Atmel Launches High-performance and Flexible RF Front-end Solutions for DAB and T-DMB Applications

Outstanding Sensitivity and Superior Channel Selectivity Allow Maximum Operation Even Under Critical Signal Reception Conditions

HEILBRONN, Germany, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Atmel(R) Corporation (NASDAQ:ATML) , a global leader in the development and fabrication of advanced semiconductor solutions, announced today the availability of two new front-end devices, the ATR2732 and ATR2733, for DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) and T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcast) applications. The dual-band ATR2732 covers both VHF Band 3 and L-Band, while the ATR2733 is a cost-optimized solution for VHF Band 3 only. Due to their high performance, flexibility and robustness, these devices are well-suited for use in car radio applications and other high-quality DAB/DMB systems. The ATR2732 and ATR2733 are designed to work seamlessly with Atmel's DAB/DMB baseband device, the ATR2740, providing leading-edge DAB/DMB system performance.

Both the ATR2732 and ATR2733 offer excellent performance, robustness, and are ideal for the car radio/automotive environment. For example, the interfaces are differential, providing a high level of immunity against external disturbances. The devices are flexible and work with different external circuitry which allows the designer to make choices concerning performance, BOM cost and form factor on his own. This makes these ICs very attractive for consumer segments. In addition, the ATR2732 and ATR2733 provide RSSI information which is very useful for the radio system designer because the DAB signal is available without time delays and the provided information is more reliable. The devices can be controlled dynamically optimizing current consumption and improving receiver performance even under weak signal conditions.

Atmel's DAB/DMB front-end ICs are designed to operate under critical signal reception conditions with superior performance. This is especially important because VHF Band 3 still carries analog TV signals in many regions worldwide which may interfere with DAB/DMB systems operating in the same band. The sensitivity of the parts is -99 dBm, combined with a selectivity of 50 dB and a very good adjacent channel suppression of up to 43 dB. Advanced control software for the ATR2732 and the ATR2733 is included in the ATR2740 software.

"Atmel has long-term experience in the area of DAB and broadcast radio which is a mandatory basis to design high-performance solutions. Atmel offers a complete system solution, including digital baseband and RF front-end ICs -- a perfect combination which can address a broad range of different market segments," said Carsten Friedrich, Marketing Manager Digital Radio ICs at Atmel. "Customers will enjoy the unrivaled performance even under the most difficult conditions," he added.

Samples of the ATR2732 and the ATR2733 tuner front-end ICs are available now in MLF64 (9 x 9 mm) and MLF48 (7 x 7 mm) packages with pricing starting at US $3.50 for 10k piece quantities.

Footnote
DAB = Digital Audio Broadcast
T-DMB = Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcast
RSSI = Receive Signal Strength Indication

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

Product information on Atmel's ATR2732 and the ATR2733 tuner front-end ICs may be retrieved at: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3911 (ATR2732) http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3910 (ATR2733)