RF Transceiver comes in 5 x 5 mm MLF(TM) package.
Share:
Press Release Summary:
MICRF505 RadioWire® transceiver operates from 850-950 MHz and supports frequency shift keyed modulation at data-rates to 200 kbps. Functions are user-programmable, including frequency synthesizer. Through high integration, external components are limited to few capacitors, one inductor, and one crystal. Unit incorporates frequency error estimator, internal clock recovery circuit, and integrated transmit/receive switch, which results in no switch losses.
Original Press Release:
Micrel's Next Generation RadioWire® RF Transceiver Saves Space and Cost
... Smaller - tiny 5x5mm MLF(TM) package
... Easier to use - No tuning. Few external components
... Better - High sensitivity and High transmit power
SAN JOSE, Calif. - (May 25, 2004) - Micrel announces the next generation RadioWire® transceiver, the MICRF505, which has been designed to save space and cost whilst increasing performance and ease of use. It is also the first product resulting from the recent acquisition of Oslo, Norway-based Bluechip Communications. Micrel Semiconductor (Nasdaq: MCRL) is an industry leader in analog, power management and high-speed communications integrated circuits.
The MICRF505 transceiver operates from 850MHz to 950MHz and supports frequency shift keyed (FSK) modulation at data-rates up to 200kbps. Many functions are user programmable including the frequency synthesizer, making the MICRF505 suitable for frequency hopping applications.
Reducing the overall size and lowering the total bill of materials (BOM) has been the primary objective in the design of the new transceiver. Through high integration, the number of external components has been reduced to just a few capacitors, an inductor and a crystal. Packaged in a 5mm x 5mm MLF, the MICRF505 is designed to accommodate low cost, low accuracy crystals. To address this, Micrel has added a frequency error estimator to determine frequency mismatch between communicating transceivers and an internal crystal tuning mechanism to enable automated crystal tuning on-the-fly. The MICRF505 also incorporates an internal clock recovery circuit to reduce the burden on its companion baseband device enabling the use of a lower cost microcontroller.
"We are really focused on doing all we can to drive our customers' system cost down to an absolute minimum," says Scott Brown, Director of Mixed-Signal and RF Products.
"Within the company we are referring to this as the 'B.E.S.T.' RF product, an acronym for Better, Smaller, Easier, Transceiver," says Brown. " And we really feel we've pushed the envelope in all directions to produce a superior product in every respect: Best-in-class performance, best in-class-integration and easier to both use and manufacture." He concludes.
For Micrel Norway, formed after the Bluechip acquisition, Managing Director Stein Eskerud says "We have been working with Micrel on the co-development of the MICRF505 for some time and are very pleased to now be part of the Micrel family and very excited at the release of this product. This new transceiver continues our leadership in wireless products and we expect a great deal of interest from the marketplace."
The MICRF505 features high sensitivity, selectivity and transmit power so RF performance has not been sacrificed in the process of driving down BOM cost. In fact by integrating the transmit/receive (T/R) switch there are no switch losses, making the system level RF performance even higher.
When the devices are purchased in a quantity of 1,000, pricing for the MICRF505 in 5mm x 5mm MLF(TM) starts at $tbd. Samples are available, and production quantities are stock to 8 weeks ARO.
Summary of Specifications, Features & Applications:
MICRF505 RadioWire Transceiver
Specifications
· 850 - 950MHz Operating Range
· -112dBm Sensitivity (2.4kbps @ 10-3 BER)
· Output Power Programmable to +10dBm
· FSK Modulation
· 200kbps Maximum Data-Rate
· Supply Voltage From 2.0V to 2.5V
· Supply Current: 13mA in Receive Mode, 28mA in Transmit Mode
Features
· High Level of Integration
· Very Small 5x5mm MLF Package
· Integrated T/R Switch
· Integrated Clock Recovery Circuit
· Digital Crystal Trimming Capability
· Fully Programmable PLL For Frequency Hopping
· Programmable Transmit Power
· Tiny 5x5mm MLF(TM) Package
Applications
· Industrial Automation
· Automatic Meter Reading (AMR)
· Home Automation
· Telemetry
· Security
· Automotive
Micrel Semiconductor is a leading manufacturer of advanced, high performance communications, clock management, Ethernet switch and physical layer transceiver, mixed signal, analog and power ICs. These products include devices for fiber-optic telecommunications and networking, cellular telephones, servers, portable computer systems, computer peripherals, process control systems, consumer electronics and power supplies.
