Sony to release high-precision GNSS receiver LSIs for IoT

Sony Corporation has announced the upcoming release of high-precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver LSIs for use in IoT and wearable devices. The new receiver LSIs boast the industry’s lowest power consumption^*1 for dual-band positioning operation—only 9 mW.

Increasing use of IoT and wearable devices that utilize location information has resulted in growing demand for GNSS receiver LSIs. Precise positioning and reliable communications must be ensured to maintain proper operation of IoT and wearable devices, which are being used even in difficult communication environments and unstable conditions, such as multipath propagation^*3 situations caused by reflection off the ground or nearby buildings or the effects of the swinging of the arms when attached to a person’s wrist. Additionally, device size constraints necessitate a compact battery, whereas satellite signal reception and positioning when using GNSS functionality typically consumes a lot of power, resulting in poor battery life.

The new LSIs support not only the conventional L1 band reception, but also L5 band reception, which is currently being expanded across GNSS constellations, thereby making them capable of dual-band positioning. Sony’s original algorithms enable stable, high-precision positioning even under the difficult conditions unique to wearable devices. Also, the use of Sony’s original high-frequency analog circuit technology and digital processing technology delivers the industry’s lowest power consumption during continuous positioning for dual-band reception operation, at only 9 mW.

The new LSIs will drive greater opportunities to develop new products and services such as smartwatches and other wearable devices that cannot use external power supplies, as well as IoT devices used for applications such as trackers. They also show promise in a wide variety of applications which require precise positioning and stable communications, such as automotive services.

https://presscentre.sony.eu/