USBSensorDriverForWindows7(GPS SW 09012)

USB GPS sensor driver

for Windows 7 location and sensor platform

User Guide

Abstract This document describes the use and installation of u-blox USBLocationSensordriver for theWindows7operating system tobeusedwithu-bloxGPSreceivers.

www.u-blox.com

u-bloxUSBsensordriverforWindows7-UserGuide

Document Information

Title u-bloxUSBsensordriverforWindows7

Subtitle

Document type UserGuide

Document number GPS-SW-09012-A1

Document status Released

Thisdocumentcontainsthefinalproductspecification.

Thisdocumentandtheuseofanyinformationcontainedtherein,issubjecttotheacceptanceoftheu-bloxtermsandconditions.Theycanbedownloadedfromwww.u-blox.com.u-bloxmakesnowarrantiesbasedontheaccuracyorcompletenessofthecontentsofthisdocumentandreservestherighttomakechangestospecificationsandproductdescriptionsatanytimewithoutnotice.u-bloxreservesallrightstothisdocumentandtheinformationcontainedherein.Reproduction,useordisclosuretothirdpartieswithoutexpresspermissionisstrictlyprohibited.Copyright2009,u-bloxAG.

GPS-SW-09012-A1 Page 2 of 18


Contents

Contents..............................................................................................................................3

1 Introduction..................................................................................................................4 1.1 Aboutlocationsensordevices............................................................................................................... 4 1.2 u-bloxsensorandlocationplatform...................................................................................................... 4 1.3 SensorAPI ............................................................................................................................................ 4 1.4 LocationAPI ......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Sensorscontrolpanel ........................................................................................................................... 5

2 u-blox environment .....................................................................................................6 2.1.1 Locationsensor ............................................................................................................................. 6 2.1.2 Sensordriver ................................................................................................................................. 6 2.1.3 u-center ........................................................................................................................................ 6

3 u-blox driver installation .............................................................................................7 3.1 Driverinstallationwiththeinstaller ....................................................................................................... 7 3.2 VirtualCOMPortinstallation .............................................................................................................. 10 3.3 ConnectingtheGPSsensor ................................................................................................................ 13 3.4 Uninstallingthedrivers ....................................................................................................................... 14

Appendix A: Supported sensor data & properties.........................................................15

Appendix B: u-center for Windows 7..............................................................................16

Related Documents ..........................................................................................................17

Revision history................................................................................................................17

Contact..............................................................................................................................18

GPS-SW-09012-A1 Released Page 3 of 18


1 Introduction TheWindows7operatingsystemprovidesbuilt-insupportforsensordevicesincludinglocationsensors,suchasGPSdevices.Aspartof thissupport, theWindowsSensorandLocationplatformprovidesastandardway foru-bloxtoexposeGPSLocationsensordevices.Atthesametime,theplatformgivesdevelopersastandardizedAPIanddevicedriverinterface(DDI)toworkwithsensorsandsensordata.

The u-bloxUSB sensor driver connects all u-bloxGPS receivers to the sensor and locationAPI structure forWindows 7. It parses and converts u-bloxGPSmessages into the standard sensor properties,which can beaccessedbythelocationandsensorAPIs.(seeFigure1)

1.1 About location sensor devices TheWindowsSensorandLocationplatformorganizessensorsintocategories,whichrepresentbroadclassesofsensordevices,andtypes,whichrepresentspecifickindsofsensors. InWindows7,aGPSsensor ispartoftheLocationcategory.

1.2 u-blox sensor and location platform Thefollowingdiagramshowstherelationshipbetweenuserandu-bloxcomponents:

Figure 1: Overview of u-blox drivers and applications with Windows

1.3 Sensor API TheSensorAPIenablesC++developerstocreatesensor-basedprogramsbyusingasetofCOMinterfaces.TheAPI defines interfaces to perform common sensor programming tasks that include managing sensors bycategory, type, or ID, managing sensor events, working with individual sensors and sensor collections, andworkingwithsensordata.TheWindowsSDK includesheaderfiles,documentation,samples,andtoolstohelpguidesoftwaredevelopersonhowtousesensorsinWindowsprograms.



