02 June 2009

Broadcom PND-on-a-Chip Features ARM11

Broadcom Corporation, a member of the ARM Connected Community, has taken the wraps off a   navigation processor and power management (PMU) solution designed specifically for personal navigation devices (PNDs).

The 'PND-on-a-chip' , the BCM4760, is a complete, low power SoC solution that combines a high performance GPS receiver and baseband, an ARM11 processor, an OpenGL ES 1.1/OpenVG 1.0-compliant graphics processor and advanced analog technology to deliver the most highly integrated solution ever created for the personal navigation market. The built-in applications processing is powerful enough to serve as the core processor for a full range of devices beyond the PND market, including personal media players, gaming devices and other mobile products.

The 'PND-on-a-chip' solution provides all the key components required to deliver a graphical user experience of life-like maps and engaging navigational information for next generation PNDs without the lags and blocky renderings of many current devices, according to Broadcom.

At the same time, Broadcom rolled out the BCM59040 power management unit (PMU) designed for use in advanced mobile systems based on the BCM4760. This all-CMOS PMU includes advanced power management techniques, such as highly efficient DC/DC converters, high performance LDOs, a switcher regulated charger with USB and wall adapter inputs, USB OTG (on-the-go) detection and Vbus boost control - all of which are features aligned with PND and portable media player manufacturer requirements, Broadcom said.