AMI Semiconductor Announces Single Chip CAN Repeater; Integrated Dual High-Speed Transceiver Reduces Component Count and Offers Excellent EMC Characteristics to Automotive and Industrial CAN Busses.

POCATELLO, Idaho -- -AMI Semiconductor (Nasdaq:AMIS), a designer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art integrated mixed-signal and structured digital products, today announced that it has started sampling its ISO 11898-2 compatible AMIS-42700 CAN transceiver IC. The new transceiver provides the interface between two physical CAN lines, allowing the device to act as a low-cost and low component count CAN repeater.

The dual high-speed transceiver provides a single chip repeater solution for interfacing between up to two physical bus lines and the protocol controller in high-speed controller areas networks (CANH). The AMIS-42700 can be used for both 12V and 24V systems.

Automotive applications

The AMIS-42700 addresses the needs of CANH busses for in-vehicle networking (IVN). Automotive applications for CANH include control of engine management units and body electronics such as power windows, air conditioning and vehicle lighting.

Industrial applications

CAN repeaters are important elements in standard busses that are used in many industrial applications, these are often required to cover longer physical distances -- for example in lifts and escalators. In factory automation applications CAN is used to interconnect machines, process control units and production sub-systems in industries such as printing, textiles and injection molding.

AMIS has used its advanced I2T mixed-signal semiconductor technology to integrate a high level of functionality into a single compact IC. The devices comprise two differential line transceivers and a logic block that incorporates a repeater function and feedback suppression. Protection is provided by a thermal shutdown circuit and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection up to +/-8KV.

Housed in a compact 'green' SOIC 300 20-pin package the AMIS-42700 operates with very low electromagnetic emission (EME) thanks to very close matching of the output signals. This means a common-mode choke is not required. In addition, the wide common-mode voltage range of the receiver inputs allows the AMIS-42700 to offer very low electromagnetic susceptibility (EMS).

Compared to existing discrete component solutions the AMIS-42700 offers a number of important benefits that include lower power consumption and greater robustness and reliability. The much smaller physical size of the integrated single-chip solution can also simplify its inclusion in an application.

The AMIS-42700 is ideal for providing a diagnostic access point to a CANH bus without the need for a separate microcontroller. This results in direct access for diagnostic tools at speeds of up to 1Mbit/s. Using the repeater, the impedance of the CAN line remains constant regardless of whether interfaces are connected or disconnected. The AMIS-42700 can also be used to provide a cost-effective way of extending the physical length of a CAN bus; this is especially useful in many industrial applications such as elevators.

The AMIS-42700 is priced, for budgetary purposes, at $1.61 US per unit in quantities of 5k units. Please contact AMI Semiconductor for a custom quote based on use and application.

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 integrated mixed-signal products, mixed-signal foundry services and structured digital products, AMIS is committed to providing customers with the optimal value, quickest time-to-market semiconductor solutions. Offering unparalleled manufacturing flexibility and dedication to customer service, 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 North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.