Hot News

Atmel's 8-bit Flash AVR Microcontrollers are the Industry's First to Meet +150 Degrees Celsius in Automotive Qualification

  July 24th, 2006  

    Nantes, France, July 24th, 2006 . . . Atmel® Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the industry first 8-bit RISC Flash microcontroller to be qualified for operation up to +150 degrees Celsius (AECQ100 Grade 0).

    Already available in -40 to +125 degrees Celsius operating temperature range, the ATmega88 AVR® microcontroller is now capable of withstanding automotive temperature extremes, thus allowing designers to distribute intelligence and control functions directly into gearboxes, engine sensors and actuators, transfer cases, turbochargers, and finally simplifying the wiring network.

    Compared with the existing 8-bit ROM competition, Atmel's robust non-volatile memory technology offers an unmatched capability to designers. The EEPROM is ideal for storing data, and the self-programmable Flash allows for the code updating within an application even after system deployment. Using Atmel's Flash technology eliminates the expensive and time-consuming steps inherent in mask ROM-based microcontrollers.

    The ATmega88 device integrates a high number of features, thus significantly reducing complete system chip count. This includes an embedded 8-Kbyte Flash program memory and 512-byte EEPROM, a variable gain amplifier, a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter, a fast analog comparator, and an on-chip calibrated 8 MHz RC oscillator, avoiding the need for an external crystal. Other on-chip features such as a Power-on-Reset, a Brown-out-Detector and a watchdog with dedicated oscillator also contribute to the overall system reliability.

    The ATmega88 150 degree-compliant samples are available now in 32-pin QFN package. Production will start in 1Q 2007.

     The AVR full suite of low-cost development tools supports the automotive AVR microcontrollers for a fast, simple and successful development process.

     By the end of 2006, the 8-pin ATtiny45 with 4-Kbyte Flash memory will be sampled in -40 to +150 degrees Celsius temperature range.

    Footnote
AEC: Automotive Electronic Council

    Information:
Atmel's ATmega88 +150 degrees C qualified product information may be retrieved at http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc7607.pdf
For further information on automotive AVR solutions, go to http://www.atmel.com/products/avr/auto/

Atmel Unveils Smallest Footprint UHF ASK/FSK Receiver ICs for TPMS and RKE Applications

  July 24th, 2006  

Best Trade-off of Large Bandwidth and High Selectivity

    Heilbronn, Germany, July 24th, 2006. . . Atmel® Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), a global leader in the development and fabrication of advanced semiconductor solutions, announced today the availability of the new ATA5745 and ATA5746 UHF ASK/FSK receiver ICs, extending Atmel's broad existing portfolio of automotive RF devices. The ATA5745 operates at 433 to 435 MHz, whereas the ATA5746 covers the 313 to 315-MHz frequency band for the standard automotive environment. These single-chip devices are manufactured using Atmel's new RF BiCMOS process UHF6S, enabling even smaller designs. With a size of 5 mm x 5 mm, they provide the industry's smallest footprints, a perfect fit for Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) applications.

     These devices provide the best combination of large bandwidth and excellent receiving selectivity thanks to their fully-integrated filters. This allows system designers to develop a broad range of TPMS and RKE solutions, ranging from highly sophisticated to very low cost, whereas competing solutions cannot be used for such low-cost systems due to their smaller bandwidth. The new receiver ICs need few external devices and no external filters which add to the cost-efficiency of the end systems. Eight passive components, a crystal, and an RF antenna are typically all that is needed to create a receiver board application. Thanks to the ICs' large oscillation margin, designers can apply very low-cost crystals.

     Due to their fast switching capability between TPMS and RKE signals, the ATA5745 and ATA5746 can be used in unified RKE/TPMS automotive application environments with different system definitions, thus eliminating the need for two separate RKE and TPMS ICs. The ICs' ability to change the modulation type between ASK and FSK, and between data rates without component changes, is important when receiving different RKE/TPMS modulation schemes and data rates. They can be operated in 1 to 20-Kbit/s Manchester FSK mode with four different baud rate ranges, selectable through the microcontroller without any hardware modification on board. The typical switching between modulation types ASK/FSK and different data rates is possible in less 1 ms.

     These receiver ICs consist of an integrated IF filter, low-phase-noise VCO, PLL, and loop filter without requiring any external parts for these functional blocks. The totally integrated RF circuits achieve an image rejection of typically 30 dB. The ATA5745/ATA5746 are transparent receivers and operate in combination with a separate microcontroller for bit check and polling modes.

     The active current consumption is specified at about 6.5 mA in receiving mode and is based on single-ended RF input for easy adaptation of lambda/4 or printed loop antennas.
The devices support header and blanking periods in ASK mode, as required by typical protocols used in the USA with a telegram pause length up to 52 ms.

