New GPS Chip Unveiled for IoT Devices

Unless your device knows where it is, it’s very difficult for it to accurately prepare data, and that makes it less effective in meeting your corporate, or users’, goals.

Broadcom Corporation, a global semiconductor solutions manufacturer, recently announced a new Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chip for the IoT and wearable devices. The advanced chip enables fitness bands and other devices to deliver pinpoint location data while using minimal power and can even eliminate the need for a separate MCU in some cases, Broadcom said.

It’s called the BCM47748, and it is designed to remove a bulk of the signal processing load from the MCU by calculating position, velocity and time on the chip, which saves power, in addition to using intelligent firmware to extend battery life.

“Broadcom is extending its navigation leadership into the IoT ecosystem by helping customers deliver a premium location experience without compromising battery life or requiring a costly, power-hungry host processor,” said Prasan Pai, Senior Director, Wireless Connectivity, Broadcom. “With more consumers demanding GNSS in a wider variety of applications, we see a tremendous opportunity to expand our reach into new devices with market-leading GNSS technology.”

Firmware inside the BCM47748 automatically adapts to user activity and context to provide precise location results to the user, enabling performance that is not sacrificed for power savings. Some of the other key features include the ability to produce GNSS fixes with only 5mA current consumption, large on-chip memory for enhanced PVT accuracy and customer applications, geofencing and lifelogging capabilities and a 70 ball WLBGA package with 0.4mm ball pitch.

Let the traveling games begin.