Atmel Corporation and Redpine Signals have announced that 802.11n Wi-Fi can be implemented for all Atmel AVR and ARM-based microcontrollers (MCUs) using Redpine Signals’ Connect-io-n and n-Link modules, designed to make it easy to integrate Wi-Fi capability for a variety of embedded systems in building automation, metering, digital audio and medical applications.
Atmel customers can add 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity using two solutions from Redpine Signals that are optimized for Atmel MCUs. The fully-certified Redpine Connect-io-n Wi-Fi modules with integrated TCP/IP stack are well-suited for Atmel AVR XMEGA, AVR UC3 MCUs, and SAM3 ARM-based MCUs, while the high-performance n-Link modules with host-managed TCP/IP stack are ideal for Atmel SAM9 ARM-based MCUs.
Redpine’s Connect-io-n and n-Link solutions connect to Atmel MCUs through UART, SPI, and SDIO interfaces and offer up to 65Mbps of physical bit rate and up to 45Mbps of data throughput on SDIO interfaces.
Redpine n-Link block diagram
System designers can purchase Wi-Fi kits from Redpine Signals, designed to work with Atmel Xplained boards and ARM- based evaluation kits (EV) . The Wi-Fi kit includes optimized drivers and code examples free of charge and customers can also download Linux drivers to use with the Atmel SAM9 ARM-based MCUs.
Atmel Xplained board
Pricing and Availability
To begin evaluation, customers may purchase an Atmel evaluation kit, such as the Xplained kit, and a Wi-Fi kit from Redpine Signals. The Atmel Xplained and EV kits are available from Atmel and its distribution partners with a suggested retail price starting at $29. The Redpine Signals Wi-Fi kits are available from Redpine Signals with a suggested retail price starting at $79.
For more information about wireless and Wi-Fi solutions for Atmel microcontrollers, visit www.atmel.com/wireless.
Toni McConnel covers new products in the embedded systems industry and is a partner in the technical writing team TechRite Associates. She can be reached at Toni@TechRite-Associates.com.