Antenna ASIC Invades PEG Market

Designed for passive entry go (PEG) car-access applications in decentralized systems, the ATA5277 is hailed as the industry’s first application specific antenna-driver IC. The device provides full functionality to generate a magnetic LF field in conjunction with an antenna coil to transmit data to a receiver in a key fob, card, or transponder. Without external discrete components, the chip provides a constant current through LF antennas up to 1A with a supply voltage range from 7V to 16V. An integrated boost converter generates a supply voltage up to 40 V for the driver stage. Antenna current is programmable in 16 steps via a bi- directional microcontroller interface, which is also used to control carrier modulation, mode selection, and diagnosis status. Additionally, bi-directional transmission can be controlled via a one-wire I/O interface (DIO). Two door-handle switches allow users to directly connect the door switch pins to the door handle. Other features include a typical data rate of 4 Kb/s that can be doubled via an integrated quick start control that shortens the oscillation build-up and decay times. This mode requires an external high-voltage MOS- FET. Available in a QFN28 package, pricing starts at $2.10 each/10, 000. ATMEL CORP., San Jose, CA. (408) 441-0311.