Processor ups Performance in Automotive Infotainment and Portable Navigation Systems

“Capitalizing on the success of the first-generation Cartesio application processor, which made ST into one of the leading suppliers for GPS- enabled System-on-Chip ICs, the next-generation Cartesio+ offers high integration and high-performance features, while meeting the constraints of cost-sensitive applications,” said Domenico Rossi, General Manager of ST’s Car Radio and Multimedia Division. “It is a cutting-edge System-on-Chip device that offers high-sensitivity embedded positioning capabilities and meets the power requirements of portable applications, while satisfying the most stringent automotive quality constraints.”



The Cartesio+ System-on-Chip is manufactured in ST’s 55nm process technology and integrates a powerful ARM1176 processor with a GPS/Galileo positioning subsystem enhanced with indoor sensitivity, an advanced 3D graphics engine, and a large set of connectivity peripherals, including multiple SD/MMC, CAN and USB with integrated physical layers.



The device’s embedded graphics acceleration engine is optimized for 3D map content rendering using ST’s patented anti-aliasing technique, which smoothes jagged edges in digital images improving map readability, without impacting on processor performance. Cartesio+ also integrates a video input port for connecting auxiliary devices, such as a rear-view camera for safe parking, and a hardware JPEG decoder for fast picture browsing without taxing the chip’s main processing resources.



Cartesio+ also offers advanced power management capabilities, based on ‘power island’ technology, which allows areas of the chip to operate at different voltage levels. The device also supports dynamic scaling of the core frequency to improve battery life for portable applications.



To support customer designs, ST offers a complete cost-optimized kit for portable navigation devices, built around Cartesio+, which couples the application processor with ST’s STA5630 advanced GPS RF chip with integrated Low-Noise Amplifier, and three other key components from the Company’s rich portfolio: the STW4210 power management chip, an audio processing amplifier/LED display driver, and the STA2500D Bluetooth controller.



Building on ST’s world-class abilities in automotive technologies and applications, the new Cartesio+ processor has been designed to meet the specific and rigorous demands for quality and reliability in the automotive market. Cartesio+ is a scalable device available with two different feature sets: the STA2064 and STA2065, which have been optimized for BOM-sensitive and performance-demanding applications, respectively.