Atmel Addresses Vehicle Safety With Introduction of New LF Antenna-driver IC

Atmel Addresses Vehicle Safety With Introduction of New Highly Integrated Application-specific LF Antenna-driver IC for Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring Applications

Industry's First Device with Antenna Driver Stage Driven by an ExternalMicrocontroller

CONVERGENCE SHOW, DETROIT, October 18/PRNewswire/ --

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), a global leader in the developmentand fabrication of advanced semiconductor solutions, announced today theavailability of its new 125-kHz BCDMOS antenna driver IC ATA5275 designed forautomotive Pressure-on-Demand (POD) systems in Tire-Pressure MonitoringSystem (TPMS) applications. POD systems provide the automotive industry'shighest flexibility during wheel change and for TPMS system operation. Also,they help to reduce RF noise since the driver stage is placed together withthe antenna inside of the wheel well. The ATA5275 features highestintegration for embedded automotive systems and maximum performance. Due toits self-tuning resonance capability, the antenna is able to operate withmaximum voltage, maximum current and maximum field strength. The ATA5275extends Atmel's broad TPMS product portfolio, which already includesUHFtransmitter and receiver ICs, LF receiver and antenna driver ICs as well asmicrocontroller devices to design complete TPMS systems.

Comparable solutions are usually designed as discrete solutions, wherethe system is not integrated, requiring more design effort, more externaldevices and a higher bill of materials. The new ATA5275 is the firstnon-discrete antenna driver IC available on the market, making TPMS/PODdesigns simpler and more cost-effective. The device is highly integrated, andalso provides a microcontroller interface (bi-directional K-line interface)that allows the transfer of diagnostic data.

No external quartz is needed as clock reference, allowing the clock to beavailable on-chip along with the LC antenna circuit, enabling the systemengineer to design a trigger station with a high Quality factor. For theself-tuning resonance to the antenna, a PLL circuit maintains the driveroutput frequency close to the antenna tank resonance frequency. When theantenna half bridge is activated, the VCO tracks the antenna current by meansof its zero crossing detection to keep the VCO centered to the antenna tankresonant frequency. This is accomplished by means of a connection to thesense pin from a current shunt. The VCO deviates less than about 1.4%compared to the antenna tank resonance frequency, depending on the antennaquality. Due to this self-tuning feature, the antenna operates with maximumperformance.

The new antenna driver IC provides several diagnostic features such asshort circuit, open circuit and over temperature detection. The IC isload-dump protected up to 45 V and operates directly from the car battery.

The ATA5275's time-out interface supervisor serves to avoid unintendedcontinuous transmission in case of line errors. The temperature range is -40degree Celsius/F to +105 degree Celsius/221 degree F.

Samples of the antenna driver IC ATA5275 in QFN20 packages are availablenow. Pricing starts at 1.94 US$ (10 k).

Footnote

BCDMOS = Mixed technology combining Bipolar, CMOS and DMOS components

LF = Low Frequency

PEG = Passive Entry Go

PLL = Phase Locked Loop

TPMS = Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

UHF = Ultra High Frequency

VCO = Voltage Controlled Oscillator

About Atmel

Atmel is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture ofmicrocontrollers, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radiofrequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry's broadestintellectual property (IP) portfolios, Atmel is able to provide theelectronics industry with complete system solutions. Focused on consumer,industrial, security, communications, computing and automotive markets, AtmelICs can be found Everywhere You Are(SM).

NOTE: Atmel(R), logo and combinations thereof, are the registeredtrademarks, and Everywhere You Are(SM) is the trademark of Atmel Corporationor its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be trademarks ofothers.

Information:

Atmel's antenna-driver IC ATA5275 information may be retrieved at:

http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/produc...

Press Contacts:

Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive

Products

Phone: +49-7131-67-2081, Email: susanne.van-clewe@hno.atmel.com

Clive Over, Director of Press Relations - USA and Asia

Phone: +1-408-451-2855, Email: cliveover@atmel.com

Veronique Sablereau, Corporate Communications Manager - Europe

Phone: +33-1-30-60-70-68, Email: veronique.sablereau@atmel.com

Web site: http://www.atmel.com

Source: Atmel Corporation

Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive Products, +49-7131-67-2081, or susanne.van-clewe@hno.atmel.com, or Clive Over, Director of Press Relations - USA and Asia, +1-408-451-2855, or cliveover@atmel.com, or Veronique Sablereau, Corporate Communications Manager - Europe, +33-1-30-60-70-68, or veronique.sablereau@atmel.com, all of Atmel Corporation

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