SoC is single-chip low power radio transceiver

AMI Semiconductor has launched a low-cost SoC multichannel transceiver it reckons will speed the development and reduce the component count of reliable licence-free two-way wireless applications.

AMI Semiconductor has launched a low-cost SoC multichannel transceiver it reckons will speed the development and reduce the component count of reliable licence-free, two-way wireless applications.

Based on the company's ASTRIC (application specific transmit and receive IC) mixed-signal, RF ASIC technology, the new ASTRX1 transceiver is compliant with the IEEE802.15.4 draft standard and offers an attractive alternative to more expensive and complex Bluetooth technology for short-range low-datarate applications.

Offering two-way communications at burst data rates of up to 40Kbit/s over short ranges, the ASTRX1 transceiver is ideal for wireless data applications such as telemetry, security systems, medical monitoring, interactive toys, intelligent agriculture, and remote vehicular products.

The multichannel transceiver features frequency range options of 868-870MHz and 902-928MHz, enabling the device to operate in both the licence-free European band and North American ISM band.

Based on a proprietary design that has been jointly developed with Adcon RF Technology, the ASTRX1 integrates all RF and baseband functions, along with interfaces for direct connection to a microcontroller and host computer.

The result is a power- and cost-efficient solution that simplifies application design, speeds development and prototyping and helps designers achieve time-to-market reductions.

Additionally, the ability of the power manager to configure functions such as duty cycle, acquisition time and carrier frequency, allow the ASTRX1 to be optimised for a wide range of low power application requirements.

The ASTRX1 zero-IF design with receiver sensitivity of -95dBm and single antenna will provide wireless communications over distances of up to 100m at transmitted power of 0dBm.

A direct sequence spread spectrum technique is employed to make the signal much harder to detect and intercept than conventional communication solutions based on techniques such as frequency hopping.

This allows the ASTRX1 to offer more robust and reliable communications than conventional low-cost transceiver modules.

Both an RS232 serial and a parallel interface are built into the design, which is housed in a 64-lead, 9 x 9mm Microlead frame package.

The transceiver operates from a 3.0V +/-0.3V supply, with its low power architecture giving excellent battery life.

Transmit and receive current consumption at 3.0V is less than 14mA and 25mA respectively.

Suitable for use in temperatures ranging from -40 to +85c, the ASTRX1 IC is both FCC and ETSI compliant.

ASTRX1 will be priced at $4.75 for 100,000 devices.

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