New Chips Offer a Very Short Settling Time and Low Active Current Consumption to Extend TPMS Modules' Life Time
April 6, 2004 - Atmel® Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced the availability of two new UHF ASK/ FSK transmitter ICs optimized for use in battery-powered Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) modules. The ATA5756 is designed for applications in the 315-MHz range (North America), while the ATA5757 is dedicated for 433 MHz (Europe), but can also be operated at 448 MHz as typically requested for the Korean market.Thanks to their very short settling time and low active current consumption, the new TPMS ICs help to drastically reduce the total current consumption and thus to extend the modules' life time. This is mandatory for TPMS applications since TPMS modules mounted on the rim of vehicle wheels, transmitting continuously tire pressure data to the vehicle's body, must guarantee an overall life time of 10 years.
The ATA5756's and the ATA5757's settling time is less than 0.85 ms (typically), thus saving battery power especially in TPMS sensor boards. This makes the devices also well suited for PEG (Passive Entry Go) key fobs where quick reaction times on protocols is a main requirement.
Another feature that helps to extend the module's lifetime is the low current consumption. The typical current consumption during transmission mode (PA ON) is 8.1 mA with a typical output power of 6 dBm. During power-down mode, the typical current consumption is as low as 1 nA.
To extend the module's lifetime, TPMS systems also require, when operating at very low temperatures, low operation voltages of 2.0 V with flexible transmission duty cycle modes. In contrast to competing devices that are only capable of 2.1 V operation at low temperatures, Atmel's transmitter ICs ATA5756 and ATA5757 provide guaranteed 2 V operation at -40 degree Celsius/F.
The 3-wire-compatible interface allows connecting additional devices, such as an LF receiver, in parallel to the microcontroller ports, thus enabling flexible TPM sensor board designs. Conventional TPMS transmitter ICs without 3-wire-compatible interface need additional ports at the microcontroller.
Samples of the new TPMS transmitter ICs ATA5756 and ATA5757 small-outline TSSOP10 packages are available now. Pricing starts at US$1.10 (10 k).
Atmel's UHF ASK/ FSK transmitter IC information may be retrieved at: ATA5756, ATA5757.
