Integrated Radio and GPS Semiconductor Package

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current GPS receivers often operate independently and lack integration with radio receivers, limiting their ability to efficiently utilize broadcast signals for enhanced location determination and navigation applications.

Innovation Solution

A semiconductor package integrating both radio and GPS receivers, allowing for the sharing of location information and signal processing to improve navigation subsystem performance and provide entertainment features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If GPS receiver operates independently without integration with radio receiver, then device complexity is reduced, but location accuracy and navigation capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines GPS receiver and radio receiver into a single integrated apparatus, allowing the GPS component to utilize broadcast signals from radio stations for enhanced location determination. This merging enables the system to achieve higher location accuracy by cross-referencing GPS satellite data with terrestrial broadcast signals, while sharing common components like crystal oscillators and signal processing circuits to manage complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated receiver is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as a standalone GPS receiver for satellite-based positioning, as an A-GPS receiver utilizing broadcast signals for assisted positioning, or as a radio receiver for entertainment purposes. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware platform to serve navigation, timing, and entertainment needs without requiring separate dedicated devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of time

If GPS receiver uses assisted-GPS mode with broadcast signals, then location determination speed is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation determination speedVSAvoiduse of energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between standalone GPS mode and A-GPS mode based on operational conditions. The integrated receiver can utilize broadcast signals for rapid initial position fixes or to assist in challenging GPS environments, then transition to standalone mode when sufficient location data is acquired, thereby optimizing energy consumption while maintaining fast location determination capabilities when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If separate GPS receiver and radio receiver are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but navigation subsystem performance is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidnavigation subsystem performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates GPS and radio receivers into a single apparatus with shared components including crystal oscillators, signal processing circuits, and antenna systems. This integration improves navigation subsystem performance by enabling the GPS receiver to utilize broadcast signals for enhanced positioning accuracy and reliability, while the common components reduce the overall number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7999734B2Apparatus having integrated radio and GPS receivers
Publication Date: 2011.08.16 SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS INC
  • US7999734B2 patent drawing
  • US7999734B2 patent drawing
  • US7999734B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An apparatus includes a radio receiver, a GPS receiver and a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package contains both the radio receiver and the GPS receiver.