Hybrid positioning gives birth to highly integrated chips

"GPS will be further developed in the future." Wang Tangxing, senior business development manager of Broadcom's Wireless Connectivity Group's GPS business group, told the "China Electronics News" reporter. The development and popularization of intelligent terminals and the increasing popularity of LBS (location-based services) will further expand the scale of the GPS market.

Hybrid positioning technology becomes a general trend The combination of GPS+GLONASS, GPS+ quasi-zenith satellite systems, and GPS and WiFi, base stations and other positioning technologies to form a hybrid positioning technology is a general trend.

With the expansion of people's demand for location services, simple GPS technology can no longer meet their needs. The integration of GPS+GLONASS, GPS+ quasi-zenith satellite systems, and GPS and WiFi, and base station positioning technologies has become a general trend. It is worth mentioning that Broadcom is studying the integration of MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical-system) technology into other positioning technologies so that consumers can obtain more accurate positioning services.

It is understood that, Broadcom has successfully launched a variety of combination chips, such as BCM2076, integrated Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS and FM and BCM4329, integrated WiFi, Bluetooth and FM. For example, in February of this year, Broadcom introduced the BCM2076 combo chip for portable wireless devices that require Bluetooth, GNSS, and FM receiver/transmitters that support both GPS and GLONASS satellite systems. In addition to supporting these satellite systems, the BCM2076 combo chip also supports satellite systems such as satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) and quasi-zenith satellite systems. "Of course, the smart terminal market also puts higher requirements on this integrated chip." Wang Tangxing stressed that "for example, a smaller size, lower cost, lower power consumption, stronger anti-interference ability and Stability and so on, these technical problems need to be overcome by the industry."

Wang Tangxing stated that Broadcom can provide a GNSSTCXO by incorporating a low dropout (LDO) voltage regulator in the BCM2076 combo chip, as well as a built-in low noise amplifier (LNA), all of which can reduce overall material costs.

In addition, InConcert WLAN Collaborative Coexistence technology has been integrated, which has mitigated the potential for wireless interference between Bluetooth and WiFi and reduced the complexity of mobile devices supporting Bluetooth and WiFi.

LBS application market to be activated In some developed countries, LBS applications are very common, but the Chinese mainland market has not been fully activated.

To achieve hybrid positioning, it is necessary to have a global-wide GPS reference network that can provide auxiliary data to its supporting AGPS chips. It is reported that Broadcom has a global reference network to provide AGPS data, LTO technology, plus a combination of chips, making the time required by LBS can be shortened to 1/100 of the original. "Broadcom has been building global base stations and WiFi databases, and having a WiFi database means solving the last problem of indoor positioning, the LBS." Wang Tangxing said.

It can be predicted that more and more consumers will use LBS in the future. At present, in some developed countries, LBS applications have been very common, but the market in mainland China has not been fully activated. Wang Teng-hsing feels that there are several factors: First, the charging mechanism. In Mainland China, consumers need to pay extra fees to operators when applying LBS. However, in foreign countries, LBS's main revenue comes from advertising, and consumers do not need to pay extra, that is, consumers are free to use LBS, only to pay the call, traffic charges. Second, application experience. At present, China's LBS applications, such as interfaces, are not very friendly and are not very convenient to use. Third, the popularity of LBS applications means increased traffic, which will undoubtedly put pressure on operators' mobile communications networks.