     Samples are available now in QFN24 packages. Pricing for the ATA5745/ATA5746 starts at US $1.40 (at 10kpc quantities). To support the system designer, Atmel provides the evaluation boards ATA5745-EK and ATA5746-EK at a cost of US$ 99.

    Footnote
ASK = Alternating Shift Keying
FSK = Frequency Shift Keying
PLL = Phase Locked Loop
RKE = Remote Keyless Entry
TPMS = Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
UHF = Ultra High Frequency
VCO = Voltage Controlled Oscillator

Information
Product information on Atmel's new UHF ASK/FSK receiver ICs
ATA5745/ATA5746 may be retrieved at: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?family_id=606&family_name=Automotive+Control&part_id=3961
(ATA5745) and http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?family_id=606&family_name=Automotive+Control&part_id=3962
(ATA5746)

Atmel Introduces a Low Cost USB OTG Development Platform

  July 19, 2006  

New $30 Board and Software Stacks Make USB Projects Easy With Atmel 8-bit AVR Microcontrollers

    Nantes, France, July 19th, 2006. . . Atmel® Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the release of a complete USB solution for embedded systems consisting of the AT90USBKey demonstration board - available for only $30 and a new royalty-free USB software suite supporting Dual Role Device (DRD), USB Host or Function. This platform allows fast and easy development with the AT90USB AVR® microcontroller family.

    Reduce complexity and cost. The USB's bus is replacing the UART in an increasing number of embedded systems. Existing development tools are often based on 32-bit processors or embedded PCs, which require large system memories and an operating system (OS). By offering a complete development platform based on the market-leading AVR 8-bit RISC architecture, Atmel offers a standalone platform that does not require an OS to facilitate the quick development of new applications with USB. Atmel's $30 platform is 10 to 1000 times less expensive than other solutions.

    A low-cost and powerful kit. The AT90USBKey connects to a PC without the need of an external power supply for USB device developments. It can also be powered by an external battery for host/OTG developments. The on-board AT90USB1287 AVR Microcontroller features 128 Kbytes of Flash code memory that can be reprogrammed in-system and high-end debugging is allowed with a JTAG connection. The AT90USBKey gives access to all the AVR general-purpose IOs and peripherals: UART, SPI, TWI, Timers, PWM, ADC, etc.

    The kit also provides 16 Mbytes of DataFlash® demonstrating mass storage applications and containing reference software and documentation. On-board joystick and LEDs allows interaction with the user. Cables and adapters are also included to connect to a variety of USB and OTG devices.

    Complete set of royalty-free USB stacks. The following USB standard device classes are supported today in both device and host modes: Human Interface Device (HID), Mass Storage Device (MSD) and Device Firmware Upgrade (DFU). The Communication Device Class (CDC) and the Audio class are supported in device mode while their host mode support is in development. Printer and Hub classes will be supported in 2007. Composite devices with multiple interfaces are already supported in host mode and in device mode.

    As an example, the total program code for a DFU, MSD and HID host and device with file management fits in only 24 Kbytes, leaving a large portion of the Flash memory available to support other application needs.

    The USB software suite is written in C language with online documentation and HTML documents to accelerate customer development and help with code maintenance and quality. It allows direct compilation with the IAR® C compiler and with the WinAVR GCC-based compiler.

    Atmel grants customers a license to use the source code for development on Atmel microcontrollers and to distribute the object code without royalties only for Atmel microcontrollers.

    Pricing and Availability
The AT90USBKey is available now from Atmel distributors at $30 per unit. The software is free-of-charge and is available for customers qualifying with Atmel limited license agreement.

    Information
Atmel's AT90USBKey product information may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?tool_id=3879
For further information on USB controllers, go to: http://www.atmel.com/products/USB

  中文  

Atmel 推出低成本 USB OTG 開發平台

憑借 Atmel 8位微控制單元

售價30美元的最新演示板和軟體棧使 USB 項目變得輕鬆

    美通社法蘭西南特7月19日電 Atmel® Corporation（納斯達克交易代碼︰ATML）今天宣佈推出面向嵌入式系統的全面 USB 解決方案，該解決方案包括售價僅為30美元的 AT90USBKey 演示板，以及支持兩用設備 (DRD)、USB 主機或功能的免權利金 USB 最新軟體套件。憑借 AT90USB AVR(R) 微控制單元系列，該平台可實現快速且簡單的開發。

     降低複雜性和成本。 USB 匯流排正替代 UART 應用于越來越多的嵌入式系統。現有的開發工具通常以需要較大系統內存和作業系統的32位處理器或嵌入式個人電腦為基礎。透過提供基于市場領先的 AVR 8位 RISC 架構的完整開發平台，Atmel 實現了一個無需作業系統即可快速開發新的 USB 應用的獨立平台。Atmel 平台（30美元）較其他解決方案便宜10倍至1000倍。

