SiGe Semiconductor has released what it claims is the smallest global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver ICs for mobile handsets, cellular telephones, personal navigation devices (PNDs) and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The new SE4110S GPS receiver and the SE4120S GPS/Galileo receiver are each based on SiGe's patent-pending software-based receiver architecture and maximize processor efficiency when adding navigation capability to consumer electronics devices. They exploit chip-scale package (CSP) technology to enable complete receiver solutions that measure just 2.2 mm x 2.2 mm x 0.4 mm. According to SiGe, this is 70% smaller than the existing 24-lead QFN-packaged versions of these devices, and 70% smaller than competitive receivers on the market, making them suitable for mobile handsets and other small form factor consumer devices.

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The SE4120S is based on SiGe's SE4120L, a GNSS receiver with built-in support for software-defined satellite signal processing for both GPS and Galileo. The device features high integration to reduce the system bill of materials and overall cost. The integrated architecture includes an on-chip high-gain LNA capable of delivering 18 dB of gain at a low noise figure of 1.6 dB without the need for bulky active antennas and costly, power-hungry external amplification. Under controlled conditions, systems using the SE4120S are capable of tracking satellite signals down to as low as –170 dBm. The device also uses a 3-wire IF connection bus, with near-zero IF and serialized data output, allowing non-proprietary general-purpose microprocessors running software-defined signal processing to interface to the device in a simple manner.

Likewsie, the SE4110S is based on the supplier’s SE4110L GPS receiver, which incorporates the IF filter, a linear AGC amplifier, 2-bit ADC, VCO, tank circuit, image reject mixer, PLL, LNA, and low power reference oscillator. The on-chip LNA delivers a very low noise figure of 1.6 dB, resulting in an overall system noise figure of 2.5 dB typical. The device also features a multi-bit output, which increases sensitivity for software GPS applications and improves resistance to jamming and interference in challenging environments such as cellular phones. The device supports multiple reference frequencies, allowing manufacturers to easily accommodate low-cost cellular phone reference frequency standards.

The SE4110S and SE4120S are both optimized for the lowest possible power consumption, each operating at less than 10 mA from a 2.7 V-3.3 V supply. The SE4110S and SE4120S are sampling now, with volume production scheduled for third quarter. The SE4110S is priced at $2.45 for 10k units, while the SE4120S is priced at $2.65 for 10k units.