12th Feb 09
Single-Chip GPS receiver jointly
developed by Seiko Epson and Infineon
Seiko Epson and Infineon Technologies AG have announced
the successful development of the next generation of advanced
global positioning system (A-GPS) technology. The new GPS
single-chip design, the XPOSYS, is optimized for mobile
devices for the consumer market; especially cellular phones
with navigation features.
XPOSYS is manufactured in a 65nanometer process technology
featuring a sensitivity of -160dBm to -165dBm enabling pinpoint
positional accuracy in weak signal conditions such as indoors
and urban canyons. Power consumption is reduced by 50 percent
to increase the battery life. This device comes in low footprint
of 26 mm 2. This is 25 percent less than the smallest GPS
chip solution available today and provides, together with
only nine additional external passive components, design
flexibility and substantially lower system cost for device
manufacturers.
"We're very excited about this cooperation, which matches
our GPS baseband IP with Infineon's number one radio frequency
design," said Yutaka Kitazawa, Head of Epson's GPS
Business Development Division. "We're convinced that
this partnership between two great companies with excellent
technologies enables us to offer best-in-class solutions
for the worldwide GPS market."
"We are honoured to have such a strong partner with
us. This is a perfect symbiosis, with Epson offering one
of the best GPS baseband solutions worldwide, long term
experience and the leading position in the Japanese domestic
market," said Weng Kuan Tan, Division President of
the Wireless Division at Infineon Technologies.
Market forecasts by leading analysts predict strong growth
of GPS features in mobile handsets, in addition to portable
navigation devices (PND) and automotive embedded devices.
According to market researcher iSuppli, the GPS penetration
in handsets will rise from 2008 level of 19 percent to 35
percent by 2012. In unit terms, this translates to 238 million
GPS-enabled mobile handsets in 2008 going up to 543 million
units in 2012. In addition, PNDs, automotive systems and
vehicle-device solutions are gaining popularity. The market
research company Strategy Analytics is forecasting PND sales
to exceed 100 million units by 2013 globally.
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