Press Release

SiGe launches world’s smallest dual-antenna input GPS receiver IC

SE4150L lowers bill of materials (BoM), raises the bar on performance, and simplifies embedded GPS designs

Source: SiGe Semiconductor
6/23/2008

Andover, Massachusetts and Ottawa, Canada, June 23, 2008 – SiGe Semiconductor, Inc. has released the SE4150L GPS radio receiver featuring dual-antenna input capability for next-generation GPS systems. SiGe Semiconductor specifically designed the SE4150L to address the three primary challenges associated with embedded GPS applications: small size, low power, and low price, all while raising the bar for performance.

Housed in a low profile 4x4 mm package, the SE4150L features a multi-bit output, which improves sensitivity and interference resistance for GPS solutions. This new GPS receiver offers industry-leading performance, including a system noise figure of 1.0 dB and input third-order intercept performance (IIP3) of better than 0 dBm. The SE4150L builds on the successes of SiGe Semiconductor’s award-winning SE4120L and SE4110L, and offers additional features to facilitate the implementation of an internal or external antenna architecture. The SE4150L operates over a supply range of 2.7 to 3.6 V and features a low standby current of <10µA. The device's digital I/Os and supplies have all been designed to operate from 1.6 to 3.6 V to interface with smaller geometry baseband ICs and SoCs.

The SE4150L GPS receiver dramatically simplifies dual-antenna system design because it integrates antenna sensing, switching, and a high-performance low noise amplifier (LNA). "Because the LNA, switching functions and the IF filter are on-chip, we have lowered the system noise figure and increased the input IP3 performance, which results in improved sensitivity and interference resistance when compared to existing products,” commented Stefan Fulga, director strategic marketing.

Before now, OEMs and designers had to use either an expensive switched coaxial socket or numerous discrete components to sense when an external antenna was connected. By using a single SE4150L, designers can save valuable PC board space and significantly reduce the bill of materials (BOM). The SE4150L automatically responds to the connection of an external antenna and interfaces directly to the GPS baseband processor to provide a complete GPS radio receiver system.

The global personal navigation device (PND) market is expected to grow from 35 million units in 2007 to more than 100 million in 2010[i]. While SiGe Semiconductor is primarily targeting this market with the new SE4150L GPS receiver IC, it will also serve other applications where high performance and low power consumption combined with internal and external antenna capabilities are required.

“As part of our long-term strategy, we are partnering with leading companies to develop best-in-class receiver solutions," continued Fulga. "For the SE4150L GPS receiver IC, we worked closely with SiRF Technology a market leader in GPS Solutions to facilitate the system design." The two companies worked together to ensure that the SE4150L would interface seamlessly with the integrated GPS baseband of the SiRFatlas and SiRFprima SoC family.

"SiGe Semiconductor has done its homework with its latest GPS receiver IC," said David Wang senior director of marketing, SiRF Technology. "The SE4150L combined with the SiRFprima SoC offers superior performance and high resistance to jamming and co-located interference in challenging environments, such as mobile internet devices, connected PNDs and other GPS enhanced multifunction systems on which the SiRFprima SoC excels."

Support, price and availability

The SE4150L is sampling now to lead customers and will be widely available for sampling beginning in July 2008. The device is supplied in a 4mm x 4mm QFN package, and is priced at less than US $1.50 in 10k quantities. To support design-in activity, SiGe offers the SE4150L-EK1 evaluation board and user guide and can provide on-site applications assistance to customers for the design and integration of a complete GPS system.

-30-

About SiGe Semiconductor

SiGe Semiconductor is a leading global supplier of the products that are enabling wireless multimedia in a wide variety of computing, entertainment and mobile systems. Our innovative radio frequency integrated circuits and multi-chip modules simplify the addition of mobile broadband access and location-based capabilities to consumer electronics. SiGe products are designed specifically for these applications, providing the un-equaled performance that is necessary for high-quality, user-focused applications on the go. Offering exceptional performance, our products comply with Wi-Fi®, WiMAX™, and GPS technology standards. We deliver solutions designed for the end system application, enabling ease of integration and reduced time to market. SiGe operates worldwide, servicing leading consumer electronics OEMs and ODMs from five key sites as well as through an extensive global distribution network.

About SiGe Semiconductor’s Lead-Free Initiative
The use of lead in the design and manufacture of electronic products is an increasing environmental concern. In support of industry-wide initiatives to protect the environment, all SiGe Semiconductor, Inc. products we ship today are lead-free and RoHS compliant.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and SiGe Semiconductor, Inc. does not undertake an obligation to update forward-looking statements should conditions or management's estimates or opinions change.

For more information contact:

Press/Americas & Europe: Bev Hemish, SiGe Semiconductor, 613 288-2709, beh@sige.com

Press/Asia: Claire Walker, Techworks Asia +852 2168 0870, Claire@techworksasia.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[i]Canalys mobile navigation analysis, March 2008