be provided by wearing a grounded antistatic wrist
strap. Keep all plastic away from the board. Do not slide the board over any surface.

After removing the board from its protective wrapper, place the board on a grounded, static-free
surface, component side up. Use an antistatic foam pad if available.

The board should always be protected inside a closed metallic antistatic envelope during
shipment or storage.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 4

Technical Support

VL-EPMs-U1 Support Page

http://www.versalogic.com/private/epmsu1support.asp

VersaTech KnowledgeBase

If you are unable to solve a problem after reading this manual, please visit the VL-EPMs-U1
product support web page (see below). The support page provides links to component datasheets
and device drivers.

The VersaTech KnowledgeBase contains a wealth of technical information about VersaLogic
products, along with product advisories. Click the link below to see all KnowledgeBase articles
related to the VL-EPMs-U1.

Introduction

If you have further questions, contact VersaLogic Technical Support at [phone].
VersaLogic support engineers are also available via e-mail at [e-mail].

REPAIR SERVICE

If your product requires service, you must obtain a Returned Material Authorization (RMA)
number by calling [phone].

Please provide the following information:

 Your name, the name of your company, your phone number, and your e-mail address
 The name of a technical contact if any questions arise
 Quantity of items being returned
 The model and serial number (barcode) of each item
 A detailed description of the problem
 Steps you have taken to resolve or recreate the problem
 The return shipping address

Warranty Repair All parts and labor charges are covered, including return shipping

charges for UPS Ground delivery to United States addresses.

Non-warranty Repair All non-warranty repairs are subject to diagnosis and labor charges,

parts charges, and return shipping fees. Please specify the shipping
method you prefer and provide a purchase order number for invoicing
the repair.

Note Please mark the RMA number clearly on the outside of the box before

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 5

returning. Failure to do so can delay the processing of your return.

2

–0.200

0.000

3.150

3.350

0.150

0.000

-0.200

3.575

3.375

3.050

0.125 DIA x4
Use 3mm or #4
standoffs

+ + +

+

Dimensions and Mounting

The VL-EPMs-U1 complies with SUMIT-ISM (Legacy Type 1) form factor, which provides for
specific mounting hole and stackable bus locations as shown in the diagram below.

Physical Description

Caution The board must be supported at all four mounting points to prevent excessive

flexing when expansion modules are mated and detached. Flex damage caused by
excessive force on an improperly mounted circuit board is not covered under the
product warranty.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 6

Figure 2. VL-EPMs-U1 Dimensions and Mounting Holes

(Not to scale. All dimensions in inches.)

Physical Description

0.44

0.43

0.06

0.38

0.36

PC/104 (ISA)
Connector

SUMIT

Connectors

Serial Port

Connectors

GPS Antenna

Connector

0.39

Figure 3. VL-EPMs-U1x Height Dimensions

(Not to scale. All dimensions in inches.)

Note Not all connectors are present on all models.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 7

Physical Description

HARDWARE ASSEMBLY

The VL-EPMs-U1 comes in a variety of configurations that use SUMIT-A only, SUMIT-A and
SUMIT-B, and PC/104 (ISA) connectors. The module can be added to the middle or top of the
stack, above any SUMIT boards and below any PC/104 boards.

The entire assembly can sit on a table top or be secured to a base plate. When bolting the unit
down, make sure to secure all four standoffs to the mounting surface to prevent circuit board
flexing. Standoffs are secured to the top circuit board using four pan head screws. Standoffs and
screws are available (VL-HDW-105/VL-HDW-106). Note that the standoffs in this kit are 15.24
mm (0.6") and must not be mixed with 15 mm (0.59") standoffs (VL-HDW-100/VL-HDW-101).

An extractor tool is available (part number VL-HDW-201) to separate modules from the stack.
Use caution when using the extractor tool so as not to damage any board components.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 8

Figure 4. Stacking Example

Physical Description

STACKING RESTRICTIONS

The VL-EPMs-U1 can be used with any SUMIT-enabled VersaLogic CPU board, though some
restrictions apply, as described below.

VL-EPMs-21 and VL-EPICs-36 Restrictions

The following restrictions apply when using the VL-EPMs-21 or VL-EPICs-36:

 A maximum of two VL-EPMs-U1 boards are supported in the stack.
 When two VL-EPMs-U1 boards are in the stack, one must be configured with a base

address of 0x4E. The other board must be configured to 0x162E or 0x164E. Address
0x2E is reserved for the CPU board's Super I/O.

