ROUSSET, France, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Atmel(R) Corporation
(Nasdaq: ATML) and the Institute of Embedded Systems (InES), Zurich University
of Applied Sciences, announced today the availability of an Ultra Wideband
(UWB) transceiver that InES has implemented by personalizing Atmel's AT91CAP9S
Customizable Microcontroller. The CAP(TM) implements the logic of the UWB
Media Access Controller (MAC) in its metal programmable block, driven by
software running on the embedded ARM926EJ-S(TM) processor.
Hans-Joachim Gelke, InES Microelectronics Project Leader, commented, "The
porting of an UWB MAC onto Atmel's CAP is an excellent example of the
collaboration between our Institute and industrial partners in order to bring
advanced applications of embedded systems to the marketplace. We are working
with a lead partner in order to industrialize this system, and are now able to
offer the IP to others who wish to use the CAP as a platform for an UWB
application."
Michel Le Lan, Atmel's ASIC Marketing Director, added, "The CAP UWB
implementation shows how our customizable microcontroller can be rapidly
adapted to complex tasks like Ultra Wideband media access control. UWB is an
emerging technology that is ideal for many applications, in particular in the
medical field, where its resistance to interference and ability to penetrate
obstacles, together with its high bandwidth, make it the medium of choice for
the next generation of wireless medical imaging and similar equipment. The
medium volumes of projects like these make CAP the best choice in terms of
price/performance. CAP costs much less per unit and consumes far less energy
than an equivalent MCU-plus-FPGA solution, but costs far less to develop than
an equivalent ASIC."
The IP that personalizes the CAP metal programmable block for the UWB
Media Access Controller, together with the software drivers for the ARM926EJ-
S(TM) processor, are available from InES. The UWB MAC logic does not occupy
the entire CAP MP Block, leaving ample space for complementary application-
specific logic, for example to implement a graphical user interface.
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.
About Institute of Embedded Systems (InES)
As a member of Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), the Institute
of Embedded Systems is a recognised expert in the field of industrial
communications, specifically Real-Time-Ethernet communications, with a staff
of around 40, including 4 Professors and lecturers directly involved in
international research projects in the field.
(C) 2008 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), Atmel logo and
combinations thereof and others, are registered trademarks, CAP(TM) and others
are trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. ARM(R) and others are
registered trademarks or trademarks of ARM Ltd. Other terms and product names
may be trademarks of others.
Information:
Atmel's AT91CAP product information may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/products/at91cap/default.asp
For UWB EMAC product information, go to: http://www.ines.zhaw.ch/uwbmac
Atmel Press Contacts:
Peter Bishop, Communications Manager, Atmel Rousset
Tel: (+33) (0)4 42 53 61 50, Email: peter.bishop@atmel.com
Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
Tel: (+1) 408 487-2963, Email: hperlegos@atmel.com
InES Press Contacts:
Hans-Joachim Gelke, Microelectronics Project Leader
InES Institute of Embedded Systems, Winterthur, Switzerland,
Email: hans.gelke@zhaw.ch
SOURCE Atmel Corporation
