Smart RF
Atmel offers a broad range of RF ICs with industry-leading RF performance, operating in the license-free ISM frequency bands (5.8 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 868 to 928 MHz, 433 MHz, and 315 MHz). These devices target a broad range of proprietary wireless industrial and consumer applications such as automatic metering, alarm systems, and home control applications as well as toys and gaming applications. Atmel's well-accepted RF technology has satisfied even the strictest quality and reliability demands of the automotive market and has been sold in more than 50 million units up to now.
An RF link consists of at least two RF nodes. The most simple system is a uni-directional link with a transmitter on each side. If information is to be exchanged in both directions (bi-directional system), the nodes need to be transceivers.
Transceiver
Atmel provides a wide range of transceivers that address bi-directional RF links for all popular license-free bands (5.8 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 868 to 928 MHz, 433 MHz, and 315 MHz). These devices feature robustness, high performance and extended battery life time. Their tiny packages and high integration enable the design of small-sized and cost-effective end applications.
Transmitter
Atmel's transmitter family for simple, cost-effective uni-directional systems serve all popular sub-Ghz license-free bands.
Atmel's latest innovation, the highly integrated micro-transmitters comprise Atmel's popular AVR microcontroller core and a member of the robust and well-accepted RF transmitter family. Such devices offer maximum flexibility, allowing in-system Flash memory programming. The powerful AVR controller simplifies hardware and software design, and achieves throughputs approaching 1 MIPS per MHz, thus enabling system designers to optimize power consumption versus processing speed. Due to their highly effective RF link and flexibility, these ICs are specifically suited for battery-powered applications such as remote control applications or garage door openers.
The micro-transmitters use proven technologies shipped in various products since 2001. The market-leading 8-bit microcontroller AVR CPU has been incorporated into countless products and shipped over a billion units.
Receiver
In addition to transceivers, transmitters and micro-transmitters, Atmel offers high-performance receivers such as the ATA8201, ATA8202 and ATA8203/4/5, thus enabling its customes to design complete solutions with products out of one hand.
PAs
Several applications, for example those at higher frequencies (2.4 and 5.8 GHz), need coverage improvement. Atmel provides two high-performance power amplifiers to overcome these issues, which are perfectly matched to the corresponding Atmel transceiver.
