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08 September 2009
STMicroelectronics’ Cartesio+
STMicroelectronics’ Cartesio+ is a processor with embedded GPS for in-car and portable navigation systems.
Combining superior processing power and positioning accuracy with a rich set of integrated peripherals, Cartesio+ enables cost and space-efficient navigation and infotainment applications with enhanced user experience.
“Capitalising on the success of the first-generation Cartesio application processor, which made ST into one of the leading suppliers for GPS- enabled System-on-Chip ICs, the next-generation Cartesio+ offers high integration and high-performance features, while meeting the constraints of cost-sensitive applications,” said Domenico Rossi, General Manager of ST’s Car Radio and Multimedia Division. “It is a cutting-edge System-on-Chip device that offers high-sensitivity embedded positioning capabilities and meets the power requirements of portable applications, while satisfying the most stringent automotive quality constraints.”
The Cartesio+ is manufactured in ST’s 55nm process technology and integrates an ARM1176 processor with a GPS/Galileo positioning subsystem enhanced with indoor sensitivity, an advanced 3D graphics engine, and a large set of connectivity peripherals, including multiple SD/MMC, CAN and USB with integrated physical layers.
The device’s embedded graphics acceleration engine is optimised for 3D map content rendering using ST’s patented anti-aliasing technique, which smoothes jagged edges in digital images, improving map readability, without impacting on processor performance. Cartesio+ also integrates a video input port for connecting auxiliary devices, such as a rear-view camera for safe parking, and a hardware JPEG decoder for fast picture browsing without taxing the chip’s main processing resources.
In addition, Cartesio+ offers advanced power management capabilities, based on ‘power island’ technology, which allows areas of the chip to operate at different voltage levels. The device also supports dynamic scaling of the core frequency to improve battery life for portable applications.
To support customer designs, ST offers a complete cost-optimised kit for portable navigation devices, built around Cartesio+, which couples the application processor with ST’s STA5630 GPS RF chip with integrated Low-Noise Amplifier, and three other components; the STW4210 power management chip, an audio processing amplifier/LED display driver, and the STA2500D Bluetooth controller.
Cartesio+ is a scalable device available with two different feature sets. The STA2064 and STA2065 have been optimised for BOM-sensitive and performance-demanding applications, respectively.
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