CSR SiRFatlasV boosts integration, performance for consumer navigation systems

TAIPEI, TAIWAN: CSR announced the SiRFatlasV multifunction GPS system processor, a next-generation system-on-chip device with higher levels of integration, performance and cost-effectiveness that enables manufacturers to create high-volume, value-priced consumer navigation and location-aware products.

Available now in production quantities, SiRFatlasV’s ARM 11 and DSP dual-core architecture delivers high performance GPS, high-MIPs application computing and robust multifunction capabilities on a single chip to reduce system cost and size while speeding time to market.

“SiRFatlasV is the next step in the evolution of our mainstream navigation platform, bringing even greater functionality on chip and delivering faster fixes and higher performance than ever before while reducing overall power consumption, system cost and size,” said Kanwar Chadha, chief marketing officer at CSR.

“All of this plus the considerable time-to-market advantages of our Synergy connectivity solution make SiRFatlasV the platform of choice for a new generation of mainstream PND and location-aware consumer devices.”

The SiRFatlasV processor combines on a single chip a 500- or 664-MHz ARM11 processor core with vector floating point unit; advanced, autonomous GPS/Galileo baseband DSP core with available SiRFAlwaysFix technology, DDR2, Mobile DDR, SD/MMC/MMC+ and NAND flash memory controllers; audio DAC; LCD touch panel controller, video post processing accelerator; USB 2.0 and other connectivity interfaces and a complete power management unit.

This high degree of integration reduces parts count and bill of material (BOM) costs, power requirements and PC board size while simplifying design and speeding development and time to market.

“Microsoft is excited to be working with CSR to deliver rich, specialized application experiences on the SiRFatlasV navigation platform,” said Kim Chau, senior partner manager for Windows Embedded at Microsoft Corp. “With SiRFatlasV, CSR has created an optimized and developer-friendly Windows Embedded CE 6.0 platform for mobile navigation, and we look forward to working with CSR to continue to drive innovation and differentiation in this market.”

Windows Embedded CE 6.0 is a componentized, real-time operating system that delivers compelling experiences on a wide range of small footprint consumer and enterprise devices. By building on the high performance and highly reliable Windows Embedded CE platform, device makers can bring their device to market quickly and efficiently.

“We are very pleased with the customer and partner response to SiRFatlasV,” said Ahmet Alpdemir, senior vice president for the Automotive/PND business unit of CSR. “AtlasV is already in use by a number of leading original equipment and original device manufacturers, including GlobalSat Technology Corporation, Mango Research Corp., Mobile Devices, Topicon HK Limited and YF International Limited.”

Using CSR Synergy, the SiRFatlasV processor can be seamlessly integrated with CSR’s audio and connectivity platforms incorporating a broad range of technologies – Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, Wi-Fi, echo cancellation, noise suppression, FM receive and transmit and more.

CSR Synergy ensures that all of these systems work together as a unified platform, enabling technologies such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to coexist in the same system environment without interfering with one another or degrading performance. This simplifies design engineering and helps achieve an overall improvement in the end-user experience.