CSR (LSE:CSR) today announced the SiRFatlasV® multifunction GPS system processor, a next-generation system-on-chip device with higher levels of integration, performance and cost-effectiveness that enables manufacturers to create high-volume, value-priced consumer navigation and location-aware products. Available now in production quantities, SiRFatlasV’s ARM 11 and DSP dual-core architecture delivers high performance GPS, high-MIPs application computing and robust multifunction capabilities on a single chip to reduce system cost and size while speeding time to market.

“SiRFatlasV is the next step in the evolution of our mainstream navigation platform, bringing even greater functionality on chip and delivering faster fixes and higher performance than ever before while reducing overall power consumption, system cost and size,” said Kanwar Chadha, chief marketing officer at CSR. “All of this plus the considerable time-to-market advantages of our Synergy connectivity solution make SiRFatlasV the platform of choice for a new generation of mainstream PND and location-aware consumer devices.”

The SiRFatlasV processor combines on a single chip a 500- or 664-MHz ARM11 processor core with vector floating point unit; advanced, autonomous GPS/Galileo baseband DSP core with available SiRFAlwaysFix™ technology, DDR2, Mobile DDR, SD/MMC/MMC+ and NAND flash memory controllers; audio DAC; LCD touch panel controller, video post processing accelerator; USB 2.0 and other connectivity interfaces and a complete power management unit. This high degree of integration reduces parts count and bill of material (BOM) costs, power requirements and PC board size while simplifying design and speeding development and time to market.

“Microsoft is excited to be working with CSR to deliver rich, specialized application experiences on the SiRFatlasV navigation platform,” said Kim Chau, senior partner manager for Windows Embedded at Microsoft Corp. “With SiRFatlasV, CSR has created an optimized and developer-friendly Windows Embedded CE 6.0 platform for mobile navigation, and we look forward to working with CSR to continue to drive innovation and differentiation in this market.”

Windows Embedded CE 6.0 is a componentized, real-time operating system that delivers compelling experiences on a wide range of small footprint consumer and enterprise devices. By building on the high performance and highly reliable Windows Embedded CE platform, device makers can bring their device to market quickly and efficiently.

“We are very pleased with the customer and partner response to SiRFatlasV,” said Ahmet Alpdemir, senior vice president for the Automotive/PND business unit of CSR. “AtlasV is already in use by a number of leading original equipment and original device manufacturers, including GlobalSat Technology Corporation, Mango Research Corp., Mobile Devices, Topicon HK Limited and YF International Limited.”

Using CSR Synergy™, the SiRFatlasV processor can be seamlessly integrated with CSR’s audio and connectivity platforms incorporating a broad range of technologies – Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, Wi-Fi, echo cancellation, noise suppression, FM receive and transmit and more. CSR Synergy ensures that all of these systems work together as a unified platform, enabling technologies such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to coexist in the same system environment without interfering with one another or degrading performance. This simplifies design engineering and helps achieve an overall improvement in the end-user experience.

What’s New in SiRFatlasV

SiRFatlasV continues to challenge industry boundaries by increasing performance and functionality while reducing power consumption. Not only has the SiRFatlasV reduced its overall power consumption by 10 percent over SiRFatlasIV, it does so while integrating a number of external components thus reducing the overall bill of materials.

“While other SoCs in this market have incorporated various combinations of GPS, an ARM core and power management components, SiRFatlasV combines all three to achieve a very high level of integration,” said Conlan Ma, Director of Product Management in CSR’s Automotive/PND Business Unit. “Together with CSR’s connectivity and audio platforms and Synergy software, manufacturers are able to build connected PND platforms using SiRFatlasV that enable clear hands-free calling and seamless data connectivity via a mobile phone.”

In addition to power and cost savings, the SiRFAlwaysFix technology employs proprietary power management and orbital (ephemeris) prediction algorithms to achieve significantly faster times to first fix by always keeping the SiRFatlasV in a hot-start condition without the GPS receiver having to be at full power. SiRFAlwaysFix employs CSR’s new SiRFHibernation technology, which is able to completely cut off DRAM power when the system enters standby mode. Together, SiRFAlwaysFix and SiRFHibernation enable manufacturers to achieve longer battery life with a same battery or the same battery life with a smaller battery while boosting GPS performance and improving the user experience.