 I/O base address availability is limited. Generally, each base address option is port

specific. Eighteen I/O base addresses are available to all ports, but address options for a
particular port are limited to three.

 Interrupts can be shared among serial ports on the same VL-EPMs-U1 board, but not

shared among serial ports on different boards (that is, serial ports originating from
different super I/O chips).

 The serial ports on the VL-EPMs-U1 must be added manually in Windows using the Add

Hardware Wizard and the Device Manager. The module is not plug-and-play.

 BIOS console redirection to VL-EPMs-U1 serial ports cannot be activated using the

Ctrl-C keyboard combination. However, the OS can redirect the console to VL-EPMs­U1 ports.

Additional VL-EPICs-36 Restrictions

The following restrictions pertain to the VL-EPICs-36 only:

 A maximum of three I/O ranges can be allocated to VL-EPMs-U1 serial ports. You

should configure the ports to use contiguous I/O space to best utilize these decode
ranges. The following base addresses are exempt from this restriction: 3F8, 2F8, 208,
and 200.

 Including on-board serial ports, a maximum of 16 ports can be configured. The system

will display a warning if the BIOS cannot allocate enough I/O space.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 9

External Connectors

J6 – SUMIT-A

All models

J7 – SUMIT-B

Models C, D, G, H

J10 – PC/104 (ISA)
Models C, D, G, H

J8 – GPS

GPS Models

J5 – Antenna

GPS Models

J3 – COM5-6

Models

B, D, F, H

J2 – COM3-4
Models A, B, C, D

J4 – COM1-2
All Models

J9 – GPS to

Antenna

GPS Models

Battery

VL-EPMS-U1 CONNECTORS

Physical Description

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 10

Figure 5. VL-EPMs-U1 Connectors – Top Side

Physical Description

Connector

Function

Mating Connector

Transition

Cable

Cable Description

Pin 1 Location1

x coord. y coord.

Page

J1

Not installed

— — —

0.614

3.401

—

J2

COM3/4

3M 89120-0101

VL-CBR-2001

12" 20-pin socket to
two DB-9

3.099

2.969

16

J3

COM5/6

3M 89120-0101

VL-CBR-2001

12" 20-pin socket to
two DB-9M

0.047

1.723

17

J4

COM1/2

3M 89120-0101

VL-CBR-2001

12"' 20-pin socket to
two DB-9M

3.099

1.513

15

J5

GPS Antenna

SubMiniature A (SMA)
male

VL-CBR-ANT02

5m Trimble antenna

—

—

18

J6

SUMIT-A (Top)

Samtec ASP-129646-01

— — 2.712

3.322

23

J7

SUMIT-B (Top)

Samtec ASP-129646-01

— — 1.669

3.322

24

J8

GPS header

— — (GPS) — —

18

J9

GPS to Antenna

— — (Supplied with GPS)

—

—

18

J10

PC/104 ISA

AMP 1375795-2

— — 0.050

0.200

25

J11

SUMIT-B (Bottom)

Samtec ASP-129637-01

— — 1.669

3.317

25

J12

SUMIT-A (Bottom)

Samtec ASP-129637-01

— — 2.712

3.317

26

VL-EPMS-U1 CONNECTOR FUNCTIONS AND INTERFACE CABLES

The following table notes the function of each connector, as well as mating connectors and
cables, and the page where a detailed pinout or further information is available.

Table 1: Connector Functions and Interface Cables

1. The PCB origin is the center of the mounting hole located in the lower left, as oriented in Figure 5.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 11

Jumper Blocks

1 2

V4

V5

V3

1

2
1 2 3

2 1

1 2 3

V2

V1

3 4

4 3

(Model E)

(Model B)

(Models A, B, C)

(All models)

(All models)

Jumper headers are
present only on the
standard VL-EPMs-U1
models indicated here.

JUMPERS AS-SHIPPED CONFIGURATION

Physical Description

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 12

Figure 6. As-shipped Jumper Configuration

Physical Description

Jumper

Block

Description

As

Shipped

Page

V1[1-2]

GPS Backup power. This jumper header is installed on the VL­EPMs-U1B and E only.

In – GPS almanac backup power is connected
Out – GPS almanac backup power is not connected

Either through an installed lithium battery or external power source
via J1, backup power can optionally be supplied to the GPS unit to
maintain its almanac, ephemeris, and last position for faster initial
position fixes upon system power up (10 seconds typical).

In

(Model E

only)

—

V2[1-2]

COM5 RS-422/485 Termination Resistor. This jumper header is
installed on the VL-EPMs-U1B only.

