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

San Jose, California (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Device offers highly integrated features, smaller footprint and
higher performance

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

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

Contact:
Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Director Automotive, +49-7131-67-2081,
susanne.van-clewe@atmel.com, or Clive Over, Director of Public
Relations, +1-408-436-4305, clive.over@atmel.com, both of Atmel
Corporation