The BCM47755 chip. Photo: Broadcom.

Broadcom has launched a mass-market, dual frequency GNSS receiver device, the BCM47755, designed to enhance Location Based Services (LBS) applications for mobile phones, tablets and fitness wearables. According to Broadcom, the device is capable of centimeter accuracy with minimal power consumption and footprint, enabling a new suite of high-precision LBS applications including lane-level vehicle navigation and mobile Augmented Reality (AR).

Previously, mobile location-based applications have been powered by single frequency GNSS receivers operating under stringent battery power and footprint constraints. The expanded availability of L1/E1 and L5/E5 frequencies in satellite constellations enables the use of two frequencies to compute position much more accurately in both urban and open area environments. The BCM47755 delivers this higher level of location accuracy while meeting the battery power and footprint needs of mobile phones, according to Broadcom.

For example, lane-level knowledge of the vehicle’s location vastly improves the turn-by-turn navigation performance. Further, combining this accurate location with the lane’s traffic pattern gives consumers a better estimate of arrival times. In the same vein, ride-hailing applications can be enhanced to more precisely pinpoint driver and client location.

According to Broadcom, the BCM47755 consumes less than half the power of previous generation GNSS chips. Since GNSS and sensor applications are always on, this power efficiency has a proportional impact on the battery life of the mobile device. So, even while benefiting from a richer navigation experience, consumers will have a longer lasting battery on mobile devices, Broadcom stated.