In – COM5 terminated
Out – No termination

Installing a jumper places a 120 ohm terminating resistor across the
COM5 RxD+/RxD- differential pair.

In

(Model B

only)

17

V2[3-4]

COM6 RS-422/485 Termination Resistor. This jumper header is
installed on the VL-EPMs-U1B only.

In – COM6 terminated
Out – No termination

Installing a jumper places a 120 ohm terminating resistor across the
COM6 RxD+/RxD- differential pair.

In

(Model B

only)

17

V3[1-2]

COM3 RS-422/485 Termination Resistor. This jumper header is
installed on the VL-EPMs-U1A, B, and C only.

In – COM3 terminated
Out – No termination

Installing a jumper places a 120 ohm terminating resistor across the
COM3 RxD+/RxD- differential pair.

In

(Models A, B,

and C only)

16

V3[3-4]

COM4 RS-422/485 Termination Resistor. This jumper header is
installed on the VL-EPMs-U1A, B, and C only.

In – COM4 terminated
Out – No termination

Installing a jumper places a 120 ohm terminating resistor across the
COM4 RxD+/RxD- differential pair.

In

(Models A, B,

and C only)

16

V4-V5

Super I/O Base Address Selector. These jumper headers are
installed on all VL-EPMs-U1 models.

SIO Base
Address V4 V5

0x2E 2-3 1-2
0x4E 1-2 1-2
0x162E 2-3 2-3
0x164E 1-2 2-3

Selects the base address of the board.

0x4E

V4[1-2]
V5[1-2]

(All models)

—

JUMPER SUMMARY

Not all jumper headers are present on all standard VL-EPMs-U1 models (A, B, C, and E), as
indicated in the Jumper Summary table.

Table 2: Jumper Summary

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 13

Port

Type

Connector

Models

COM1/2

RS-232,16C550A compatible, 115 Kbps,
all handshake lines implemented

J4

A, B, C, D,
E, F, G, H

COM3/4

RS-232/422/485,16C550A compatible,
460 Kbps, 4-wire RS-232 (only CTS and
RTS handshaking); consumed by GPS in
GPS-enabled models

J2

A, B, C, D

COM5/6

RS-232/422/485, 16C550A compatible,
460 Kbps, 4-wire RS-232 (only CTS and
RTS handshaking)

J3

B, D, F, H

3

Serial Ports

The VL-EPMs-U1 can be configured with up to six serial ports, COM1-6, depending on the
model. The table below describes serial port configurations.

Operation

Table 3: Serial Port Configurations

These connectors are protected against ESD damage.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 14

Operation

J4 Pin

RS-232

VL-CBR-2001

DB-9 COM1 Pin

1

DCD 1

2

DSR 6

3

RXD# 2

4

RTS 7

5

TXD# 3

6

CTS 8

7

DTR 4

8

RI

9 9

Ground 5

10

NC —

J4 Pin

RS-232

VL-CBR-2001

DB-9 COM2 Pin

11

DCD 1

12

DSR 6

13

RXD# 2

14

RTS 7

15

TXD# 3

16

CTS 8

17

DTR 4

18

RI

9 19

Ground 5

20

NC —

SERIAL PORT CONNECTORS

COM1 and COM2 (J4)

The interface to COM1 and COM2 is provided by connector J4. VL-CBR-2001 connects to J4
and provides two DB-9M connectors. The pinouts for these connectors are shown below.

Table 4: COM1 and COM2 Pinouts

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 15

Operation

J2 Pin

RS-232

RS-422

RS-485

VL-CBR-2001

DB-9 COM3 Pin

1

NC

NC

NC

1 2

NC

NC

NC

6 3

RXD#

RxD–

RxD– 2

4

RTS

TxD+

TxD+ 7

5

TXD#

TxD–

TxD– 3

6

CTS

RxD+

RxD+ 8

7

+5V pull-up

+5V pull-up

+5V pull-up 4

8

NC

NC

NC

9 9

Ground

Ground

Ground 5

10

NC

NC

NC —

J2 Pin

RS-232

RS-422

RS-485

VL-CBR-2001

DB-9 COM4 Pin

11

NC

NC

NC

1 12

NC

NC

NC

6 13

RxD#

RxD–

RxD– 2

14

RTS

TxD+

TxD+ 7

15

TxD#

TxD–

TxD– 3

16

CTS

RxD+

RxD+ 8

17

+5V pull-up

+5V pull-up

+5V pull-up 4

18

NC

NC

NC

9 19

Ground

Ground

Ground 5

20

NC

NC

NC —

COM3 and COM4 (J2)

The interface to COM3 and COM4 is provided by connector J2. VL-CBR-2001 connects to J2
and provides two DB-9M connectors. The pinouts for these connectors are shown below.