     低成本且功能強大的工具包。AT90USBKey 與個人電腦連接時，無需外部電源便可進行 USB 設備開發。在開發主機/ OTG 時，該平台還可透過外部電池獲得電源。板上 AT90USB1287 AVR 微控制單元配置有128千位元組的代碼閃存，可在系統內實現重新編程，而憑借 JTAG 連接可實現高端調試。AT90USBKey 適用于所有 AVR 多用途 IO 及外圍設備，其中包括 UART、SPI、TWI、Timers、PWM 和ADC 等。

     該工具包還提供16兆位元組的 DataFlash®，展示大量內存應用並包括參考軟體和文件。板上操縱杆和 LED 支持與用戶的互動。此外還包括線纜和適配器，以連接各種 USB 和 OTG 設備。

     全套免權利金 USB 棧。如今，人機界面設備 (HID)、大容量存儲設備 (MSD) 和設備固件升級 ((DFU) 等 USB 標準設備可透過設備和主機模式支持。通信設備類 (CDC) 和音頻類透過設備模式支持，其主機模式支持正處于開發中。印表機和集線器類將于2007年得到支持。帶有多個界面的合成設備已得到主機模式和設備模式的支持。

     例如，帶有文件管理的 DFU、MSD 和 HID 主機和設備的整個程式代碼僅佔用24 千位元組，因此，閃存的大部分內存還可支持其他應用需求。

     USB 軟體套件以 C 語言編寫，在線文件和 HTML 文件可加速客戶開發，並幫助維護代碼和確保質量。該軟體套件還可透過 IAR® C 編譯器及基于 WinAVR GCC 的編譯器直接進行編輯。

     Atmel 允許客戶在 Atmel 微控制單元上使用源代碼進行開發，無需繳納權利金即可發布目標代碼（僅限 Atmel 微控制單元）。

     定價和上市
AT90USBKey 目前可從 Atmel 分銷商處購買，單價為30美元。該軟體為免費軟體，供與 Atmel 達成限制性授權協議的客戶使用。

Atmel Offers AVR Remote Access Control Solution

  July 18, 2006  

License-free Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) based Rolling Code Algorithm and Low-power Devices Provide the Highest Security and Longest Battery Life

    San Jose, CA, July 18, 2006. . . Atmel® Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today an AVR® Remote Access Control (RAC) solution that offers more than 10 years of battery life with its license-free and secure RAC solution for Remote Keyless Entry and other wireless control applications.

    Atmel - one stop shop for Remote Access Control

With its AVR microcontrollers, Smart RF radios and reference software, Atmel provides a complete solution for Remote Access Control designs. "With a complete system including microcontroller, radio and software, we believe we provide customers with a problem-free and fast solution, allowing a shorter time to market," said Magnus Pedersen, Atmel's Director of AVR RF Marketing.

By using AVR microcontrollers, the system provides excellent performance and flexibility to meet the requirements for a modern RAC system. In addition, the AVR microcontroller is still left with resources to serve other parts of the application, such as motor control, lights, relays etc.

    More than 10 years of life for battery-operated transmitter

By combining the very low power ATtiny45 microcontroller with the T575x PLL transmitter, the system enables a fast but very power-efficient solution. Spending most of the time in sleep mode combined with no more than 30 milliseconds response time in active mode, a battery life of more than 10 years is achieved by transmitter fobs.

    RAC software with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption free of charge from Atmel

Security is provided by license-free AES software. Multiple security levels are available as the system supports 128-, 192- and 256-bit AES key strengths. The solution offers great flexibility based on a modular software architecture that is easily customized to fulfill customer needs. Even though the system offers multiple security levels and a modular approach, it is still very efficient with a response time of less than 30 milliseconds.

    License-free ISM (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) frequency band operation

By using Atmel's own T575x PLL transmitters and ATA5743 RF receiver, the RAC solution enables operation in the ISM band at 315 MHz or 434 MHz. The T5753 transmitter supports 315 MHz while 434 MHz is supported by T5754. The T5743 receiver supports both 315 MHz and 434 MHz communication. The ISM band is license free and available in most parts of the world.

    STK512 Remote Access Control - Unidirectional kit

Atmel's STK512 kit contains a unidirectional radio system consisting of a battery operated transmitter (ATtiny45 + T575x), and a receiver (ATA5743) for mounting on the STK500 AVR starter kit (STK500 is not included). Together with STK500, the STK512 provides a complete development environment for RAC applications.

    The STK512 starter kit is available in two different versions covering 315 MHz or 434 MHz as designated by the part number suffix -3 or -4 respectively, both including fully featured Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) rolling code software.