1.4 Location API BuiltontheSensorAPI,theLocationAPIprovidesaneasywaytoretrievedataaboutgeographiclocationwhileprotecting user privacy. The Location API provides its functionality through a set of COM interfaces thatrepresentobjects.TheseobjectscanbeusedbyprogrammerswhounderstandhowtouseCOM through theC++programming language,or in scripting languages, suchas JScript.Scripting supportgiveseasyaccess tolocationdata forprojects that run in theLocalComputerzone, suchasgadgets.TheWindowsSDK includesheader files, documentation (including scripting reference documentation), samples, and tools to help guideWebandsoftwaredevelopersonhowtouselocationinformationintheirprograms.

FormoreinformationseetheIntroduction to Microsofts Sensor and Location Platform in Windows[3].

1.5 Sensors control panel Windows7includesacontrolpanelthatletscomputeradministratorsenableordisablesensorssystem-wideorforeachuser.Becausesomesensorscanexposesensitivedata, thisuser interfacegivesadministratorscontrolover whether all programs have access to each sensor for each user. Users can also view Location sensorpropertiesandchangethesensordescriptionthatisdisplayedintheuserinterface.

TheControlPanelalsoprovidesaDefault Locationpage to enableusers toprovide their location.Whennosensorisavailable,theplatformwillusetheuser-providedlocation.Userscanprovidecivicaddressfields,whichincludethestreetaddress,city,stateorprovince,andcountryorregion.

FormoreinformationseetheIntroduction to Microsofts Sensor and Location Platform in Windows[3].



2 u-blox environment 2.1.1 Location sensor InWindows7,u-bloxGPSreceiversareclassifiedwithinthesensorpartoftheLocationcategory.

2.1.2 Sensor driver u-bloxhascreatedaUSBsensordriverconnectingallu-bloxGPSreceiverstotheWindows7sensorandlocationplatform.Theu-bloxLocationSensordriverconformstoMicrosoft'sWindowsDriverModel. It isbasedontheWindows User Mode Driver Framework (UMDF) and supports the USB suspend mode. The driver is WHQLcertified.

The u-blox sensor driver parses u-blox NMEA and UBX proprietary messages [2] to convert latest locationinformation (e.g. latitude, longitude, altitude) as sensordata to the locationand sensorplatform. SupportedsensordataandpropertiesarelistedinAppendixA.

Beside this sensordriveru-bloxprovidesavirtualcomportdriver tohelpcustomersconnecting/testingu-bloxGPSreceiverswithlegacyWindowsNMEA-basedapplications.Thissolutionisintendedtohelpu-bloxcustomersto smoothlymigrate their legacy locationapplication to theWindows7 locationand sensorplatform.u-bloxrecommendsthelatterapproachinaccordancewithMicrosoftsensorandlocationAPIutilizationpolicy.

2.1.3 u-center The u-center GPS Evaluation Software provides a powerful platform for u-blox GPS product evaluation,configuration, testingand real-timeperformancevisualizationofu-bloxGPS receiverproducts. ItalsoprovidesAssistNowclientfunctionalityforA-GPS.Fromversion5.08,u-centerallowscollectionandmonitoringoflocationandu-bloxsensorspropertiesanddata(seeAppendixA).Users canaccess this functionalitybyactivatingeither the LocationAPIor thebidirectionalSensorAPIfunctions(seeAppendixB).u-centerconvertssensordataandproperty intoNMEAandUBX-similarmessagestobenefitfromallu-centerevaluationfeaturesandthereforeallu-bloxaiding,reset(e.g.warmstart)andotheru-bloxproprietaryfunctionalities.The Sensor API initiates events whenever sensor data and property events are generated (like Location APIfunctions).ThebidirectionalsensorAPIalsofeaturesaccesstou-bloxproprietarymessagesthroughtheSensorAPIproprietarypropertyfields(seesectionBasicfunctionalityinAppendixB).u-centersoftwarewithlocationAPIcapabilitiesisavailablefreeofcharge.Pleasedownloadthisversionfromtheu-bloxwebsite.



