Wireless chip unites Bluetooth, GPS and FM

Highly integrated device will enable manufacturers to develop affordable high-performance handsets with GPS capabilities for the large mid-tier market.

New from Texas Instruments NaviLink 6.0 (NL5500) is the industry's first single chip to combine assisted global positioning satellite (A-GPS), Bluetooth 2.1 and ultra- low-power technologies, as well as FM receive/transmit capabilities.

Built on TI's DRP single-chip technology at 65nm, the highly integrated and cost-effective solution enables manufacturers to introduce sleek, affordable and high-performance handsets with GPS capabilities to the large mid-tier market and drive increased usage of popular GPS-based applications such as 3D mapping, location-based services and safety services.

The mobile user experience is further enhanced by enabling consumers to enjoy simultaneous activities such as navigating, having a conversation using a Bluetooth headset, while also transmitting an MP3 file to the car radio using the FM transmit capability.

Market trend reports and forecasts predict strong and growing demand for GPS, Bluetooth and FM in handsets.

"We see a strong correlation between the demand for including the combination of GPS and Bluetooth functionality, with GPS attach rates reaching 30% and Bluetooth penetration approaching 70% by 2011", says Patrick Connolly, Senior GPS Analyst at IMS Research.

"Accordingly, we believe that combo devices that integrate both technologies will play a major part in the uptake of GPS in the cellular market over the next four years - reducing cost, size and power consumption, while also maintaining performance".

Building on TI's proven expertise in delivering combo or multiple-radio processors, NaviLink 6.0 is the third generation of the company's highly integrated single-chip GPS devices.

This new solution leverages TI's Bluetooth and FM cores, which are already embedded in the company's BlueLink 7.0 Bluetooth, and WiLink 6.0 mobile Wi-Fi devices.

NaviLink 6.0 reduces board space by up to 40%, enabling the smallest possible phones and reduces power consumption by up to 50% over previous TI solutions.

"NaviLink 6.0 enables TI's customers to further enhance the mobile user experience by bringing popular GPS functionality and mobile connectivity to broader market segments", says Remi El-Ouazzane, Vice President of TI's Wireless Terminals Business Unit.

"With TI's unparalleled ability to effectively and efficiently combine multiple radios on a single die, the NaviLink 6.0 solution delivers an enhanced user experience in an affordable package to meet our customers' requirements".

The NaviLink 6.0 solution also addresses the complex coexistence challenge.

TI's hardware implementation and software algorithms are optimised to ensure seamless coexistence between GPS, Bluetooth, FM, WLAN and cellular functions.

As more connectivity technologies are integrated into cellphones, the more challenging it becomes to ensure minimal interference between the various radios in these complex mobile phone systems.

Another important customer concern is the time it takes the GPS system to identify the starting position - called "time to first fix" (TTFF) and the accuracy of that position.

The NaviLink 6.0 solution includes enhanced patent pending algorithms to dramatically reduce the TTFF by up to 80% over previous TI solutions.

Integrated "position optimiser" software also includes support for navigation sensors, delivering superior accuracy in weak satellite signal areas, such as urban centres and heavily wooded areas.

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