1999-09-07 , S/IC-2064/54
Product News From Philips Semiconductors

Second-generation SAF1576 reduces power requirements by 50 percent through integration

Philips Semiconductors today announced the new low-cost SAF1576, a single-chip GPS (Global Positioning System) baseband receiver with embedded system RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory) to simplify a manufacturers' design time. This low-power device operates with a 3-volt supply and decreases the power requirements by nearly 50 percent without sacrificing performance. The SAF1576 requires only 30 milliamps, which is a significant reduction from the 60 milliamps needed by the first-generation solution.

Using a space saving 44-pin Quad Flat package, the SAF1576 front-end device provides manufacturers with a comprehensive, low-cost GPS device in a small form factor. This combination of functionality, cost and size are critical for manufacturers of consumer-focused GPS applications, such as car navigation and vehicle location and tracking.

"As the only supplier of GPS devices through the distribution sales channel, Philips Semiconductors is able to provide the industry's lowest cost GPS solutions," said Bob Marshall, marketing manager for GPS products at Philips Semiconductors. "With the growing demand for GPS technology, Philips Semiconductors recognized the need for manufacturers of all sizes, not just the large ones, to be able to utilize this technology. Furthermore, the SAF1576 embeds all necessary software and licensing for simple implementation, eliminating the need for manufacturers to invest in GPS design expertise in house."

The SAF1576 device is compatible with the Company's first-generation  SAA1575, but the integration into one chip simplifies the device and reduces manufacturing design time. The integrated memory also simplifies the design process by incorporating GPS software into the chip. The SAF1576 combines the Philips Semiconductors  80C51 / XA 16-bit microcontroller core, 512K bits of RAM, 2 Mbit of ROM, 8 independent hardware channel correlators, a real-time clock, battery backup switching circuitry and other related peripherals in a single package. As the industry's only device to provide a battery backup switching circuit to maintain the real-time clock and RAM, the SAF1576 enables quicker start-up times. In addition to hardware compatibility, the SAF1576 is backward compatible with the SAA1575, and some existing OEM modules including the Ashtech/Magellan G8 OEM Module, making implementation simpler for a larger spectrum of manufacturers.

Sample quantities are available now and will be shipping in quantity during Q1 2000. Reference designs are available upon request.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier in the world. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs. Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be obtained by accessing its home page at http://www.semiconductors.philips.com