Atmel Addresses Vehicle Safety With Introduction of New Highly Integrated Application-specific LF Antenna-driver IC for Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring Applications
Convergence Show, Detroit (ots/PRNewswire)
- Industry's First Device with Antenna Driver Stage Driven by an External Microcontroller
Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), a global leader in the development and fabrication of advanced semiconductor solutions, announced today the availability of its new 125-kHz BCDMOS antenna driver IC ATA5275 designed for automotive Pressure-on-Demand (POD) systems in Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) applications. POD systems provide the automotive industry's highest flexibility during wheel change and for TPMS system operation. Also, they help to reduce RF noise since the driver stage is placed together with the antenna inside of the wheel well. The ATA5275 features highest integration for embedded automotive systems and maximum performance. Due to its self-tuning resonance capability, the antenna is able to operate with maximum voltage, maximum current and maximum field strength. The ATA5275 extends Atmel's broad TPMS product portfolio, which already includesUHF transmitter and receiver ICs, LF receiver and antenna driver ICs as well as microcontroller devices to design complete TPMS systems.
Comparable solutions are usually designed as discrete solutions, where the system is not integrated, requiring more design effort, more external devices and a higher bill of materials. The new ATA5275 is the first non-discrete antenna driver IC available on the market, making TPMS/POD designs simpler and more cost-effective. The device is highly integrated, and also 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 be available on-chip along with the LC antenna circuit, enabling the system engineer to design a trigger station with a high Quality factor. For the self-tuning resonance to the antenna, a PLL circuit maintains the driver output frequency close to the antenna tank resonance frequency. When the antenna half bridge is activated, the VCO tracks the antenna current by means of its zero crossing detection to keep the VCO centered to the antenna tank resonant frequency. This is accomplished by means of a connection to the sense pin from a current shunt. The VCO deviates less than about 1.4% compared to the antenna tank resonance frequency, depending on the antenna quality. Due to this self-tuning feature, the antenna operates with maximum performance.
The new antenna driver IC provides several diagnostic features such as short circuit, open circuit and over temperature detection. The IC is load-dump protected up to 45 V and operates directly from the car battery. The ATA5275's time-out interface supervisor serves to avoid unintended continuous transmission in case of line errors. The temperature range is -40 degree Celsius/F to +105 degree Celsius/221 degree F.
Samples of the antenna driver IC ATA5275 in QFN20 packages are available now. 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 OscillatorAbout 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) 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(SM).
NOTE: Atmel(R), logo and combinations thereof, are the registered trademarks, and Everywhere You Are(SM) is the trademark of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be trademarks of others.
Information:
Atmel's antenna-driver IC ATA5275 information may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3506
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.comWeb 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
veronique.sablereau@atmel.com, all of Atmel Corporation