Atmel and u-blox Launch Low-Power GPS Baseband IC With SuperSense Weak-Signal Tracking Software

Heilbronn, Germany and Thalwil, Switzerland (ots/PRNewswire) -

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), a global leader in the
development and fabrication of advanced semiconductor solutions, and
u-blox AG, a leading provider of innovative GPS receiver technology,
announced today the availability of the ATR0625, a baseband IC with
SuperSense(TM) GPS weak-signal tracking software included in its ROM.
ATR0625 is based on the ANTARIS(TM) 4 platform which is a low-power,
16-channel GPS technology developed for automotive, handheld and
mobile applications such as OEM car navigation, mobile phones, PDAs,
smartphones, personal navigation devices, and recreational consumer
products.

Thanks to the integration of the well-proven SuperSense software
on masked ROM, an external Flash memory becomes unnecessary. This
significantly increases the benefits of the ANTARIS 4 technology --
low power consumption and small size. SuperSense, awarded with Frost
& Sullivan's Award for Technology Innovation in 2005, uses a
combination of coherent and incoherent tracking combined with
variable integration times for the individual satellites. A
leading-edge tracking sensitivity of -158 dBm is achieved with a
power consumption that remains low at a low signal level.

The ATR0625 is packaged in a low-cost QFN56 package and is
pin-compatible with the ATR0622 ANTARIS 4 baseband IC with standard
ROM software. This makes it easy for customers to enable their
existing products with weak-signal tracking technology. Like all
ANTARIS 4 chipsets, the ATR0625 comes with full WAAS/EGNOS support
and incorporates state-of-the-art Assisted GPS (A-GPS) with a TTFF as
low as four seconds. Further ANTARIS 4 benefits include a significant
chipset footprint reduction and unparalleled low power needs. The
chip operates at 62 mW, but its power saving modes, together with
built-in power management capabilities, can bring power consumption
down to as low as 5 microamps, enabling power-critical applications
like mobile devices to operate longer without having to compromise on
functionality. The on-chip USB connectivity eliminates the need for
an expensive serial-to-RS232 or serial-to-USB converter and makes
ANTARIS 4 products plug-and-play devices for any PC. The ATR0625
supports serial EEPROM memory, which is a cost- and space-efficient
alternative to Flash EPROMs for storage of custom configuration
settings. Using a QFN package rather than a BGA results in a cost
advantage for the IC itself and the customer's manufacturing process,
as additional steps needed in PCB assembly like X-raying become
unnecessary.

"The ATR0625 perfectly addresses the market demand of portable
devices where smaller products lead to smaller antennas which have
inherently lower performance," said Frank Gruson, Atmel's GPS Product
Line Manager. "End customers will enjoy excellent tracking accuracy
even in after market car applications with shielded windows, for
example, which has not been possible up to now."

"u-blox' award-winning SuperSense weak-signal tracking software on
the chip level brings indoor functionality to our low-power,
small-sized ANTARIS 4 positioning engine. This makes the ATR0625
ideal for GPS-enabled mass-market applications that perform reliably
and accurately, regardless of whether the user is outdoors, indoors
or in difficult signal environments such as urban canyons," commented
Georg zur Bonsen, Product Manager at u-blox.

The ATR0625 works seamlessly together with ATR0601, a highly
integrated, low-power GPS radio in a 4 x 4 mm QFN package. As an
optional extension to the ANTARIS 4 chipset, the ATR0610, a fully
integrated low-noise amplifier manufactured using Atmel's innovative
Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) process, is available for use in challenging
reception environments, enabling cost-effective antenna designs.

ATR0625 samples in 8 x 8 mm 56-pin QFN packages are available now.
Example designs for a small-form factor module and a high-performance
smart antenna are available including design guides, detailed bill of
materials, schematics and Gerber files to dramatically shorten
development cycle times. Samples and example designs can be ordered
via Atmel's local sales offices.

Footnote
A-GPS = Assisted GPS
EGNOS = European Geostationary Navigational Overlay System
GPS = Global Positioning Systems
PDA = Personal Digital Assistant
TTFF = Time to First Fix
USB = Universal Serial Bus
WAAS = Wide-Area Active Surveillance

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

Atmel's GPS ATR0625 product information may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3924

Atmel Press Contacts
Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive
Products
Phone: +49-7131-67-2081, Email: susanne.van-clewe@hno.atmel.com
Helen Perlegos, Public Relations - USA and Asia Pacific
Phone: +1-408-487-2963, Email: hperlegos@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

About u-blox

u-blox is an international company headquartered in Switzerland,
with sales organizations in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Founded in
1997, u-blox develops leading positioning technology and products
based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) for the automotive and
mobile communications markets. For more information, please visit
www.u-blox.com.

u-blox Press Contacts
Georg zur Bonsen, Product Management
Phone: +41-44-722-74-44, e-mail: georg.zurbonsen@u-blox.com
Alicia Montoya, Marketing Communications
Phone: +41-44-722-74-86, e-mail: alicia.montoya@u-blox.com

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

ots Originaltext: Atmel Corporation
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive
Products, +49-7131-67-2081, or susanne.van-clewe@hno.atmel.com, or
Helen Perlegos, Public Relations - USA and Asia Pacific,
+1-408-487-2963, or hperlegos@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; or Georg zur Bonsen, Product Management,
+41-44-722-74-44, or georg.zurbonsen@u-blox.com, or Alicia Montoya,
Marketing Communications, +41-44-722-74-86, or
alicia.montoya@u-blox.com, both of u-blox