Atmel Introduces Next-generation, Feature-rich Active AM/FM Antenna ICs

Device offers highly integrated features, smaller footprint and higher performance

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Atmel(R) Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML) today announced the availability of a new active antenna integrated circuit (IC) designed for AM/FM car antenna applications. The new ATR4252 IC provides the industry's highest integration, automatic gain control, supply voltage regulator with overvoltage protection and an antenna sensor. Designers can now develop smaller, high-performance active antenna solutions for applications located in the mirror, bumper, rear or side windows of a car. In addition, the antenna detection functionality is ideal for modern window or glass antennas. The robust IC also addresses other antenna types including window, pole or shark fin antennas with its small 4 x 5 mm footprint.

The ATR4252 provides excellent performance, especially for noise and linearity behavior--two important features for antenna ICs. The device is equipped with a broad range of useful functions including voltage regulation, which is an important feature when un-stabilized phantom feed is used, and 50 Ohm cable support to allow for use with more cost-effective cables. In addition, the Automatic Gain Control (AGC) avoids problems with large signals, while maintaining a high sensitivity level.

"Active antenna designs using ICs are becoming more popular since they offer many advantages over discrete solutions," said Carsten Friedrich, Marketing Manager for Car Radio ICs at Atmel Corporation. "With the introduction of Atmel's new device, designers can now develop different active AM/FM antennas with excellent performance fast and easily."

Similar to its predecessor ATR4251, the new device enables crystal-clear reception without distortion even under extreme difficult and rapidly fluctuating field strength conditions typically found in moving antenna systems. The board design can be extremely small and the ICs provide a rich set of features, including ESD protection and excellent system performance.

Availability. Pricing and Photo

Samples of the car radio antenna IC ATR4252 are now available in small-outline QFN24 packages. Pricing starts at US $0.98 for 100k-piece quantities. To simplify and accelerate product design, a demo board plus an application note are available under NDA.

To download a high-resolution photo of the ATR4252, please click the following link:

http://www.atmel.com/images/homepage_new/press/ATR4252.jpg

    Footnote
    AGC = Automatic Gain Control
    AM = Amplitude Modulation
    ESD = ElectroStatic Discharge
    FM = Frequency Modulation

About Atmel

Atmel is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of microcontrollers, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry's broadest intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide the electronics industry with complete system solutions focused on consumer, industrial, security, communications, computing and automotive markets.

(C) 2009 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), Atmel logo and combinations thereof, and others are registered trademarks or trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be trademarks of others.

Information:

More information on Atmel's car radio antenna IC ATR4252 may be retrieved at: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=4643

    Press Contacts:
    Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Director Automotive
    Phone: +49-7131-67-2081, Email:  susanne.van-clewe@atmel.com
    Clive Over, Director of Public Relations
    Phone: +1-408-436-4305, Email: clive.over@atmel.com

SOURCE Atmel Corporation

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