6 GPS Chip Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for gps chips as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 6 gps chip manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked gps chip companies as of November, 2024: 1.Unicore Communications,Inc., 2.Autodesk Inc., 3.Skyworks Solutions, Inc..
Table of Contents
What Is a GPS Chip?
A GPS chip is a chip that is connected to or contains a GPS antenna that receives signals from GPS satellites and incorporates circuitry to calculate the current position.
GPS is an abbreviation for global positioning system, which determines a person's location on the Earth by communicating with positioning satellites operated by the U.S. Department of Defense. A GPS chip is being actively developed for higher precision, smaller size, and higher performance.
Currently, in addition to the GPS satellites, the GNSS (Global Navigation Satelite System), which refers to the four satellite systems of Russia's GLONASS, EU's Galileo, and China's Beidou, as well as signals from India's GAGAN and Japan's MICHIBIKI, etc., are also supported.
Uses of GPS Chips
GPS was originally developed for military applications, such as guided missiles, but it has been opened up for civilian use and is now used to support navigation for ships and aircraft.
GPS chips have been developed and miniaturized, and are now used in portable devices such as car navigation systems, smartphones, and tablets. This enables map applications to provide navigation to current locations and destinations.
It is also used in wearable devices such as smartwatches as GPS loggers to check distance traveled, number of steps taken, and travel history. In addition to these, development for applications in the space business, etc., is also underway.
Principle of GPS Chips
GPS satellites contain a very precise clock (atomic clock) based on the frequencies of the spectral lines of atoms and molecules, and the signals emitted from GPS satellites mainly transmit this precise time and location information.
The distance from the GPS satellite can be calculated by multiplying the time of arrival of the signal from the GPS to the GPS chips by the speed of light. In other words, we can determine where the GPS chips are located on a sphere whose radius is the distance at that time.
This is done with multiple satellites, and the point where the spheres from all satellites intersect is identified as the current location. The more satellites received, the more accurately the location can be identified.
The satellites are equipped with atomic clocks and can transmit very accurate time, but the receiving GPS chips do not have an atomic clock. The receiving side is equipped with a common quartz clock, but it cannot be as accurate as an atomic clock, so it must receive from at least four satellites and correct the time by using the four variables x, y, z, and t.
Other Information about GPS Chips
1. High accuracy of the GPS Chips
Light travels about 185,000 mi per second, so even a 10 millionth of a second error results in an error of 98 ft. In addition to these errors due to time information, there are errors due to satellite positioning information, errors due to the ionosphere and moisture in the atmosphere, errors due to reflections from buildings and mountains, errors due to the small number of satellites that can receive the data, and other errors.
2. Miniaturization of the GPS Chips enables the following
The miniaturization of GPS chips has made it possible to mount them on the following devices.
GPS Trackers
A general-purpose GPS chip device about the size of a coin that can be attached to a variety of objects to transmit location information. It is small and lightweight (1" x 1", 0.5oz) and can be purchased for around 20 dollars.
Drones
As GPS modules have become smaller and less expensive, GPS-equipped drones have also become popular. Even models equipped with 4K high-angle HD cameras can now be purchased for the low 75 dollar range at major online retailers.
List of 6 GPS Chip Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- China
• 22nm compact size, low power design, 5 × 5 mm QFN40 package
• Supports GPS, BDS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and SBAS, including BDS-3; supports single system
standalone positioning and multi-system joint positioning
• L1+L5/L1+L2 dual frequencies, excellent multi-path mitigation ability
• Single point positioning accuracy better than 1.5 m
• Ultra high sensitivity: tracking -162 dBm, acquisition -148 dBm
• Industrial grade & automotive grade, and the automotive grade chip qualified according to AEC-Q100
• Supports A-GNSS and DGNSS
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Unicore Communications,Inc.
