March 20, 2012, Seoul — STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a global semiconductor company in various electronic device applications and a leader in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) for consumer and portable applications, demonstrated the most accurate indoor location service achievable on a mobile phone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. By integrating a smartphone, CSR plc’s advanced SiRFusion™ positioning technology, and ST’s optimized MEMS inertial measurement unit into a single system, the company demonstrated that location services are possible within a few meters without satellite signals from the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNAS).
Accurate indoor location information will be a core element of future location-based services, and these services are expected to become the next generation of "killer applications" in the mobile sector. However, accurately determining the location of mobile devices has always been a problem, particularly in urban jungles or indoors where global navigation satellite systems cannot be received. Until now, approximate locations have been determined using Wi-Fi and stored databases, but this has been inaccurate enough to meet the intended needs of location-based services. For example, in the future, museum visitors may be able to download detailed information about exhibits simply by pointing their mobile devices at them. For this to become a reality, the device's location must be determined within a few meters. However, it is difficult to verify precise location information using Wi-Fi alone.
At the Mobile World Congress, ST demonstrated that desired accuracy can be achieved by combining CSR plc’s recently launched SiRFusion positioning architecture with ST’s advanced MEMS inertial module supporting 10 degrees of freedom. With the module's outstanding accuracy, the location of a mobile device can be identified within a few meters, making it more reliable than using Wi-Fi. The SiRFusion location platform requires no additional infrastructure whatsoever and does not require complex building surveying.
Kanwar Chadha, Executive Director of Marketing at CSR and founder of SiRF, said, “This solution, achieved through the combination of ST’s industry-leading motion sensors and our SiRFusion location platform, will be the final piece to complete the indoor navigation puzzle with accurate pedestrian dead reckoning. This will open a new chapter in location-based services that users can freely use both outdoors and indoors.”
The sensor used in the demonstration is a multi-sensor inertial measurement unit that combines linear, angular, and magnetic motion 3-axis sensing with barometric pressure measurements used to determine altitude, enabling the determination of 3D positional information in multi-story buildings. CSR’s SiRFusion™ solution improves the accuracy and range of positional measurements by fusing data from the sensor unit with other data using signals from motion sensors, Wi-Fi measurements, and global navigation satellite systems.
Benedetto Vigna of ST stated, “Our motion sensors have driven a major revolution, enabling users to interact with mobile phones more easily and intuitively. In this new world, high-performance motion sensors will be required to support precise features such as optical image stabilization and location-based services. ST is leading the way in these two emerging applications.”