Atmel Launches LF RF IDIC With Unique ID and Unsurpassed Read/Write Performance

Heilbronn, Germany (ots/PRNewswire) -

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the
availability of the ATA5577 330-bit read/write transponder IDIC(R).
The device features a unique ID and extended read/write distance and
has been optimized for next-generation access control applications
including hotel rooms, engineering departments, offices, time
recording systems, parking lots and customer loyalty and membership
cards. In addition, the new device operates according to ISO 11784
and ISO 11785 (FDX-B) standards, making it well-suited for animal
identification and waste management applications.

Since the ATA5577 is a low frequency (LF) device, it can be used
worldwide. It is not sensitive to rugged environments and can also be
used under conditions that normally complicate the application of
RFID devices such as water, metal, or dirt; out-of-sight; or being
worn on the body.

Including the optional trimmed 330-pF on-chip capacitors, the
ATA5577 measures approximately 1.1 square millimeter which allows the
chip to be used in almost any transponder package including glass
transponders for animal identification. The integrated capacitors
reduce the number of external components required; a coil is all that
is needed for a complete system.

The device's new architecture enables outstanding read/write
performance operation with different types of coils, readers, and
parameters which is especially important for animal and waste
management applications. A special register allows the control of
several analog front-end parameters, maximizing the overall read and
write distance for each kind of application. Thanks to a dedicated
write procedure (downlink, reader-to-tag), the write distance has
been increased to industry leading distances. This increased write
distance is especially beneficial for all applications in difficult
environments.

The IDIC provides a manufacturer-programmed unique ID which is
vital to guaranteeing access to secured areas. The unique ID also
enables the traceability of the product, thus preventing easy cloning
or counterfeiting of the tag IC.

The ATA5577 transponder IC supports different modulations and
codings and is designed for passive identification systems with a 100
to 150 kHz magnetic field. It can replace and is backward compatible
with Atmel's well-known T5551, T5557, and ATA5567 LF devices in
several applications.

Availability and Pricing

Samples are available now as wafer or die in waffle pack. Pricing
for the ATA5577 as wafer shipment with quantities of 15k pieces
starts at US$ 0.34. To support the system designer, Atmel provides
the evaluation kit ATA2270-EK1 and the design kit ATAK2270. The
latter is accompanied by evaluation software.

Footnote
ID = IDentification
IDIC = IDentification IC (Atmel patented term)
LF = Low Frequency
RFID = Radio Frequency IDentification

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), IDIC(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 new LF IDIC ATA5577 may be
retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=4112

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

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

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