Internet of Things provider Telit added on Tuesday the LE920A4LTE Cat 4 smart module to its portfolio of automotive-grade cellular IoT modules. The 150Mbps product addresses automakers’ growing demand for high-speed mobile data connectivity to support applications like advanced diagnostics and infotainment, remote software updates; and is fully compliant to eCall and ERA GLONASS requirements for emerging, mandated European and Russian emergency call systems.
This module is available in variants compliant with regional regulatory and mobile carrier requirements for cars to be delivered to North American, European and Chinese markets.
The module’s internal application processor is a 1.2GHz Cortex A7 CPU rated at 2,300 Dhrystone MIPS running embedded Linux Operating System. The Telit AppZone Application Development Environment (ADE), available for use with the LE920A4, helps automotive OEMs and tier-one suppliers develop and/or port application software to the module, enabling reuse of their own libraries along with the extensive resources available for development in the Linux environment.
The LE920A4 delivers LTE data rates of 150Mbps downlink and 50Mbps uplink with fallback support to HSPA+ at 42Mbps down and 5.76Mbps up. Additional fallback to UMTS, EDGE or GPRS gives the module the widest possible combination of connection technologies to ensure the customer application will stay connected, particularly in life-critical situations.
The LE920A4 supports latest approved eCall and ERA GLONASS standards for protocols and in-band modem. Each of the product variants supports voice over LTE (VoLTE) with circuit-switch fallback (CSFB) to 3G or 2G aligned with regional requirements. The module’s audio interface can include an internal codec for direct analog connection and eSIM support is available, tailored to individual requirements of the OEM or tier one integrator.
An efficient firmware over the air (FOTA) solution framework allows the automaker to implement revision control and update of all module software. Optional hardware features include dead-reckoning location support, serial gigabit media independent interface (SGMII) for Ethernet connectivity to other data appliances in the car; and an interface to connect the module directly to an external advanced Wi-Fi integrated circuit.
The LE920A4 is a member of the Telit xE920 automotive IoT module family. Its 34 x 40 mm LGA form factor is delivered in a ruggedized, mechanically robust package with excellent thermal characteristics for effective heat dissipation.
With an operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C, it is suitable for demanding applications and environments in a cost effective, high-reliability mounting solution. xE920 modules are designed and manufactured according to ISO TS16949 processes to ensure quality and compliance with automotive OEM and tier-one supply chains requiring this certification.
With built-in application processor, storage and memory, the LE920A4 is an automotive smart module capable of running customer application programs completely within the module itself. Application programs running in the module have full access and control of the module’s extensive hardware resources, which include advanced multi-standard satellite navigation, analog to digital converters, audio interfaces, serial and USB 2.0 ports and other general purpose direct and multiplexed I/O.
Telit automotive IoT modules include the deviceWISE agent, offering seamless and instant access to the Telit IoT Portal for simple, secure and scalable automotive device onboarding. Developers can create end-to-end solutions by using simple commands that provide quick and hassle-free onboarding of device and data to the cloud, customer apps, back-end systems and servers.
Currently sampling, the LE920A4 will begin shipping later this year and concluding final carrier certifications in the first quarter of next year. The module will be used in upcoming model year cars to comply with eCall and to leverage planned conclusion of 3GPP Release 10 service rollout by major carriers in these markets.
