SAN JOSE, California, September 26 /PRNewswire/ --

- Transparent Internal Calibration Improves Performance without
Disrupting Operation and Cuts Cost by Eliminating the Need for External
Calibration Circuitry or Calibration Software

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the third of its 
MAX-Link(TM) series of transceivers designed specifically for WiMAX 
applications. AT86RF525B and its predecessor, the AT86RF535B, use a 
proprietary internal calibration algorithm eliminating the need for an 
external calibration circuit or calibration software. The MAX-Link(TM) 
transceivers are the only WiMAX specific transceivers on the market today 
with internal calibration. Initial startup calibration captures mismatch 
effects resulting in lower local oscillator leakage and improved image 
rejection. Changes in temperature, supply voltage, or frequency during 
operation will cause RF performance degradation and necessitates 
recalibration. The calibration routine is continuously performed between 
transmit and receive data frames, totally independent from the baseband and 
media access control (MAC) processor, to optimize the image rejection and LO 
leakage performance characteristics.

Along with enhanced WiMAX system functionality, the AT86RF525B enables
one of the lowest component costs of any RF reference design on the market
today. This frequency-agile, single-chip transceiver operates at 2.5GHz with
multiple bandwidth options addressing the requirements of WiMAX base stations
and subscriber equipment. Internal configuration and control registers can be
programmed to integrate with new and existing baseband devices from different
vendors. All of the MAX-Link transceivers provide excellent RF performance
with low current consumption, low cost, and only a minimum of external
components for the RF design.

On-chip integration techniques combine a low-noise amplifier, power
amplifier driver, receive/transmit mixer, receive/transmit filters,
voltage-controlled oscillator, synthesizer, receive gain control, and
transmit power control all completely digitally controlled. The fully
differential design of the transceiver can be configured for either low-IF or
zero-IF applications and requires no external filters. The RF reference
design incorporates a power amplifier including antenna diversity in a
footprint of 40 mm x 35 mm on a 4-layer PCB with components on only one side.

The fractional-N synthesizer in the AT86RF525B utilizes a unique phase
interpolation divider (PID) rather than the more conventional modulus divider
architecture. The PID allows for very good frequency resolution and fast
tuning speed. The calibrated voltage control oscillator (VCO) can be tuned in
less than 10 us to support 100 MHz hybrid frequency division duplexing (HFDD)
operations. The synthesizer has the speed and power advantages of an
asynchronous divider and is fully programmable within the frequency range of
the radio.

Availability and Pricing

The AT86RF525B is available now. Pricing starts at US$14.50 in
quantities of 10K. For more information please send your request to:
wimax@atmel.com.

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.

(C) 2007 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), logo and
combinations thereof, and Max-Link, are registered trademarks, or trademarks
of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may
be trademarks of others.

Information

Atmel's AT86RF525B product information may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/products/wimax/

Press Contacts
    Vicki McCann, Director Marketing Communications - USA
    Phone: +1-719-540-1724, Email: vmccann@cso.atmel.com

    Helen Perlegos, Public Relations Phone: +1-408-487-2963, Email:
    hperlegos@atmel.com



Web site: http://www.atmel.com