    Pricing* and Availability

Atmel's AVR Remote Access Control chip set is available now.
ATtiny45 microcontroller and T5753 315 MHz PLL transmitter             $1.82
ATtiny45 microcontroller and T5754 434 MHz PLL transmitter             $1.82
Atmega88 microcontroller and ATA5743 315-434 MHz RF receiver      $4.17

        *Pricing is for quantities of 10,000 or more units

    Starter kits are available now:
ATAKSTK512-3 Remote Access Control - Unidirectional Kit 315 MHz     $330.00
ATAKSTK512-4 Remote Access Control - Unidirectional Kit 434 MHz     $330.00

ATSTK500 AVR Starter Kit                                                                  $79.00

Information:
AVR Remote Access Control product information may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/products/avr/rac

  中文  

Atmel 提供 AVR 遠程接入控制解決方案

基于免費授權高級加密標準的循環碼運算和低功耗設備

提供最高的安全性和最長的電池壽命

    美通社加州聖荷西7月18日電 Atmel® Corporation（納斯達克交易代碼︰ATML）今天公佈了一種電池壽命長達10年以上的 AVR® 遠程接入控制 (RAC) 解決方案和針對遙控車門開關 (Remote Keyless Entry) 和其他無線控制應用的免費授權安全遠程接入控制解決方案。

    Atmel──遠程接入控制一站式商店

憑借其 AVR 微控制單元、智能射頻無線電接收裝置和參考軟體，Atmel 提供一套針對遠程接入控制設計的完整解決方案。Atmel 的 AVR 射頻營銷主管 Magnus Pedersen 表示︰"憑借包括微控制單元、無線電接收裝置和軟體等在內的一整套系統，我們相信我們能為客戶提供一個"沒問題"的快速解決方案，從而縮短產品的上市時間。"

透過採用 AVR 微控制單元，該系統提供卓越的性能和靈活性，能夠滿足現代遠程接入控制系統的需求。此外，AVR 微控制單元還可為電機控制、車燈和繼電器等該應用的其他部件提供資源服務。

     電池壽命達10年以上的發射機

透過整合非常低功耗的 ATtiny45 微控制單元與 T575x 鎖相環電路 (PLL) 發射機，該系統實現了一個快速且功率高效的解決方案。該發射機大部分時間處于睡眠模式，而在主動模式下附應時間僅為30毫秒，由此可實現10年以上的電池壽命。

     帶有高級加密標準 (AES) 加密的遠程接入控制軟體可免費從 Atmel 索取。

免費授權高級加密標準軟體提供安全性。該系統可支持128-、192- 和256位的高級加密標準的主要強度，從而提供多重安全水準。基于一個易于定製以滿足客戶需求的模塊軟體架構，該解決方案提供極大的靈活性。即使該系統提供多重安全水準和一個模塊化方法，它依然非常高效，附應時間不超過30毫秒。

     免費授權 ISM（工業、科學和醫療）頻率波段運作

透過使用 Atmel 自身的 T575x PLL 發射機和 ATA5743 射頻接收器，遠程接入控制解決方案實現了以 315 MHz 或 434 MHz 在 ISM 波段下運作。該 T5753 發射機支持 315 MHz，而 T5754 則支持 434 MHz。T5743 接收器同時支持 315 MHz 和 434 MHz 通訊。ISM 波段是免費授權的，並且在全球大部分地區均可使用。

    STK512 遠程接入控制──單向工具包

Atmel 的 STK512 工具包包括一個由電池支持的發射機 (ATtiny45 + T575x) 組成的單向無線電系統和可安裝于 STK500 AVR 初學人工具包（不包括 STK500）的接收器 (ATA5743)。STK512 和 STK500 一起為遠程接入控制應用提供一個完整的開發環境。

STK512 初學人工具包提供 315 MHz 和 434 MHz 兩種不同的版本，設計的型號后綴分別為-3和-4。 這兩個版本均包括功能齊全的高級加密標準循環碼軟體。

     定價和可用性

Atmel 的 AVR 遠程控制晶片組目前已上市。
ATtiny45 微控制單元和 T5753 315 MHz PLL 發射機的定價為1.82美元
ATtiny45 微控制單元和 T5754 434 MHz PLL 發射機的定價為1.82美元
Atmega88 微控制單元和 ATA5743 315-434 MHz 射頻接收器的定價為4.17美元
上述定價均為批量定購10,000件或更多時的價格

初學人工具包目前已上市
ATAKSTK512-3 遠程接入控制──315 MHz 單向工具包的定價為330.00美元
ATAKSTK512-4 遠程接入控制──434 MHz 單向工具包的定價為330.00美元
ATSTK500 AVR 初學人工具包的定價為79.00美元

Atmel Introduces 14- & 16-Pin Low Power Single Cycle Core 8051 Microcontrollers

  July 12, 2006