Table 5: COM3 and COM4 Pinouts

Note: In full-duplex RS-485 operation the four signals [TxD+/TxD–] and [RxD+/RxD–] must be
externally connected together by the user to form a single differential pair consisting of
[TxD/RxD+] and [TxD/RxD–].

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 16

Operation

J3 Pin

RS-232

RS-422

RS-485

VL-CBR-2001

DB-9 COM5 Pin

1

NC

NC

NC

1 2

NC

NC

NC

6 3

RXD#

RxD–

RxD– 2

4

RTS

TxD+

TxD+ 7

5

TXD#

TxD–

TxD– 3

6

CTS

RxD+

RxD+ 8

7

+5V pull-up

+5V pull-up

+5V pull-up 4

8

NC

NC

NC

9 9

Ground

Ground

Ground 5

10

NC

NC

NC —

J3 Pin

RS-232

RS-422

RS-485

VL-CBR-2001

DB-9 COM6 Pin

11

NC

NC

NC

1 12

NC

NC

NC

6 13

RXD#

RxD–

RxD– 2

14

RTS

TxD+

TxD+ 7

15

TXD#

TxD–

TxD– 3

16

CTS

RxD+

RxD+ 8

7

+5V pull-up

+5V pull-up

+5V pull-up 4

8

NC

NC

NC

9 9

Ground

Ground

Ground 5

10

NC

NC

NC —

COM5 and COM6 (J3)

The interface to COM5 and COM6 is provided by connector J3. VL-CBR-2001 connects to J3
and provides two DB-9M connectors. The pinouts for these connectors are shown below.

Table 6: COM5 and COM6 Pinouts

Note: In full-duplex RS-485 operation the four signals [TxD+/TxD–] and [RxD+/RxD–] must be
externally connected together by the user to form a single differential pair consisting of
[TxD/RxD+] and [TxD/RxD–].

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 17

GPS and Antenna

Signal

Voltage

Current

VCC

3.0 to 3.6

27 mA

Battery Back-up

2.5 to 3.6

20 μA @ +3.3V, 25°C

Ground

0

—

GPS-enabled models of the VL-EPMs-U1 incorporate the Lassen iQ GPS receiver. The Lassen
iQ is a full-featured, ultra-low power receiver suitable for a variety of embedded applications.
The receiver outputs position, velocity, and time (PVT) data in the NMEA 0183 Version 3.0
ASCII protocol, the Trimble ASCII Interface Protocol, and the Trimble TSIP binary protocol.

The GPS receiver communicates with the VL-EPMs-U1 via COM3 and COM4.
See the Lassen iQ Support Page for documentation and support tools. Refer to the Lassen iQ

GPS Receiver System Designer Reference Manual for GPS command details.

The GPS receiver is soldered onto the board at position J8 and the GPS-to-antenna lead is
attached to connector J9. GPS power consumption is included in the EPMs-U1 power
requirements.

Note The GPS receiver is ready to accept TSIP commands approximately 2.1 seconds

after power-up. If a command is sent to the receiver within this 2.1 second
window, the receiver will ignore the command. The GPS receiver will not respond
to commands sent within the 2.1 second window and will discard any associated
command data.

Operation

ANTENNA CONNECTOR (J5)

A Trimble GPS antenna, VersaLogic part number VL-CBR-ANT02, is available for GPS­enabled models of the VL-EPMs-U1. The antenna has a 5-meter cable and male SMA connector.

BATTERY BACK-UP

The GPS receiver option provides a battery for back-up (BBU) power to keep the module's RAM
memory alive and to power the real-time clock when the receiver's prime power is turned off.
RAM memory is used to store the GPS almanac, ephemeris, and last position. By using BBU
power, time to first fix in a hot start scenario is reduced to 10 seconds (typical). Though not
required, providing BBU power can reduce time to first fix.

If battery power is not present (by removing the jumper from V1), the receiver’s power can be
cycled off/on to force a system reset and a cold start. The receiver should be off for no less than 3
minutes to ensure that the RAM memory does not retain any old data due to the residual voltage
from the power supply. To speed up the process, turn the receiver unit back on immediately and
issue TSIP command 0x1E with the value 4B. This packet forces a cold start and clears the
battery-backed RAM, eliminating the need to wait 3 minutes.