3 u-blox driver installation TobeabletousetheSensor,youhaveto

i. InstalltheSensordriver(See3.1)

ii. Connectthedevice(See3.3)

iii. Enablethesensor(See3.3)

TousetheVirtualComPort(VCP),youhaveto

i. InstalltheVCPdriver(See3.1)

ii. AddtheVCPonDeviceManager(See3.2)

Thefollowingsectionsexplaintheinstallationprocedure.

3.1 Driver installation with the installer ThissectionexplainstheinstallationofbothSensordriverandVirtualCOMPort(VCP)driverwiththeinstaller.

1) Downloadtheinstallerthoughthefollowinglink:

http://www.u-blox.com/en/usb-drivers/windows-7-driver.html

2) Double-clickonthedownloadedfileublox_A4_U5_USB_drv3264win7_install_UI.exe

3) Onthepop-upwindow,selectthelanguageandthenaccepttheLicenseAgreement.

4) Ontheinstallerwindowasshownbelow,selectthedriver(USBSensordriver,VirtualComPortdriver,or

bothlikeshownonthispicture)tobeinstalled.



WhenUSBSensordriver isselected,DeviceDriver InstallationWizardwill start installationof theUSBSensordriverfirst.ClickonNext.WhenonlyVirtualComPortdriverisselected,goto7).

Both drivers selected. Click on the box to remove the check.

5) Thewindowshouldappearasshowninthefollowingpicture.ClickonFinishtocompleteUSBSensordriver installation.WhenonlytheUSBSensordriverhasbeenselectedatstep4), installation isalmostfinished.Goto8).

6) TheDeviceDriver InstallationWizardstartsforVirtualComPortdriver installation.ClickonNext.The

Wizardstartstheinstallation.

7) Thewindowshouldappearasshown.ClickonFinishtocompletethedriverinstallation.Atthisstage,onlythedriverisinstalledbuttheportitselfstillneedstobeadded.Toaddit,gotosection3.2.



8) OntheinstallerwindowasshownbelowclickonFinishtocompletethedriverinstallation.



3.2 Virtual COM Port installation OncetheVirtualCOMPort(VCP)driverhasbeeninstalled,itneedstobeaddedtotheDeviceManagerthroughthefollowingprocedure:

1) FromtheStartmenu,rightclickonthe'Computer'iconandthenselect'Manage'fromthepop-upmenu.

2) IntheComputerManagementwindow,select'DeviceManager'fromthelistoficonsontheleft.

3) Inthemainpartofthewindow,rightclickonthetop(root)deviceandthenselect'Addlegacyhardware'.

3)

2)

4) Thedeviceinstallwizard(WelcometotheAddHardwareWizard)shouldstart.Select'Next'.



5) Onthefollowingpage(Thewizardcanhelpinstallotherhardware),chooseInstallthehardwarethatImanuallyselectfromalist(Advanced)thenclickonNext.

6) Onthefollowingpage(Fromthelistbelow,selectthetypeofhardwareyouareinstalling),choose(COM&LPT)andclickonNext.

7) Onthefollowingpage(Selectthedevicedriveryouwanttoinstallforthishardware.),firstselectu-bloxAGunderManufacturer.u-bloxVirtualCOMPortthenappearsunderModel;selectu-bloxVirtualCOMPortandclickonNext.

8) NowthewizardisreadytoinstalltheVCP.ClickonFinishonthefollowingwindow.

9) Thewindowshouldappearasfollows.ClickonFinish.



3.3 Connecting the GPS sensor OncetheSensordriverhasbeeninstalled(see3.1),thedevicecanbeconnectedtoanyUSBport.

1) Whenthedevice isconnectedforthefirsttimetoanyport,thedriver is installedfortheUSBport,towhichthedeviceisconnected,andthefollowingmessagewillbeshownaftertheinstallation.

2) TheinstalleddriversappearontheDeviceManagerasinthefigurebelow.

VCP installed through 3.1 and 3.2

Sensor installed through 3.1 and 3.3

3) ThesensorneedstobeenabledonLocationandOtherSensorsunderControlPanelasshownbelow.

