Atmel has released an AM/FM antenna amplifier IC for cars.

“A separate LNA for FM and a buffer amplifier for AM are used to address the different operating frequencies and requirements of both AM and FM,” said the firm. “The AM amplifier covers 150kHz up to 30MHz, which includes modern DRM systems. The FM LNA handles from 70MHz to 166MHz.”

The chip is aimed at aerials integrated into vehicle structures, such as the windscreen, roof or bumper.

“Car radio antennas are increasingly seen as an intrinsic element of car design,” said Carsten Friedrich, marketing manager at Atmel. “The ATR4251, without compromising on reception performance of car radios, directly addresses this challenging antenna design trend.”

AM gain is up to 35dB and FM IP3 is 148dBµV.

Separate AM and FM AGCs prevent overdrive under large-signal conditions and stops one band blocking the other.