Project description
Boosting IoT potential with power-efficient chip
The Internet of Things (IoT), which links devices and other objects with people remotely, is the future of digitisation with a market value of at least EUR 1 trillion by 2020, according to European Commission estimates. IoT needs to use global navigation satellite systems to connect nearly 27 billion devices, but the sensors used need to be wearable, have long battery life and use very low power. The QLX300 project has produced the most power-efficient system-on-chip globally. It operates on a 1V rechargeable coin-sized battery and runs its sensors on a tenth of the power currently needed, securing IoT’s potential in Europe and beyond.
Objective
An increasing amount of IoT devices need to be tracked. All these applications rely on the Global Navigation Satellite Systems. GNSS is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning. Today, almost 27 billion connected devices are connected globally within the IoT. By 2025, this will multiply to over 75 billion.
Qualinx has invented QLX300, the world’s most power efficient GNSS system-on-chip (SoC). QLX300 utilizes its patented discrete- time/digital RF (DRF) technology. This allows it to deliver the most power efficient GNSS solution while operating from a 1V rechargeable coin-size battery. It has the smallest form factor of less than 4 mm squared, and it offers the lowest BOM cost. It is implemented in Global Foundries’ cutting-edge 22nm FDX process, and it has an off-leakage current of less than 1uA while operating up to 105 degrees Celsius. With this capability, the solution is addressing the need for radio solutions with long battery life, driven by the portable IoT, wearable, and mobile applications in volume production. Qualinx DRF technology suits well for Bluetooth, ZigBee, Thread, GNSS, and other IoT standards demanding an ultra-low-power consumption. The serviceable available market is estimated to be 210 million units.
For Europe, the IoT represents the next step towards the digitization of society and the economy, where objects and people are interconnected through communication networks and report about their status and/or the surrounding environment. In fact, the European Commission estimates the market value of the IoT in the EU to exceed €1 trillion in 2020. The IoT merges physical and virtual worlds, creating smart environments. The European Commission actively cooperates with industry, organizations and academic institutions in order to unleash the potential of the IoT technology across EU Member States and beyond . The adoption of QLX300 can help Europe run its IoT sensors on a 10th of the power currently needed.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternetinternet of things
- social sciencessocial geographytransportnavigation systemssatellite navigation systemglobal navigation satellite system
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technologybluetooth
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technologyWiFi
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
2628XJ DELFT
Netherlands
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.