4) Inordertoseeifthedeviceworksthroughtheinstalledsensor,WeatherGadgetcanbeused.



The location is detected through the sensor.

The device cannot get the location.

3.4 Uninstalling the drivers 1) OnProgramandFeatures,double-clickonthedriverpackagetouninstallasshownbelow.

2) Thedriverisnowremoved.



Appendix A: Supported sensor data & properties

For driver revision 2.0.0.1.

Read only properties

SENSOR_PROPERTY_CONNECTION_TYPE SENSOR_PROPERTY_CURRENT_REPORT_INTERVAL SENSOR_PROPERTY_DESCRIPTION SENSOR_PROPERTY_FRIENDLY_NAME SENSOR_PROPERTY_MANUFACTURER SENSOR_PROPERTY_MIN_REPORT_INTERVAL SENSOR_PROPERTY_MODEL SENSOR_PROPERTY_PERSISTENT_UNIQUE_ID SENSOR_PROPERTY_SERIAL_NUMBER SENSOR_PROPERTY_STATE SENSOR_PROPERTY_TYPE SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_TIMESTAMP SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_ALTITUDE_ELLIPSOID_METERS SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_ALTITUDE_SEALEVEL_METERS SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_ERROR_RADIUS_METERS SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_FIX_QUALITY SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_FIX_TYPE SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_HORIZONAL_DILUTION_OF_PRECISION SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_LATITUDE_DEGREES SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_LONGITUDE_DEGREES SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_POSITION_DILUTION_OF_PRECISION SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_SATELLITES_IN_VIEW SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_SATELLITES_IN_VIEW_AZIMUTH SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_SATELLITES_IN_VIEW_ELEVATION SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_SATELLITES_IN_VIEW_PRNS SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_SATELLITES_IN_VIEW_STN_RATIO SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_SATELLITES_USED_COUNT SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_SATELLITES_USED_PRNS SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_SPEED_KNOTS SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_TRUE_HEADING_DEGREES SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_VERTICAL_DILUTION_OF_PRECISION SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_ALTITUDE_ELLIPSOID_ERROR_METERS SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_ALTITUDE_SEALEVEL_ERROR_METERS SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_GEOIDAL_SEPARATION SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_GPS_OPERATION_MODE SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_GPS_SELECTION_MODE SENSOR_DATA_TYPE_GPS_STATUS

Read/Write properties

SENSOR_PROPERTY_CURRENT_REPORT_INTERVAL SENSOR_PROPERTY_LOCATION_DESIRED_ACCURACY



Appendix B: u-center for Windows 7

SelectionoftheSensorAPIfunctionalityisshowninthefigurebelow.Whenu-bloxsensorisenabled,theSensorAPIshouldblinkgreeneverytimesensorlocationdataeventsaregenerated.

u-center Sensor API selected.



Related Documents [1] u-bloxGPSlocationsensordriverReleasenote,DocNoGPS-SW-09011

[2] u-blox5ProtocolSpecification,DocNoGPS.G5-X-07003

[3] IntroductiontoMicrosoftsSensorandLocationPlatforminWindows:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/sensors

Forregularupdatestou-bloxdocumentationandtoreceiveproductchangenotificationspleaseregisteronourhomepage.

Revision history

Revision Date Name Status / Comments

- 03/09/2009 svin Initialrelease




Contact Forcompletecontactinformationvisitusatwww.u-blox.com

u-blox Offices

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u-blox America, Inc.Phone: +1(703)4833180E-mail: [email protected]

Regional Office West Coast:Phone: +1(703)4833184E-mail: [email protected]

Technical Support:

Phone: +1(703)4833185E-mail: [email protected]

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u-blox AG Phone: +41447227444E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]

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Contents1 Introduction1.1 About location sensor devices1.2 u-blox sensor and location platform1.3 Sensor API1.4 Location API1.5 Sensors control panel

2 u-blox environment 3 u-blox driver installation3.1 Driver installation with the installer3.2 Virtual COM Port installation3.3 Connecting the GPS sensor3.4 Uninstalling the drivers

Appendix A: Supported sensor data & propertiesAppendix B: u-center for Windows 7Related DocumentsRevision historyContact