Estimated average power-off battery life is 10 years.

Table 7: GPS Battery Power Requirements

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 18

Operation

Port

Input
Protocol

Default Setup

Output
Protocol

Default Setup

1

TSIP

Baud Rate: 9600
Data Bits: 8
Parity: Odd
Stop Bits: 1
No Flow Control

TSIP

Baud Rate: 9600
Data Bits: 8
Parity: Odd
Stop Bits: 1
No Flow Control

2

RTCM

Baud Rate: 4800
Data Bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop Bits: 1
No Flow Control

NMEA

Baud Rate: 4800
Data Bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop Bits: 1
No Flow Control

Port Configuration

The GPS receiver module has two I/O ports. The table below provides the default protocols and
port configurations for the receiver, as delivered from the factory. TSIP IN/OUT is the default
protocol on Port 1 and RTCM-IN and NMEA-OUT is the default protocol on Port 2.

Table 8: Default Protocols and Port Configurations

The GPS receiver can also be configured to output TAIP messages. The standard port
characteristics for TAIP are:

 Baud Rate: 4800
 Data Bits: 8
 Parity: None
 Stop Bits:1
 Flow Control: None

Any standard serial communications program, such as Windows Hyper-Terminal or
PROCOMM, can be used to view the NMEA or TAIP output messages. TSIP is a binary protocol
and outputs raw binary serial data that cannot be read when using Windows Hyper-Terminal or
PROCOMM. To view the output of the TSIP protocol in text format, use the Trimble Studio,
iQ_CHAT, or iQ_Monitor programs downloadable from the Trimble Lassen iQ support page.

The serial port driver in the iQ_CHAT Tool Kit matches the Lassen iQ GPS receiver serial port
characteristics. The TSIPPRNT program converts binary data logged with the iQ_CHAT
program into text that may be printed and displayed.

Note When using the TSIP protocol to change port assignments or settings, confirm that

your changes do not affect the ability to communicate with the receiver (e.g.,

selecting the PC COM port settings that do not match the receiver’s, or changing

the output protocol to TSIP while not using iQ_CHAT).

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 19

Operation

COORDINATE SYSTEMS

Once the GPS receiver achieves its first fix, it is ready to commence output of position, velocity,
and time information. This information is output over the serial communications channel in
either the TSIP or NMEA protocol, as determined by the settings of the receiver. These protocols
are defined in the Lassen iQ Reference Manual.

TSIP Coordinate Systems

TSIP has the widest choice of coordinate systems. The output format is chosen by TSIP
command 0x35. The output formats include the following:

 LLA position — Latitude, longitude, altitude (LLA) according to the WGS-84 ellipsoid.

Altitude can be chosen to be height above ellipsoid (HAE) or height above mean sea
level (MSL).

 ENU velocity — ENU velocity is the velocity in East, North, and Up coordinates. These

coordinates are easily converted to speed and heading.

 ECEF position and velocity — ECFF position and velocity is Earth-Centered, Earth-

Fixed frame is a Cartesian coordinate frame with its center at the earth's center, the z-axis
through the North Pole, and the x-axis through longitude 0 degrees, latitude 0 degrees.
Velocity is reported relative to the same axes.

There are also two time coordinate systems:

 GPS time — GPS time is determined by an ensemble of atomic clocks operated by the

Department of Defense (DOD).

 UTC time — UTC time is the world standard maintained by an ensemble of atomic

clocks operated by government organizations around the world. UTC time replaced
Greenwitch Mean Time (GMT ) as the world standard in 1986.

GPS time is steered relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). GPS does not recognize leap
seconds resulting in a situation where GPS time is currently 13 seconds ahead of UTC time.
Time tags for most output messages can be in either UTC time or GPS time, as chosen by TSIP
command 0x35.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 20

Operation

Operation

Limit

Acceleration

4g (39.2 m/s2)

Acceleration2 (Jerk)

20 m/s3

Speed

500 m/s

Altitude

18,000m

NMEA 0183

The NMEA 0183 protocol only supports LLA format and UTC time. Velocity is always
described as horizontal speed and heading; vertical speed is not output.

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Update Rate

The GPS receiver computes and outputs position solutions once per second, on the second.
NMEA outputs can be scheduled at a slower rate using TSIP command 0x7A. TAIP outputs may
be controlled with TSIP packet 0x7E.

