How many times have people found themselves wandering about, looking for a deli 10 blocks away? That's a thing of the past thanks to Motorola's (NYSE: MOT) new Oncore™ GPS chip, which is being unveiled today. Oncore GPS represents the first single chip, host-based solution that will enable Global Positioning System (GPS) features to be easily added to products such as cell phones, PDAs, laptops and even children's toys.
Measuring only 8mm x 8mm, the Oncore GPS chip is the smallest GPS ever from Motorola -- smaller than a dime. The Oncore GPS chip marks the first in a new family of single chip products, putting Motorola well ahead in GPS technology and setting the standard for innovation and ease of use. Oncore GPS breaks new ground in GPS by integrating both the 1.5GHz RF front end and the digital baseband processing into a single die. As a result of a 10:1 reduction in components, the 12-channel device also represents a substantial decrease in current GPS pricing. Oncore GPS is a leader in the market for smaller, low-cost, high-performance GPS.
Targeted at the rapidly growing embedded GPS marketplace, Oncore GPS is specifically designed for supporting the needs of hand-held consumer electronic devices. Oncore GPS allows a wide range of consumer mobile information products to have positioning capability, thus enabling location-based services to become a reality. Because Oncore GPS is designed for use in a host-based environment, these capabilities can be utilized using a single microprocessor.
"This represents a significant technical advance for Motorola GPS Products," said Marios Zenios, corporate vice president and general manager, Motorola Telematics Communications Group. "This solution reflects a clear understanding of market demands for GPS solutions -- small size, low cost, low component count and reduced power consumption."
The Oncore GPS receiver features a dual conversion design with an integrated main voltage controlled oscillator, as well as first and second intermediate frequency mixers and a low-noise amplifier. These features are fundamental for resisting signal distortions and frequency overload, and making products smaller and less expensive for consumers.
Other Oncore GPS embedded features include:
-- Low Power Consumption -- Consumes 60mW for the combined RF and digital sections in full-power mode providing a position fix every second. -- Dual Conversion Architecture with Fractional Synthesizer onboard -- Improves jamming immunity, and enables easier co-location with cell phone transmitters such as GSM & Bluetooth. -- Host Based Solution -- Utilizes the memory and processing power of the host central processing unit to calculate the GPS position. -- Future Compatible -- Supporting programmable I/O drive levels, Oncore GPS is able to withstand the demands of increasing miniaturization and reductions in operating voltage.
Oncore GPS exemplifies Motorola's tradition of high-quality reliable Oncore™ solutions. The Oncore GPS offering is also part of the DigitalDNA™ technology that Motorola incorporates into all of its products. DigitalDNA is chips, systems and ideas that help smart companies create smart products.
The Oncore GPS chip is available now in sample quantities with full production parts available Q1 '01.
Motorola IESS
The Integrated Electronic Systems Sector (IESS) is part of Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT). IESS is a leading provider of advanced electronic products and systems for customers integrating electronics into their products. The Telematics Communications Group (TCG) is a business unit of Motorola IESS. TCG was formed in 1998 and focuses on emerging automotive communications markets for advanced wireless applications.
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