3.2.3.4 IBM and Leica
IBM and Leica (booth O) are demonstrating a jointly developed, highly integrated, GPS evaluation board here at ION that is the first of its kind to feature IBM's silicon germanium (SiGe) process technology.
IBM's SiGe technology enables the revolutionary direct conversion of radio-frequency (RF) signals to digital information, eliminating the need for intermediate-frequency (IF) support circuitry-such as mixers, oscillators, and filters-thereby reducing the total component count on the chip. The SiGe technology also allows a closer proximity between the RF components and the signal processing components than previously possible-within a millimeter of each other on the same chip.
An on-board PowerPC embedded processor boosts overall system throughput and provides additional computing power for manufacturers to use in hosting their own specialized software applications. Again, this eliminates the need for additional processing components, contributing to the board's small size.
Aimed at low-cost, high-volume GPS market applications, Leica and IBM will offer the product to equipment manufacturers.
Sierra Monolithics, Inc., provided the RE circuit design for this 12-channel, single-frequency, C/A-code receiver.
(URL http://www.gpsworld.com/ion/thurs/thurs_3.htmから引用)
3.2.3.5 Magellan Patents GPS+GLONASS
Magellan Corporation (booths C and F) has received a U.S. patent award covering techniques for determining positions using data from both GPS and GLONASS satellites. The patent discloses technology for determining relative positions of points using code and carrier phase measurements from signals broadcast by both satellite systems. It includes 65 claims covering receiver architecture, advanced positioning algorithms, and various positioning applications.
(URL http://www.gpsworld.com/ion/thurs/thurs_5.htmから引用)
