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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Centrality Introduces Cost-Effective GPS, Bluetooth, and Camera-enabled ARM9/DSP Dual-Core Processor
SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 17 - Centrality Communications today publicly announced the introduction of the Atlas(TM) processor family, targeted for GPS-enabled Handsets, PDAs, and Automotive Navigation/Telematics systems. By combining up to six chips into a single SoC, Centrality's Atlas processor family delivers value to customers in four ways: reduced system bill of materials and manufacturing cost, lower power consumption, smaller form factor, and functional differentiation.
The company's patent pending chip architecture and algorithms enable the Atlas processor to provide high performance GPS, Bluetooth, multimedia, and rich application performance at a fraction of the cost of traditional applications processors.
High Functional Integration
Unlike many ARM9 based processors in the market today, Centrality's Atlas Processor integrates a 16-channel GPS baseband, Bluetooth baseband, Digital Camera, LCD controller, NAND Flash bootloader, and a parallel DSP core on a single silicon. Additional peripherals such as Secure Digital(TM) (SD), USB, Compact Flash and IrDA are included.
Key On-Chip Functionality
-- Dual-core ARM9/DSP with programmable supply voltage and clock rate.
-- 16-Channel GPS Baseband with high sensitivity and WAAS/EGNOS.
-- Digital Camera I/F with image processing support up to 1.3M/2.1M
pixel resolutions
-- Bluetooth Baseband (v 1.1 Compliant)
-- LCD Controller with UMA and support for resolutions up to 640x480
-- Peripheral Support: USB, SD/MMC, Compact Flash/PCMCIA, SmartMedia,
IrDA
-- Integrated NAND Flash Bootloader, with fast boot.
-- External Memory: Mobile SDRAM, SDRAM, NAND, and NOR Flash.
-- 4 High-Speed Universal Serial Ports (10Mbps+): including UARTs,
SPI, and I2C.
-- Audio: I2S, AC97.
-- Direct ATAPI/IDE Interface for DVD-ROM and Hard Drives.
Availability and Application Type
The Centrality Atlas processor is available for customer evaluation today. Centrality is offering two versions of the Atlas: Type-M (mobile applications with commercial rating) and Type-A (automotive applications with industrial rating).
Customer Evaluation and Reference Platforms
Centrality has created the Atlas Customer Evaluation (ACE(TM)) development and reference platforms. The ACE(TM) development boards include all necessary hardware, software, and debugging/diagnostic tools to evaluate the Atlas and develop applications on the Atlas processor platform.
Centrality's ACE(TM) development board currently offers a full Board Support Package including all relevant kernel, drivers, and sample code for WinCE 4.2. Fully ported OEM adaptation kits will include Windows Automotive 4.2, PocketPC 2003, and Smartphone 2003.
Chip Status
The Atlas processor family and development boards are sampling today. Industrial and commercial versions of the chip are available. Volume production of the Atlas is scheduled for late Q2 2003. Please contact sales@centralitycomm.com for more information.
About Centrality
Centrality Communications, Inc. develops semiconductor solutions targeted towards location, multimedia, and wireless enabled automotive and handheld devices. Centrality's expertise in DSP algorithms, firmware, and chip architecture enables the most cost-effective, low power integration of GPS, wireless, and multimedia technologies on a single SoC. Centrality is a privately held company headquartered in Santa Clara, CA with global branch offices in Shanghai, Taipei, and Beijing. Additional information about Centrality is available online at http://www.centralitycomm.com/, info@centralitycomm.com, or at 408-982-1818.
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