AMIS Launches CAN Transceiver Family for Long-Wire and Low Baud Rate Industrial Applications

AMI Semiconductor (NASDAQ:AMIS), a leading designer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art mixed-signal and digital products for the automotive, medical, industrial, military/aerospace, and high-voltage communication markets, today announced an ASSP family for long-wire and low baud rate Controller Area Network (CAN) applications. Designers now can use a qualified and proven CAN transceiver for very long wires and/or low baud rates, enabling the use of CAN-enabled equipment in industrial applications requiring line lengths in excess of 500 meters. Available in 3.3V and 5V interface variants, the new ASSP family includes a device with a functionality that automatically adapts communication rates to the observed line speed. In addition, all of AMI Semiconductor’s CAN transceivers have exceptional overvoltage protection on the CAN bus of +/-45V (common mode). "The expansion of building automation, factory control and other wide distributed systems has created a need for robust, wired data communications over hundreds of meters,” said Guido Remmerie, manager, worldwide industrial ASSPs at AMIS. "Our new long-wire CAN transceiver chips, with their pedigree of automotive-proven quality and reliability, enable the design of more complex industrial systems for important operations such as energy management, process optimization and facility security.” The CAN protocol requires an in-frame response which, for long wires, is achieved by reducing transmission speed. However, at low speeds (below 60KBaud), a timeout system limits CAN use and hence line length. To support long-wire CAN communications in industrial applications, AMIS has extended its CAN product line by providing versions with adapted time-out function for all of its long-wire CAN transceiver products. The AMIS long-wire CAN transceiver ASSPs target end applications with wired communication in physically long or distributed systems. Examples of these systems include elevators, security monitoring systems, in-building communication, building control, process control, machine control, and HVAC systems. This new CAN transceiver family has pin-out and functionality identical to AMI Semiconductor’s range of CAN transceivers that is already qualified and in production for automotive and industrial applications. Pricing and Availability There are five members of the long-wire high-speed CAN transceiver family: AMIS-42670 (5V), AMIS-42671 (3.3V, auto-baud rate), AMIS-42673 (3.3V), AMIS-42675 (low power), and AMIS-42770 (CAN repeater). Prices in quantities of 1000 range from $1.05-$1.55 for the first four and $2.40 for the repeater. About CAN CAN (Controller Area Network) is a high-integrity serial data communications bus for real-time applications requiring data rates of up to 1Mbps. Originally developed by Bosch for use in automobiles, CAN is now being used in many other industrial automation and control applications. The CAN protocol became an international standard in 1993 as ISO 11898-1 and comprises the data link layer of the seven-layer ISO/OSI reference model. About AMI Semiconductor AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) is a leader in the design and manufacture of silicon solutions for the real world. As a widely recognized innovator in state-of-the-art mixed-signal and digital products, AMIS is committed to providing customers in the automotive, medical, industrial, mil/aero, and HV communication markets with the optimal value, quickest time-to-market semiconductor solutions. AMI Semiconductor operates globally with headquarters in Pocatello, Idaho, European corporate offices in Oudenaarde, Belgium, and a network of sales and design centers located in the key markets of the North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, please visit the AMIS Web site at www.amis.com.