Atmel Launches Small LF RF IDIC With Unique ID for Access Control Applications

Atmel Launches Small LF RF IDIC With Unique ID for Access Control Applications

July 12, 2006

Optimized for Next-Generation ISO Cards and Key Fobs

    HEILBRONN, Germany, July 12 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), a global leader in the
development and fabrication of advanced semiconductor
solutions, announced today the availability of its ATA5567
small-sized 330-bit read/write transponder IDIC(R) with
unique ID, which is optimized for next-generation
access-control ISO cards and key fobs as used in access
control systems (hotel rooms, engineering departments and
offices, time recording systems, parking lots) and as
membership cards. Since the device uses low frequency (LF),
it can be used worldwide; it is insensitive to rugged
environments and can also be used in less-than-ideal
conditions (wet, dirty, shielded by metal, out of sight, or
worn on the body) which normally complicate the use of RFID
devices. 

    The ATA5567 is extremely small. Including an optional
75-pF on-chip capacitor, it measures less than 1 square
millimeter, smaller than most of the available read/write
products on the market, allowing it to be used in almost
any transponder package.

    As the ATA5567's reset behavior fits perfectly to the
reader devices available on the access control market, the
IC is well-suited for next-generation ISO cards and key
fobs. Furthermore, the IDIC provides a
manufacturer-programmed unique ID that guarantees the end
customer the singularity of this product, to prevent
unauthorized access to secured areas. Also, the unique ID
enables the retraceability of the product in case of
problems with illegal duplicates or counterfeiting. 

    The transponder IC is designed for passive
identification systems with a 120-kHz to 150-kHz magnetic
field. It supports different modulations/codings and has an
on-chip binary bit-rate generator. These features, plus the
implemented 64-bit unique TagID (also called traceability
data), enable the customer to address the well-known
ISO11784/11785 FDX-B standard. In spite of being an
animal-ID standard, this standard is used by a broad range
of access control systems.

    The ATA5567 IDIC is backward compatible and can replace
Atmel's well-known T5557 in several applications.

    Samples are available now in wafer, micromodule form,
or SO8 package. Pricing for the ATA5567 as wafer shipment
with quantities of 15k pieces starts at US $ 0.34. To
support the system designer, Atmel provides the design kit
ATAK2270 with evaluation software. 

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

    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,
IDIC(R), 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 new RF IDIC ATA5567 may
be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3923

    For more information, please Contact:

     Dr. Susanne van Clewe
     Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive Products
     Tel:    [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]

     Helen Perlegos
     Public Relations - USA and Asia Pacific 
     Tel:    [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]

     Veronique Sablereau
     Corporate Communications Manager - Europe
     Tel:    [phone]
     Fax:    [phone] 
     Email:  [e-mail]
    
SOURCE  Atmel Corporation