Engineers Garage

  • Projects and Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • 8051
      • Arduino
      • ARM
      • AVR
      • PIC
      • Raspberry pi
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Products News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • Digi-Key Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • EE Resources
    • DesignFast
    • LEAP Awards
    • Oscilloscope Product Finder
    • White Papers
    • Webinars
  • EE Learning Center
    • Design Guides
      • WiFi & the IOT Design Guide
      • Microcontrollers Design Guide
      • State of the Art Inductors Design Guide
  • Women in Engineering

Broadcom launches low-power GNSS receiver for mobile and wearable devices

By Michelle Froese

Broadcom Inc. recently announced the world’s lowest power L1/L5 GNSS receiver chip: the BCM4778. Optimized for mobile and wearable applications and equipped with the latest GNSS innovations, this third-generation chip is 35 percent smaller and consumes five times less power than the previous generation.

Dual-frequency GNSS continues to be an important location feature for modern mobile and wearable devices as it provides greater positioning accuracy for location-based services (LBS) applications. The advanced L5 signal enables sidewalk-level accuracy for pedestrian navigation in urban environments, as well as lane-level accuracy for vehicle navigation.

Reduction in GNSS power consumption is crucial to extending the battery life of a mobile or wearable device. Compared to GNSS receivers used in integrated platforms, Broadcom’s single-chip BCM4778 delivers significantly lower power consumption and higher performance while offering more advanced GNSS features — such as the next-generation Grid Tracking urban multi-path mitigation technology.

Additionally, the BCM4778 increases the GNSS always-on battery lifetime on a smartwatch by 30 hours compared to the previous generation chip operating on a 300mAh battery. The extended battery life benefit helps drive new experiences in smart watches and phones.

For example, smart watches can keep the GNSS always-on for fitness applications for multiple days on a single battery charge. Also, the BCM4778 features fully integrated LNAs for L1 and L5 bands, which reduces RF front-end BOM costs and footprint requirements, which is ideal for space-constrained applications.

The chip offers immense flexibility to smartwatch and phone designers with its small size. Having the ability to place the BCM4778 closer to the antenna helps improve signal reception and thereby enhance the overall GNSS performance.

“Consumer electronic companies have been faced with the challenge of managing power consumption versus performance, often having to choose one over the other. Broadcom’s innovative approach to the BCM4778 allows their customers to realize improvements on both fronts,” said Ramon T. Llamas, research director for mobile devices at IDC. “The result: device manufacturers can enable new experiences and run applications over a sustained period of time. In addition, by reducing its BOM cost and its physical footprint, Broadcom is enabling further benefits from cost savings and design configurability.”

Highlights

  • 7nm CMOS technology
  • Typical power consumption
    • 4mW L1 band only
    • 6mW L1+L5 simultaneous
  • FCBGA package
  • New Grid Tracking™ technology
    • Advanced multipath mitigation
    • Continuously tracks the full L5 channel
  • Capable of L5 acquisition
    • Increased processing capability and throughput
  • Advanced LTE filtering and jamming mitigation
    • Enhanced LTE Band 13 and Band 14 filtering
    • Spoofing and jamming detector
    • Jamming mitigation through multiband and multi constellation
  • Reduced BOM cost and footprint
    • Flexibility in using internal LNAs
    • Optional operation without interstage SAW filters
    • Integrated switching regulator with direct connect to battery

“With the launch of this third-generation, dual-frequency GNSS receiver chip, Broadcom continues the tradition of raising the bar for mobile GNSS,” said Vijay Nagarajan, VP of marketing for the Wireless Communications and Connectivity Division at Broadcom. “Always-on dual frequency GNSS is a key request from mobile and wearable OEMs, and we are thrilled to deliver it.”

 


Filed Under: Components, News, Smart Wearables
Tagged With: broadcom, chip, gnss, receiver, smartwatch, wearables
 

Questions related to this article?
👉Ask and discuss on EDAboard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com forums.



Tell Us What You Think!! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

HAVE A QUESTION?

Have a technical question about an article or other engineering questions? Check out our engineering forums EDABoard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com where you can get those questions asked and answered by your peers!


Featured Tutorials

  • Introduction to Brain Waves & its Types (Part 1/13)
  • Understanding NeuroSky EEG Chip in Detail (Part 2/13)
  • Performing Experiments with Brainwaves (Part 3/13)
  • Amplification of EEG Signal and Interfacing with Arduino (Part 4/13)
  • Controlling Led brightness using Meditation and attention level (Part 5/13)
  • Control Motor’s Speed using Meditation and Attention Level of Brain (Part 6/13)

Stay Up To Date

Newsletter Signup

Sign up and receive our weekly newsletter for latest Tech articles, Electronics Projects, Tutorial series and other insightful tech content.

EE Training Center Classrooms

EE Classrooms

Recent Articles

  • What is a loop calibrator? 
  • What are the battery-selection criteria for low-power design?
  • Key factors to optimize power consumption in an embedded device
  • EdgeLock A5000 Secure Authenticator
  • How to interface a DS18B20 temperature sensor with MicroPython’s Onewire driver

Most Popular

5G 555 timer circuit 8051 ai Arduino atmega16 automotive avr bluetooth dc motor display Electronic Part Electronic Parts Fujitsu ic infineontechnologies integratedcircuit Intel IoT ir lcd led maximintegratedproducts microchip microchiptechnology Microchip Technology microcontroller microcontrollers mosfet motor powermanagement Raspberry Pi remote renesaselectronics renesaselectronicscorporation Research samsung semiconductor sensor software STMicroelectronics switch Technology vishayintertechnology wireless

RSS EDABOARD.com Discussions

  • Measure AC current accurateley (100mA to 10A)
  • 74HC595 creating Fake output
  • What was before microcontrollers ?
  • NEED HELP FOR OP-AMP IN BGR
  • Check undesired substrate mode...

RSS Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • Sla ir li ion
  • Need a ducted soldering fan for solder smoke extraction
  • Question about ultrasonic mist maker
  • Best way to reduce voltage in higher wattage system?
  • Two 300nH inductor in series, can get higher current?
Engineers Garage
  • Analog IC TIps
  • Connector Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • EE World Online
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • 5G Technology World
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Engineers Garage

  • Projects and Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • 8051
      • Arduino
      • ARM
      • AVR
      • PIC
      • Raspberry pi
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Products News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • Digi-Key Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • EE Resources
    • DesignFast
    • LEAP Awards
    • Oscilloscope Product Finder
    • White Papers
    • Webinars
  • EE Learning Center
    • Design Guides
      • WiFi & the IOT Design Guide
      • Microcontrollers Design Guide
      • State of the Art Inductors Design Guide
  • Women in Engineering