Dynamic Limits

The dynamic operating limits for the GPS receiver are listed below. These operating limits
assume that the GPS module is correctly operating and that the overall system is designed to
operate under the same dynamic conditions.

Table 9: GPS Receiver Operating Limits

Note The GPS Receiver firmware contains an algorithm that allows either the speed

limit or altitude limit to be exceeded, but not both. This allows the receiver to be
used in high altitude (research balloon) applications without a special factory
configuration.

Re-acquisition

Re-acquisition time for momentary signal blockages is typically under two seconds.
When a satellite signal is momentarily interrupted during normal operation, the receiver

continues to search for the lost signal at the satellite's last known Doppler frequency. If the signal
is available again within 15 seconds, the receiver will normally re-establish track within two
seconds. If the lost signal is not re-acquired within 15 seconds, the receiver initiates a broader
frequency search. The receiver will continue to search for the satellite until it falls below the
elevation mask.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 21

Operation

START-UP

The GPS receiver module is a complete 12-channel parallel tracking GPS receiver designed to
operate with the L1 frequency, standard position service, Coarse Acquisition code. When
connected to an external GPS antenna, the receiver contains all the circuitry necessary to
automatically acquire GPS satellite signals, track up to 12 GPS satellites, and compute location,
speed, heading, and time. The receiver will automatically begin to search for and track GPS
satellite signals at power-up.

The performance of a GPS receiver at power-up is determined largely by the availability and
accuracy of the satellite ephemeris data and the availability of a GPS system almanac.

The first time the receiver is powered-up, it is searching for satellites from a cold start (no
almanac). While the receiver will begin to compute position solutions within the first two
minutes, the receiver must continuously track satellites for approximately 15 minutes to
download a complete almanac. This initialization process should not be interrupted. With a
complete almanac and back-up power, the time to first fix can typically be shortened to less than
42 seconds. The receiver will respond to commands almost immediately after power-up.

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 22

SUMIT-A Top Connector (J6)

Pin

Signal Name

Function

Pin

Signal Name

Function

1

+5VSB

+5V power standby

2

+12V

+12V power

3

+3.3V

+3.3V power

4

SMB/I2C_DATA

SMBus data

5

+3.3V

+3.3V power

6

SMB/I2C_CLK

SMBus clock

7

EXPCD_REQ#

ExpressCard request

8

SMB/I2C_ALERT#

SMBus interrupt line in

9

EXPCD_PRSNT#

ExpressCard present

10

SPI/µWire_DO

SPI data out from master

11

USB_OC#

USB overcurrent flag

12

SPI/µWire_DI

SPI data in to master

13

Reserved

Pass-through

14

SPI/µWire_CLK

SPI clock

15

Reserved

Pass-through

16

SPI/µWire_CS0#

SPI chip select 0

17

Reserved

Pass-through

18

SPI/µWire_CS1#

SPI chip select 1

19

Reserved

Pass-through

20

Reserved

Pass-through

21

+5V

+5V power

22

Reserved

Pass-through

23

USB2+

USB2 data +

24

LPC_AD0

LPC line 0

25

USB2-

USB2 data –

26

LPC_AD1

LPC line 1

27

+5V

+5V power

28

LPC_AD2

LPC line 2

29

USB1+

USB1 data +

30

LPC_AD3

LPC line 3

31

USB1-

USB1 data –

32

LPC_FRAME#

LPC frame

33

+5V

+5V power

34

SERIRQ#

Serial IRQ legacy

35

USB0+

USB0 data +

36

LPC_PRSNT#/GND

LPC card present

37

USB0-

USB0 data –

38

CLK_33MHz

33 MHz clock out

39

GND

Ground

40

GND

Ground

41

A_PETp0

Link A, lane 0 transmit +

42

A_PERp0

Link A, lane 0 receive +

43

A_PETn0

Link A, lane 0 transmit –

44

A_PERn0

Link A, lane 0 receive –

45

GND

Ground

46

APRSNT#/GND

Link A card present

47

PERST#

Reset

48

A_CLKp

Link A clock +

49

WAKE#

Wake

50

A_CLKn

Link A clock –

51

+5V

+5V power

52

GND

Ground

The table below shows the SUMIT-A Top connections to the VL-EPMs-U1. Signals that are not
connected are pass-through only. The +5V signals on this connector are available to power the
VL-EPMs-U1. This connector is present on all models.

