Download MSC-Newsletter: Newsletter 10/2005: ATMEL Wireless Chips [PDF 318KB]
ATMEL Wireless Chips

The world becomes more and more wireless, and every day new applications are created. Typical applications are found in remote control, telemetrics, alarm systems, heating & water consumption mesurement units and wireless sensors. Within this world of wireless communication the license free ISM radio band is very important. In this area Atmel has a long history of experience in industrial, as well as automotive, segments.

ATMEL's 433/868 MHz Transceiver Family

The following single chip Transceiver devices are optimized for several applications within the 433/868MHz band.

The Power-Device - AT86RF211S The AT86RF211S Chip is the power device within Atmel‘s transceiver and outputs power of +16dBm at 433MHz, and +15dBm at 868MHz. It‘s super-heterodyne structure with distributed filters, high selectivity and IIP3 makes it specialised for long range applications. Even with a PCB antenna it is possible to achieve long ranges, due to the device working in FSK mode, and can exhibit -107dBm with very high sensitity. Bi-directional and point-to-multipoint communication makes it easy to deploy Adaptive Frequency Agility (AFA), Listen before Transmit (LBT) or FHSS protocols. Several power down modes are possible, as well as a stand-alone „wake-up“ feature. With this option, an external microcontroller may be „woken-up“ if a dedicated signal is activated. Transmission with a data-rates of up to 100kbps are possible.

An Economical Solution - ATA5428 With a power consumption in receive mode and transmit mode of only 10,5mA (at 3V, 5dBm) and 17,8mA at 10dBm, the ATA5428 is optimally adapted for battery driven applications. This device is a highly integrated solution and only requires a few additional components to deploy a complete system. How easy this can be done is shown on the schematics on the right. Automotive Transceiver - ATA5824 The most recently introduced device within Atmel‘s Transceiver family is the ATA5824. This device is optimized for automotive applications, and is also available in an extended temperature range of -40°C to +105°C; in full-duplex mode the device is well protected against relay attacks. Applications include keyless entry, keyless go (passive entry), contactless wheel pressure control-systems and metering systems.

New RFID Devices

New Anti-Collision Transponder - ATA5558

The ATA5558 is a 125kHz anti-collision RFID transponder with up to 50 simultaneous detectable Tags. The internal memory size is 1386 bits, of which 1024 bits are programmable. Each device has its own ID-number which provides write and read protection. Possible applications are ID-chips for live-stock tagging, logistic systems, entry access systems, smart card systems or even casino chips.

Long Range Transponder - ATA5590

The ATA5590 is a 900MHz long range transponder (Tag) device. A 2 Watt powered detector reads ID‘s up to distances of 8m, achieved due to PSK modulation, which only the ATA5590 provides.

With those features this device is ideal for logistics applications. A relatively large EEPROM memory of 1024bit is available for customer specific requirements. The re-programmablility of the memory allows the use of this device in fly-back systems.

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