New Device Based on IBM Leading Edge Silicon-Germanium Technology
CHICAGO, Sep 24, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Motorola, Inc.
(NYSE: MOT), working with IBM Microelectronics, today announced a breakthrough
technology for adding accurate location sensing to virtually any portable
electronics product.
The new technology, called Motorola Instant GPS, is a self-contained,
single-chip, assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) receiver small enough to
fit into a wristwatch. Because it is the first truly single-chip GPS solution,
it is expected to lead to a new generation of portable electronic products such
as cameras that time- and location-stamp photos, PDAs with maps and real time
navigation and E-911 compliant cellular phones that can find friends, family
members, restaurants and nearby shops with goods on sale.
Motorola Instant GPS is the first truly single-chip GPS solution in the world,
combining Motorola's GPS design with IBM's leading-edge silicon germanium (SiGe)
chip-making technology. The companies worked together to integrate IBM's
technology to optimize the design. IBM plans to manufacture the new GPS chips
for Motorola; samples are available immediately for OEM suppliers of portable
electronic devices.
"Location awareness is a fundamental human need," said Tim McCarthy, director of
positioning systems for Motorola Telematics. "By their very nature, portable
consumer electronic devices are always on the move. Knowing your precise
location at any instant allows your device to offer a whole range of new
applications that will lead to an explosion of growth for location- based
services. With this combination of Motorola and IBM technology, portable
electronic product designers can now add location awareness as easily as they
can add a real time clock."
"IBM's technology enabled Motorola to reach its performance goal of detecting
GPS signals so faint they'd be comparable to those received in Chicago from a
light bulb burning in Korea," said Walt Lange, associate director for foundry
services, IBM Microelectronics. "Our silicon germanium technology can be used to
combine the function of many chips into one, helping reduce size and power
consumption, while improving performance. Our work with Motorola is another
example of our commitment to making advanced technologies available to our
foundry customers."
"By utilizing our single-chip solution, manufacturers of portable electronic
products are able to minimize risk and time to market, without reengineering
current product designs" added Dave Huntingford, Motorola GPS Marketing Manager.
"The Instant GPS chip is a single-chip solution as opposed to alternatives that
use two or three chips or require extensive overhead added to the portable's
host microprocessor. It's smaller, consumes less power and is much easier to
integrate into portable electronic products."
About the Technology
Continuing Motorola's tradition of high quality reliable Oncore(TM) GPS
solutions, Instant GPS sets the standard for innovation and ease of use. Other
features include:
Simple Integration
The interface between the Instant GPS chip and the host processor is kept
simple, allowing customers to separate the microprocessor and GPS designs. This
eliminates demanding interrupt structures found in embedded GPS receivers,
allowing a faster time to market.
Highly Compatible
Instant GPS can be used with industry standard mobile-centric assist messages
for compatibility with almost any cellular network. By not completing its
position calculation in the network, the device eliminates network overhead and
potential issues associated with network centric GPS systems.
Low Power Consumption
Instant GPS consumes a small amount of power, which can be further reduced with
an extensive array of power management modes such as position-on-demand.
Utilizing the customer configurable software power management tools, Instant GPS
can be placed in standby, further reducing power consumption.
Single Mixed Mode Device
Fabricated in IBM's leading 0.25-micron SiGe process, the Instant GPS breaks new
ground by integrating both the 1.5GHz RF front end and the digital baseband
processing into a single die. Measuring 7mm x 7mm with minimal external
components required, Instant GPS leads the market for smaller, low cost, high
performance A-GPS.
Low IF Architecture with Fractional Synthesizer
Designed with a Low Intermediate Frequency (IF) RF architecture to improve
jamming immunity, Instant GPS enables easier co-location with transmitters such
as GSM and Bluetooth(TM) wireless technology. An onboard fractional synthesizer
allows existing 12 to 26MHz reference oscillators within the target product to
be reused. In addition, a separate reference oscillator is not required for
functionality, allowing for substantial cost and space saving benefits.
Future Compatible
Instant GPS is able to withstand the demands of increasing miniaturization and
reductions in operating voltage. Able to support 1.8v to 3.3v interfaces,
Instant GPS allows flexibility in processor selection and requires no redesign
demands in the event of a die shrink in the host processor.
Instant GPS also can be easily added to many consumer electronics products
enabling a wide range of consumer mobile information products to have
positioning capability. This technology makes a new generation of products
possible, such as cameras that time- and location-stamp photos, PDAs with maps
and real-time navigation, E-911 compliant cellular phones with emergency
assistance that can find friends, family members, restaurants and nearby stores
with goods on sale.
Motorola Automotive
Located in Farmington Hills, Mich., Motorola Automotive is a leading, global
supplier of automotive electronics, telematics, communications, and software
systems. Motorola Automotive is a division of Motorola Integrated Electronic
Systems Sector (IESS), a leading provider of advanced electronic products and
systems for customers integrating electronics into their products.
With annual sales of approximately $30 billion, Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) is a
global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic
solutions. More information can be found at www.motorola.com/automotive . For
more information on Motorola's GPS products, please visit www.motorola.com/gps .
About IBM
IBM Microelectronics is a key contributor to IBM's role as the world's premier
information technology supplier. IBM Microelectronics develops, manufactures and
markets state-of-the-art semiconductor and interconnect technologies, products
and services. IBM makes chips for a wide range of devices from the world's most
powerful computers to the smallest cell phones. Its superior integrated
solutions can be found in many of the world's best- known electronic brands.
More information about IBM Microelectronics can be found at: www.ibm.com/chips .
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark
Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective
owners. The Bluetooth trademarks are owned by their proprietor and used by
Motorola, Inc. under license.
SOURCE Motorola, Inc.
CONTACT: Media, Kim Hurley-Young of Motorola Automotive,
+1-248-324-9513, Kim.Hurley-Young@motorola.com , or Keena Toth of Eisbrenner
Public Relations, +1-248-641-1446, ktoth@eisbrenner.com
URL: http://www.motorola.com
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