Hemisphere GPS Introduces Eclipse II Multi-GNSS Receiver Technology with Advanced ASIC Design

September 8, 2010

Today, Hemisphere GPS announced its next-generation Eclipse II GNSS receiver technology and the release of the Eclipse II OEM board. Based on new Hemisphere GPS firmware and ASIC designs, Eclipse II provides improved RTK performance, GPS, GLONASS, SBAS, and OmniSTAR support, and reduced power consumption, the company said.

New Hemisphere GPS digital and analog ASIC designs optimize performance and provide the ability to track and process a wide range of GNSS signals, including current and modernized GPS, GLONASS, SBAS and the future Galileo and Compass system signals, Hemisphere GPS said. The ASICs offer flexibility in GNSS board design by reducing the number of board components required, thereby reducing complexity and improving reliability.

The powerful new digital ASIC can process five separate GNSS frequencies and up to 90 separate satellite signals at one time. Multiple copies of the digital and analog ASICs are being combined into Eclipse II GNSS receivers.

"The new Eclipse II technology highlights our commitment to continuous innovation in GNSS solutions," said Dr. Michael Whitehead, vice president of technology at Hemisphere GPS. "Providing a higher level of GNSS performance allows our OEM partners to take their products to the next level."

Eclipse II improves GNSS performance, particularly with RTK and GLONASS applications, through Hemisphere GPS’ patent-pending SureTrack technology. Benefits include extended and more robust RTK solutions as the rover RTK receiver will process all available signals even if they are not common with the base receiver. RTK solutions are therefore better maintained in challenging environments, baselines of up to 50 km are possible, and reacquisition times are improved resulting in more robust overall performance, Hemishpere GPS said. In particular, GLONASS performance is enhanced through SureTrack as GLONASS receiver bias issues are avoided and GLONASS signals aid the positioning solutions even with GPS-only base stations.

The new Eclipse II receiver technology is available as the P320 OEM board and evaluation kit. Hemisphere GPS is integrating Eclipse II technology into other form factors and into many of its existing GPS receiver products and plans to introduce those products in the coming months.