Note: SUMIT technology uses an automatic link alignment feature (also known as “lane

shifting”) to eliminate the need for jumpers or switches to identify an expansion

module’s position in the stack. Signals are not simply passed straight up from the bottom

connector to the top on SUMIT modules. Links that are used by the expansion module
are automatically selected, and the remaining unused signals are shifted down to the
consumed link’s pins on the top connector for use by the next board. Both PCIe and USB
signals are subject to auto-alignment. See page 28 of the SUMIT Specification for an
explanation of this feature.

Table 10: SUMIT-A Top Connector Pinout

Operation

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 23

SUMIT-B Top Connector (J7)

Pin

Signal Name

Function

Pin

Signal Name

Function

1

GND

Ground

2

GND

Ground

3

B_PETp0

Link B, lane 0 transmit +

4

B_PERp0

Link B, lane 0 receive +

5

B_PETn0

Link B, lane 0 transmit –

6

B_PERn0

Link B, lane 0 receive –

7

GND

Ground

8

BPRSNT#/GND

Link B present

9

C_CLKp

Link C clock +

10

B_CLKp

Link B clock +

11

C_CLKn

Link C clock –

12

B_CLKn

Link B clock –

13

CPRSNT#/GND

Link C present

14

GND

Ground

15

C_PETp0

Link C, lane 0 transmit +

16

C_PERp0

Link C, lane 0 receive +

17

C_PETn0

Link C, lane 0 transmit –

18

C_PERn0

Link C, lane 0 receive –

19

GND

Ground

20

GND

Ground

21

C_PETp1

Link C, lane 1 transmit +

22

C_PERp1

Link C, lane 1 receive +

23

C_PETn1

Link C, lane 1 transmit –

24

C_PERn1

Link C, lane 1 receive –

25

GND

Ground

26

GND

Ground

27

C_PETp2

Link C, lane 2 transmit +

28

C_PERp2

Link C, lane 2 receive +

29

C_PETn2

Link C, lane 2 transmit –

30

C_PERn2

Link C, lane 2 receive –

31

GND

Ground

32

GND

Ground

33

C_PETp3

Link C, lane 3 transmit +

34

C_PERp3

Link C, lane 3 receive +

35

C_PETn3

Link C, lane 3 transmit –

36

C_PERn3

Link C, lane 3 receive –

37

GND

Ground

38

GND

Ground

39

PERST#

Reset

40

WAKE#

Wake

41

Reserved

Pass-through

42

Reserved

Pass-through

43

+5V

+5V power

44

Reserved

Pass-through

45

+5V

+5V power

46

+3.3V

+3.3V power

47

+5V

+5V power

48

+3.3V

+3.3V power

49

+5V

+5V power

50

+3.3V

+3.3V power

51

+5V

+5V power

52

+5VSB

+5V standby power

The table below shows the SUMIT-B Top connections to the VL-EPMs-U1. Signals that are not
connected are pass-through only. The +5V signals on this connector are available to power the
VL-EPMs-U1. This connector is present on the C, D, G, and H models only. (See the SUMIT
"lane shifting" note on page 23.)

Table 11: SUMIT-B Top Connector Pinout

Operation

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 24

PC/104 (ISA) Connector (J10)

