GPS chip set venture unveiled between Ashtech and Philips Semiconductors; Joint venture to provide chip sets and boards as part of new consumer strategy.SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 1995--Ashtech Inc. and Philips Semiconductors today unveiled a joint effort to develop a two-chip Global Positioning Systems (GPS) chip set ideal for cellular phones, car navigation See GPS. units and other wireless technology applications. The GPS receiver chip set will provide the user with GPS receiver function as well as an embedded controller Controller circuitry built into a device or on the main system board, in contrast with a removable card or module. to convert the raw satellite data to a navigation solution. Unlike other chip set offerings, the Ashtech/Philips product allows the user to construct a complete navigation product with little or no prior experience in GPS. The resulting system will support differential GPS See GPS augmentation system. data, to allow positioning within 10 meters even in the presence of Selective Availability A function in the GPS navigation system that deliberately introduced random errors for civilian GPS receivers. It was implemented to prevent enemy troops on foreign soil from using the GPS system to their advantage, while allowing friendly troops to obtain the true signals in GPS . The hardware and software are optimized to meet applications from low cost handheld units to the more demanding needs of vehicle tracking and land navigation. The chip set consists of an RF front end chip and a baseband chip with an embedded processor A CPU chip used in a system other than a general purpose workstation, desktop or laptop computer. Such chips are used by the billions every year in a myriad of products. See embedded system. . Together they provide all processing for a complete GPS receiver, when combined with a minimum of external parts. "This venture fits with Ashtech's company roadmap to sell technology at all levels of integration and enter the mass consumer market through a board/chip set strategy," said Chuck Boesenberg, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Ashtech. "Philips was selected because of their dominant position in wireless and communications technology Noun 1. communications technology - the activity of designing and constructing and maintaining communication systems engineering, technology - the practical application of science to commerce or industry ." "By the end of the decade, everyone will be touched by or directly use products that encompass GPS technology," said Don Gibson For the footballer, see . Donald Eugene Gibson (April 3, 1928 – November 17, 2003) was an American songwriter and country musician. Gibson was born in Shelby, North Carolina, into a poor working-class family, and he dropped out of school in the second grade. , general manager of Communication Products at Philips. "Wide market acceptance and usage will be achieved by including a real-time precision position capability into existing and next generation technology." The chipsets will be manufactured and sold by Philips. Ashtech will integrate the chip sets into their board-level product line developed for the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and market. Ashtech Inc., a telecommunications company, is the leading provider of precision solutions for global positioning. Incorporated in 1987, Ashtech manufactures and markets Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receiver systems and related subsystems. The company currently manufactures systems which utilize Navstar satellites to determine position and time information for users worldwide. Annual sales for calendar year 1994 were $31.8 million. Ashtech is headquartered in Sunnyvale and maintains a European sales office in Oxford, England, as well as research and development facilities in Moscow. More than 60 international and domestic dealers represent Ashtech products worldwide. Ashtech's main number is 408/524-1400. Philips Semiconductors, a subsidiary of Philips Electronics North America Corp. and an affiliate of Philips Electronics NV Philips Electronics NV in full Royal Philips Electronics NV Dutch Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV Major Dutch manufacturer of consumer electronics, household appliances, lightbulbs, and imaging equipment. headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eleventh largest semiconductor supplier in the world. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications market. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by regional customer application labs. Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be obtained by accessing their home page at http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/ps/. CONTACT: Ashtech Inc., Sunnyvale Sally Kenvin, 408/524-1460 sally@ashtech.com or Wilson McHenry Co. Veronica Skelton, 415/638-3400 vskelton@wmc.com |
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