SiGe – World’s smallest dual-antenna input GPS receiver IC

Featuring dual-antenna input capability for next-generation GPS systems - SiGe Semiconductor has released the SE4150L GPS radio receiver IC. The SE4150L is specifically designed to address the three primary challenges associated with embedded GPS applications: small size, low power, and low price, all while raising the bar for performance, says the company.

Housed in a low-profile 4mm x 4mm QFN package, the device features a multi-bit output, which improves sensitivity and interference resistance for GPS solutions. This GPS receiver offers industry-leading performance, including a system noise figure of 1dB and input third-order intercept performance (IIP3) of better than 0dBm. The SE4150L builds on the successes of SiGe’s award-winning SE4120L and SE4110L, and offers additional features to facilitate the implementation of an internal or external antenna architecture. The SE4150L operates over a supply range of 2.7V to 3.6V and features a low standby current of <10µA. The device’s digital I/Os and supplies have all been designed to operate from 1.6V to 3.6V to interface with smaller geometry baseband ICs and SoCs.

The SE4150L GPS receiver dramatically simplifies dual-antenna system design because it integrates antenna sensing, switching, and a high-performance low noise amplifier (LNA).

“Because the LNA, switching functions and the IF filter are on-chip, we have lowered the system noise figure and increased the input IP3 performance, which results in improved sensitivity and interference resistance when compared to existing products,” said Stefan Fulga, director for strategic marketing.

Traditionally, OEMs and designers had to use either an expensive switched coaxial socket or numerous discrete components to sense when an external antenna was connected. By using a single SE4150L, designers can save valuable PC board space and significantly reduce the bill of materials (BOM). The SE4150L automatically responds to the connection of an external antenna and interfaces directly to the GPS baseband processor to provide a complete GPS radio receiver system.

The global personal navigation device (PND) market is expected to grow from 35 million units in 2007 to more than 100 million in 2010 – While SiGe Semiconductor is primarily targeting this market with the new SE4150L GPS receiver IC, it will also serve other applications where high performance and low power consumption combined with internal and external antenna capabilities are required, says the company.

“As part of our long-term strategy, we are partnering with leading companies to develop best-in-class receiver solutions,” continued Fulga. “For the SE4150L GPS receiver IC, we worked closely with SiRF Technology a market leader in GPS Solutions to facilitate the system design.”

The two companies worked together to ensure that the SE4150L would interface seamlessly with the integrated GPS baseband of the SiRFatlas and SiRFprima SoC family.

David Wang senior director of marketing, SiRF Technology, said: “SiGe Semiconductor has done its homework with its latest GPS receiver IC. The SE4150L combined with the SiRFprima SoC offers superior performance and high resistance to jamming and co-located interference in challenging environments, such as mobile internet devices, connected PNDs and other GPS enhanced multifunction systems on which the SiRFprima SoC excels.”