Author Topic: GPS sleep/low power?  (Read 3130 times)

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Offline CommanderbobTopic starter

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GPS sleep/low power?
« on: July 08, 2008, 10:15:43 AM »
I am using a GPS in a hand held device and I need it to go into power off/sleep, but the GPS does not have a mode like that. I was thinking of using a MOSFET on the power line so I could turn it on and off. Is there any better ways  to do this or is that a good idea?
Thanks,
Justin

Offline airman00

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Re: GPS sleep/low power?
« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2008, 10:37:11 AM »
you wanna turn it off? or turn off the screen and stuff like that to save power? or turn off everything besides the micorocontroller?
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Offline CommanderbobTopic starter

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Re: GPS sleep/low power?
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2008, 10:50:02 AM »
I am using this GPS. The AVR, OLED, and FRAM can go to sleep but the GPS can't and with a whopping 45mA of current draw it can's be left on or the battery will drain too fast when the device is "off". I need a way to cut its power when the system is off or it is not needed.
Justin

Offline airman00

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Re: GPS sleep/low power?
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2008, 11:44:57 AM »
why do you need sleep mode , why not just turn the damn thing off ,  :)

use the mosfet idea you had  , or maybe use a relay
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Offline dunk

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Re: GPS sleep/low power?
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2008, 03:15:42 PM »
you sure it hasn't got a low power mode?
the sparkfun page specifies a "Warm start" time of 38 seconds implying it is possible to suspend the module.

dunk.

Offline CommanderbobTopic starter

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Re: GPS sleep/low power?
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2008, 08:43:32 PM »
I asked the manufacture and they said it did not. A warm start does not mean it is suspended.
    Search the sky    -   Time, position, almanac, and ephemeris data all unknown.
    AutoLocate    -        Time, position, and ephemeris unknown, almanac known or partially known.
    Cold Start    -           Time and position known to within some limits, almanac known,  ephemeris unknown
    Warm start      -       Time and position known to within some limits, almanac known, at least 3 SVs Ephemeris are known from previous operation.

why do you need sleep mode , why not just turn the damn thing off ,  :)

use the mosfet idea you had  , or maybe use a relay

That is what I want to do  :). I just wanted to know if there were any better ways to turn it off with the AVR other then with a transistor/relay. I have to be able to keep it off when the AVR is in "power-down" mode. Does anyone know if the IO pins keep the same state or do they go back to high impedance?

Thanks,
Justin

 

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