GPS Chip
Company Overview
Unicore is a high-tech company engaged in a highly sophisticated GNSS IC design, high-performance satellite positioning and multi-sensor fusion algorithm development. By combining top-tier talent, modern management practices, latest technologies and convenient localization services, Unicore provides advanced time-space transmission products and services. The accuracy of Unicore GNSS receivers ranges all the way from meter, to sub-meter and centimeter, down to the millimeter level. Applications include Continuously Operating Reference System (CORS) stations, surveying & mapping equipment, precision agriculture machinery, intelligent driving, driving tests and training, unmanned vehicles, mechanical control, autonomous vehicle navigation, precision timing, IoT, wearable devices and so on.
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Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
GPS
Manufacturer Overview
Founded in Irvine, CA in 1962, Skyworks Solutions, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary semiconductor products. Its product portfolio includes amplifiers, antenna tuners, attenuators, automotive tuners and digital radios, clocks and timings, circulators/isolators, DC/DC converters, demodulators, detectors, diodes, wireless analog system on chip products, directional couplers, diversity receive modules, filters, front-end modules, hybrids, LED drivers, low noise amplifiers, mixers, modulators, switches, synthesizers, timing devices, technical ceramics, voltage controlled oscillators/synthesizers, and voltage regulators. The company provides its products for the usage in aerospace, automotive, broadband, cellular infrastructure, connected home, entertainment and gaming, industrial, medical, military, smartphone, tablet, and wearable markets.
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Autodesk Inc.
Tiny GPS Tracker
Manufacturer Overview
Autodesk Inc is a manufacturer of 3D softwares, founded in 1982, and headquartered in Mill Valley, California. Offerings of the company encompass 3D design and modeling tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, and Fusion 360 for architecture, engineering, and product design. In the construction realm, it provides BIM 360, aiding in streamlined project management and collaboration. For the media and entertainment sector, software like Maya and 3ds Max facilitates 3D animation and rendering. Additionally, the company's portfolio includes engineering simulation software, CAM tools, educational resources, cloud-based collaboration platforms, as well as VR/AR applications, and solutions for GIS, mapping, robotics, and PLM.
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Broadcom
GNSS SoCs
Manufacturer Overview
Broadcom Inc., established in 1961, and headquartered in San Jose, California, is a manufacturer and supplier of semiconductor and connectivity solutions. The company specializes in producing products, such as semiconductors, infrastructure software, networking products, storage products, wireless products in which their products cater to industries such as telecommunications, data centers, and consumer electronics. Their products are used for various applications, including wireless communication, networking equipment, data storage, and multimedia devices, providing components for advanced technologies in numerous industrial and commercial sectors.
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LOCOSYS Technology Inc..
GPS Chip
Manufacturer Overview
LOCOSYS Technology Inc., established in 2005 with headquarters in New Taipei City, Taiwan, is a manufacturer of GNSS/GPS positioning and navigation-related components. The company's product line includes GNSS positioning modules, GNSS dead reckoning modules, GPS patch antenna modules, MEMS modules, and traffic information RDS-TMC modules. These components are used in satellite positioning technology applications for vehicle traffic management, driver guidance devices, supply chain management, and personal devices, such as wristwatches. The company serves industries including maritime transportation, consumer products, automotive, public safety infrastructure, and mapping.
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onX
GPS Chip
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GPS Chip Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unicore Communications,Inc. |
28.3%
|
| 2 | Autodesk Inc. |
21.8%
|
| 3 | Skyworks Solutions, Inc. |
14.1%
|
| 4 | LOCOSYS Technology Inc.. |
13.4%
|
| 5 | onX |
11.9%
|
| 6 | Broadcom |
10.4%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the gps chip page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- Autodesk Inc.: 13,700
- Unicore Communications,Inc.: 300
- onX: 0
Newly Established Company
- Unicore Communications,Inc.: 2009 (15 years ago)
- onX: 2009 (15 years ago)
- Autodesk Inc.: 1982 (42 years ago)
Company with a History
- Autodesk Inc.: 1982 (42 years ago)
- Unicore Communications,Inc.: 2009 (15 years ago)
- onX: 2009 (15 years ago)
GPS Chip Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of GPS Chip Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
3 | 75.0% |
China
|
1 | 25.0% |
