26.09.2005 – 14:12

Atmel Corporation

Atmel Extends Its Family of RF Car Access ICs With Introduction of Full Duplex RF Transceiver for Growing Passive Entry Go (PEG) Market

Heilbronn, Germany (ots/PRNewswire)

- Designed to Prevent Relay Attacks for Increased Security Level

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the
availability of  its new full duplex RF transceiver ICs ATA5824 and
ATA5823. These two new  devices are optimized for automotive keyless
entry/passive entry go (PEG)  and tire pressure monitoring (TPMS)
systems. They can also be used for remote  control, alarm,
telemetering, energy metering and home automation systems to  name
but a few potential applications. The ATA5824 and the ATA5823 provide
full duplex functionality, which helps to secure RF systems against
automotive theft and other unauthorized system access. In addition,
the  devices enable system cost reduction since in automotive
applications; only  one transceiver will be needed for car access
plus TPMS functions instead of  one transceiver for each system. The
ATA5823 is designed for 313 to 316 MHz,  whereas the ATA5824 operates
at 433 to 435 MHz and 867 to 870 MHz. Both  transceivers are pin- and
functionally identical. They support data rates of  1 kBaud to 20
kBaud (FSK) and 1 kBaud to 10 kBaud (ASK) in Manchester,  Bi-phase or
other codes in transparent mode.

The ATA5823's and the ATA5824's current consumption is both in
receive and in transmit mode as low as 10.5 mA (3 V/ Tx with 5 dBm).
This enables portable applications to be powered by a single Li-cell
for smaller designs with extended lifetime.

The new transceivers' system performance demonstrates high
sensitivity in ASK (e.g. -116.5 dBm at 2.4 kBaud) and FSK mode (e.g.
-109.5 dBm at 2.4 kBaud), a PAE of nearly 40%, adjustable output
power of up to +10 dBm for long-distance operation, a high
selectivity and a high blocking plus low intermodulation due to the
receiver module's low-IF architecture. Due to the transmitter
module's closed-loop Fractional-N synthesizer, the transceiver
features high PLL bandwidth and excellent isolation between PLL and
PA.

Theft of vehicles with current PEG car access systems can be
carried out by extending the RF transmission with the help of two
repeaters to gain unauthorized system access (known as a relay
attack). The additional full duplex mode of Atmel's new transceiver
ICs helps to effectively prevent relay attacks, since the system
trying to attack the RF car access system needs to receive and
transmit signals on the same frequency at the same time.

This high level system integration results in a small number of
external components needed in the transceiver module.

Samples of the new full-duplex RF transceiver ICs ATA5823/ATA5824
in small QFN48 packages are available now. Pricing starts at 4.75 US$
(10 k).

Footnote
    ASK = Amplitude Shift Keying
    FSK = Frequency Shift Keying
    IF = Intermediate Frequency
    PA = Power Amplifier
    PAE = Power-Added Efficiency
    PEG = Passive Entry Go
    PLL = Phase-Locked Loop
    RKE = Remote Keyless Entry
    TPMS = Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

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, Atmel ICs can be found Everywhere
You Are(R).

NOTE: Atmel(R), logo and combinations thereof, Everywhere You
Are(R) and others are registered trademarks or trademarks of Atmel
Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be
trademarks of others.

Information

Product information on Atmel's new full-duplex RF transceiver ICs
ATA5823/ATA5824 may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3778
(ATA5823) and
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3779
(ATA5824)

    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, Fax: +49-7131-67-2423, Email:
     veronique.sablereau@atmel.com

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

Contact:

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 fax,
+49-7131-67-2423, or
veronique.sablereau@atmel.com, all of Atmel Corporation