With the new, faster 644-MHz ARM11 core speed, the SiRFatlasV is capable of handling heavier application loading to deliver a better user experience when performing routing calculations, displaying pseudo-3D graphics, multimedia playback and other processor-intensive functions.

New support for DDR2-400 memory, the most popular memory technology in use today, means manufacturers can now use the low-cost commodity memory chips in their designs. Similarly, the new 8-bit NAND flash memory controller interface with 12/24-bit configurable BCH HW ECC support allows the use of less expensive 3x-nm raw multi-level-cell (MLC) NAND flash memory chips, reducing BOM cost.

The new, on-chip audio DAC and power management unit eliminate the need for external components, reducing overall power consumption and BOM costs, simplifying design and shrinking PC board size. Single stereo and mono audio outputs each offer a 93-db S/N ratio and 70-db total harmonic distortion (“A” weighted). The power management unit features two switching DC/DC sources for the SiRFatlasV core and DRAM, plus four low-noise, high power supply ripple rejection, low-drop-out sources for I/O, peripheral, PLL, analog and RF power.

Availability and Pricing

Already fully production qualified and available in high volumes, the SiRFatlasV multifunction location processor measures 10 mm x 13 mm with 1.2-mm height, comes packaged in a 285-ball grid array (TFBGA) with 0.65-mm pitch, and supports both Windows Embedded CE 6.0 and Linux operating systems. Please contact a CSR sales representative for pricing information.

CSR’s Multifunction Platforms

CSR’s multifunction platforms are designed to unleash the power of next-generation, location-centric convergence devices, significantly enhancing the consumer experience for location applications and media rich content. Offering industry leading GPS/Galileo location performance and powerful application processors with a common development environment, these platforms provide a rich visualization and multimedia experience. SiRFatlasV integration is optimized for the requirements of entry- and mid-level devices, while SiRFprima, with its dedicated hardware for high-resolution multimedia and 3D graphics, is optimized for higher-end systems.

About CSR

CSR plc is a leading provider of multifunction audio, connectivity and location platforms. CSR’s technology portfolio includes Bluetooth, GPS, FM, Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11), UWB, NFC and other technologies to enable silicon platforms that incorporate fully integrated radio, baseband and microcontroller elements. CSR’s Connectivity Centre is designed to enhance the user experience with mainstream mobile devices by intelligent integration of multiple wireless connectivity and location-awareness technologies. CSR’s Location Platforms are complemented by wireless connectivity and multimedia capabilities for high-volume mobile consumer devices and commercial applications.

CSR’s technology has been adopted by market leaders into a wide range of mobile consumer devices such as mobile phones, automobile navigation and telematics systems, portable navigation devices (PNDs), wireless headsets, mobile computers, mobile internet devices, GPS recreational devices, digital cameras, mobile gaming, plus a wide range of personal and commercial tracking applications.

More information can be found at www.csr.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements (including statements concerning plans and objectives of management for future operations or performance, or assumptions related thereto) that are ‘forward looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 in relation to the SiRFatlasV® multifunction GPS system processor, and other future events and their potential effects on CSR. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as ‘can be,’ ‘enabling’, ‘capable’ and other similar expressions regarding the performance characteristics of CSR’s SiRFatlasV multifunction GPS system processor. Any future release of CSR’s SiRFatlasV multifunction GPS system processor or modifications to such products’ capability, functionality or feature are subject to ongoing evaluation by CSR, and may or may not be implemented and should not be considered firm commitments by CSR and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. Such forward-looking statements represent the current expectations and beliefs of management of CSR, and are based upon numerous assumptions regarding CSR’s business strategies and the environment in which CSR will operate and therefore involve a number of known and unknown risks, contingencies, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of CSR. Each forward looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof. CSR does not undertake to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein, otherwise than required by law.