Pin

Signal Name

Function

Pin

Signal Name

Function

1

GND

Ground

2

GND

Ground

3

B_PETp0

Link B, lane 0 transmit +

4

B_PERp0

Link B, lane 0 receive +

5

B_PETn0

Link B, lane 0 transmit –

6

B_PERn0

Link B, lane 0 receive –

7

GND

Ground

8

BPRSNT#/GND

Link B present

9

C_CLKp

Link C clock +

10

B_CLKp

Link B clock +

11

C_CLKn

Link C clock –

12

B_CLKn

Link B clock –

13

CPRSNT#/GND

Link C card present

14

GND

Ground

15

C_PETp0

Link C, lane 0 transmit +

16

C_PERp0

Link C, lane 0 receive +

17

C_PETn0

Link C, lane 0 transmit –

18

C_PERn0

Link C, lane 0 receive –

19

GND

Ground

20

GND

Ground

21

C_PETp1

Link C, lane 1 transmit +

22

C_PERp1

Link C, lane 1 receive +

23

C_PETn1

Link C, lane 1 transmit –

24

C_PERn1

Link C, lane 1 receive –

25

GND D

Ground

26

GND

Ground

27

C_PETp2

Link C, lane 2 transmit +

28

C_PERp2

Link C, lane 2 receive +

29

C_PETn2

Link C, lane 2 transmit –

30

C_PERn2

Link C, lane 2 receive –

31

GND

Ground

32

GND

Ground

33

C_PETp3

Link C, lane 3 transmit +

34

C_PERp3

Link C, lane 3 receive +

35

C_PETn3

Link C, lane 3 transmit –

36

C_PERn3

Link C, lane 3 receive –

37

GND

Ground

38

GND

Ground

39

PERST#

Reset

40

WAKE#

Wake

41

Reserved

Pass-through

42

Reserved

Pass-through

43

+5V

+5V power

44

Reserved

Pass-through

45

+5V

+5V power

46

+3.3V

+3.3V power

47

+5V

+5V power

48

+3.3V

+3.3V power

49

+5V

+5V power

50

+3.3V

+3.3V power

51

+5V

+5V power

52

+5VSB

+5V standby power

The PC/104 (ISA) connector is a pass-through connector only. This connector is present only on
the VL-EPMs-U1C, D, G, and H. The +5V and ground signals on this connector are available to
power the VL-EPMs-U1.

SUMIT-B Bottom Connector (J11)

The table below shows the SUMIT-B Bottom connections to the VL-EPMs-U1. Signals that are
not connected are pass-through only. The +5V and ground signals on this connector are available
to power the VL-EPMs-U1. This connector is present on the C, D, G, and H models only. (See
the SUMIT "lane shifting" note on page 23.)

Table 12: SUMIT-B Bottom Connector Pinout

Operation

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 25

SUMIT-A Bottom Connector (J12)

Pin

Signal Name

Function

Pin

Signal Name

Function

1

+5VSB

+5V power standby

2 +12V

+12V power

3

+3.3V

+3.3V power

4

SMB/I2C_DATA

SMBus data

5

+3.3V

+3.3V power

6

SMB/I2C_CLK

SMBus clock

7

EXPCD_REQ#

ExpressCard request

8

SMB/I2C_ALERT#

SMBus interrupt line in

9

EXPCD_PRSNT#

ExpressCard present

10

SPI/uWire_DO

SPI data out from master

11

USB_OC#0/1

USB0-1 overcurrent flag

12

SPI/uWire_DI

SPI data in to master

13

Reserved

Pass-through

14

SPI/uWire_CLK

SPI clock

15

Reserved

Pass-through

16

SPI/uWire_CS0#

SPI chip select 0

17

Reserved

Pass-through

18

SPI/uWire_CS1#

SPI chip select 1

19

Reserved

Pass-through

20

Reserved

Pass-through

21

+5V

+5V power

22

Reserved

Pass-through

23

USB2+

USB2 data +

24

LPC_AD0

LPC line 0

25

USB2-

USB2 data –

26

LPC_AD1

LPC line 1

27

+5V

+5V power

28

LPC_AD2

LPC line 2

29

USB1+

USB1 data +

30

LPC_AD3

LPC line 3

31

USB1-

USB1 data –

32

LPC_FRAME#

LPC frame

33

+5V

+5V power

34

SERIRQ#

Serial IRQ legacy

35

USB0+

USB0 data +

36

LPC_PRSNT#/GND

LPC card present

37

USB0-

USB0 data –

38

CLK_33MHz

33 MHz clock out

39

GND

Ground

40

GND

Ground

41

A_PETp0

Link A, lane 0 transmit +

42

A_PERp0

Link A, lane 0 receive +

43

A_PETn0

Link A, lane 0 transmit –

44

A_PERn0

Link A, lane 0 receive –

45

GND

Ground

46

APRSNT#/GND

Link A card present

47

PERST#

Reset

48

A_CLKp

Link A clock +

49

WAKE#

Wake

50

A_CLKn

Link A clock –

51

+5V

+5V power

52

GND

Ground

The table below shows the SUMIT-A Bottom connections to the VL-EPMs-U1. Signals that are
not connected are pass-through only. The +5V and ground signals on this connector are available
to power the VL-EPMs-U1. This connector is present on all models. (See the SUMIT "lane
shifting" note on page 23.)

Table 13: SUMIT-A Bottom Connector Pinout

Operation

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 26

SUMIT Interface

SUMIT Specification

PC/104 Interface

PC/104 Specification

Lassen iQ GPS Receiver

Lassen iQ GPS Receiver System
Designer Reference Manual

General PC Documentation
The Programmer’s PC Sourcebook

Amazon.com

General PC Documentation
The Undocumented PC

Amazon.com

A

Appendix A – References

VL-EPMs-U1 Reference Manual 27