Atmel Introduces AM/FM Antenna Impedance Matching IC Enabling Outstanding Car-radio Reception with any Kind of Active Car Antenna

Heilbronn, Germany (ots/PRNewswire) -

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the
availability of the highly integrated AM/FM antenna amplifier IC
ATR4251, which enables outstanding AM/FM car-radio reception when
used with designer antennas, such as windshield, roof, or bumper
antennas. The ATR4251's impedance matching amplifier helps to
compensate for signal losses resulting from the smaller dimensions of
modern antennas and the longer cables to the car radio.

The ATR4251 IC enables crystal-clear reception without distortion
even under the extremely difficult and rapidly fluctuating field
strength conditions typically found in moving antenna systems due to
its highly dynamic AM and FM range. This high reception quality is
due to the balance of an AM gain value of up to 35 dB, a large-signal
behaviour both in AM and FM mode (e.g., IP3 148 dBuV in FM), and a
good noise behavior, optimized for antenna applications.

A separate low noise amplifier (LNA) for FM and a buffer amplifier
for AM are used to address the different operating frequencies and
requirements of both AM and FM. The AM amplifier covers the entire
broadcasting frequency range from 150 kHz up to 30 MHz which includes
modern DRM systems. The FM LNA handles the frequency range from 70
MHz to 166 MHz, which includes weather band and HD Radio in the US.

The automatic AM and FM gain control (AGC) enable independent AM
and FM adjustment to prevent overdriving of amplifiers under
large-signal conditions. In addition, the use of two separate AGC
circuits stops strong AM signals from blocking FM stations, and vice
versa.

"Car radio antennas are increasingly seen as an intrinsic element
of car design," stated Carsten Friedrich, Marketing Manager Broadcast
Radio at Atmel. "The ATR4251, without compromising on reception
performance of car radios, directly addresses this challenging
antenna design trend."

Availability and Pricing

Samples of the ATR4251 are now available in SSO and QFN packages
with pricing starting at US $0.60 for 100k piece quantities.
Reference design demo boards are also available.

Footnote
AGC = Automatic Gain Control
AM = Amplitude Modulation
LNA = Low Noise Amplifier
DRM = Digital Radio Mondiale(TM)
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.

Atmel(R), 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

Product information on Atmel's highly integrated AM/FM antenna
amplifier IC ATR4251may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3985

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

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

Rückfragehinweis:
Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive
Products, +49-7131-67-2081, susanne.van-clewe@hno.atmel.com, or Helen
Perlegos, Public Relations - USA and Asia Pacific, +1-408-487-2963,
hperlegos@atmel.com, or Veronique Sablereau, Corporate Communications
Manager - Europe, +33-1-30-60-70-68, or Fax, +49-7131-67-2423,
veronique.sablereau@atmel.com

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