Atmel Corporation, a leader in microcontroller and touch technology solutions, and Celeno Communications, a leading provider of high-performance Wi-Fi chips and software, today announced that they are developing integrated solutions for high-performance Wi-Fi Direct™ remote controls intended for next-generation set-top box and video gateway platforms.
Leveraging Celeno’s Wi-Fi chipset, the joint solution enables wireless designers to bring their products to market faster, while saving overall system costs and power consumption.
The two companies will demonstrate their new set-top box platform (STB) at 2013 CES at the Las Vegas Hotel, Suite 530, January 8-13. Celeno’s video-grade Wi-Fi is integrated in the set-top box and video gateway for whole-home HD video streaming to multiple devices. In addition to robust Internet connectivity, Celeno solutions now simultaneously provide a connection to the Atmel-based remote control. Atmel ultra-low power Wi-Fi Direct technology, acquired through its acquisition of Ozmo, Inc. at the end of 2012, is ideally suited for use in RF remote controls as it eliminates the need to add additional radio technologies to the host platform. Atmel Wi-Fi Direct solutions also offer the industry’s best power consumption, resulting in better battery life for devices using this technology.
Universal Electronics, an early adopter of Wi-Fi Direct, will be showing their new demonstration platform LEAF remote control at CES this year. UEI Leaf offers high data rate, low latency and ultra-low power by utilizing Atmel Wi-Fi Direct RF technology to deliver features such as voice-based user recognition, voice search and motion control in a small form factor with very low power requirements and minimal integration compared to other RF technology choices.
"LEAF offers an enriched user experience, enabling new feature-rich interactive user interfaces, content browsing, motion-based navigation, voice search and gaming," said Ramzi Ammari, Vice President of Global Product Planning & Strategy, Universal Electronics, the global leader in wireless control technology for the connected home. "The STB's Wi-Fi is expected to serve as the centerpiece for in-home Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct ecosystems, linking all sorts of peripherals, including smartphones, game controllers, microphones, keyboards, headphones, speakers and, of course, the remote control."
"The use of the Atmel Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct technology for connecting to peripheral devices, such as remotes, is a logical choice," said Lior Weiss, Vice President of Marketing at Celeno Communications. "This solution eliminates the need to add other RF technology to the platform, while providing a more intuitive and feature-rich user experience with existing Wi-Fi signals."
Atmel - Atmel and Celeno Collaborate on Wi-Fi Direct Remote Controls for Consumer Products [PRESS RELEASE]
1. ⎯ More ⎯
Atmel Corporation • 1600 Technology Drive • San Jose CA 95110 • Phone (408) 441-0311 • Fax (408) 487-2600
N E W S R E L E A S E
Atmel and Celeno Collaborate on Wi-Fi Direct
Remote Controls for Consumer Products
Reference Platforms for Set-Top Boxes and Remotes with
Atmel Wi-Fi Direct Technology to Be Unveiled at CES 2013
2013 International CES, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 8, 2013 – Atmel Corporation, a leader in
microcontroller and touch technology solutions, and Celeno Communications, a leading provider of
high-performance Wi-Fi chips and software, today announced that they are developing integrated
solutions for high-performance Wi-Fi Direct™ remote controls intended for next-generation set-top box
and video gateway platforms.
Leveraging Celeno’s Wi-Fi chipset, the joint solution enables wireless designers to bring their products
to market faster, while saving overall system costs and power consumption.
The two companies will demonstrate their new set-top box platform (STB) at 2013 CES at the Las
Vegas Hotel, Suite 530, January 8-13. Celeno’s video-grade Wi-Fi is integrated in the set-top box and
video gateway for whole-home HD video streaming to multiple devices. In addition to robust Internet
connectivity, Celeno solutions now simultaneously provide a connection to the Atmel-based remote
control. Atmel ultra-low power Wi-Fi Direct technology, acquired through its acquisition of Ozmo, Inc.
at the end of 2012, is ideally suited for use in RF remote controls as it eliminates the need to add
additional radio technologies to the host platform. Atmel Wi-Fi Direct solutions also offer the industry’s
best power consumption, resulting in better battery life for devices using this technology.
Universal Electronics, an early adopter of Wi-Fi Direct, will be showing their new demonstration
platform LEAF remote control at CES this year. UEI Leaf offers high data rate, low latency and ultra-
low power by utilizing Atmel Wi-Fi Direct RF technology to deliver features such as voice-based user
recognition, voice search and motion control in a small form factor with very low power requirements
and minimal integration compared to other RF technology choices.
2. ATMEL NEWS RELEASE January 8, 2013
Atmel Corporation • 1600 Technology Drive • San Jose CA 95110 • Phone (408) 441-0311 • Fax (408) 487-2600
“LEAF offers an enriched user experience, enabling new feature-rich interactive user interfaces,
content browsing, motion-based navigation, voice search and gaming,” said Ramzi Ammari, Vice
President of Global Product Planning & Strategy, Universal Electronics, the global leader in wireless
control technology for the connected home. “The STB’s Wi-Fi is expected to serve as the centerpiece
for in-home Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct ecosystems, linking all sorts of peripherals, including smartphones,
game controllers, microphones, keyboards, headphones, speakers and, of course, the remote
control.”
“The use of the Atmel Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct technology for connecting to peripheral devices, such as
remotes, is a logical choice,” said Lior Weiss, Vice President of Marketing at Celeno Communications.
“This solution eliminates the need to add other RF technology to the platform, while providing a more
intuitive and feature-rich user experience with existing Wi-Fi signals.”
RF remote controls are rapidly replacing traditional infrared (IR) remote controls, particularly in smart
TV and set-top box applications. Unlike RF remote controls, IR remotes cannot support non line-of-
sight operation, motion, bi-directional data streams or higher data rates.
Atmel technology offers high bit rates, low latency, support for motion/audio and compatibility with
existing Wi-Fi host platforms (the TV or STB), resulting in reduced costs and faster development
times. Atmel also provides driver software for host platforms, creating a “virtual USB connection,”
which allows system developers to use existing USB software stacks for any Wi-Fi connected
peripheral.
“The Celeno video-grade Wi-Fi technology is perfect for Atmel Wi-Fi Direct peripheral solutions,” said
Bill McLean, Vice President and General Manager of Wi-Fi Solutions, Atmel Corporation. “This joint
collaboration offers a proven, end-to-end solution to cable providers with seamless connections for all
peripherals, like the remote control, while enabling high data rate media streaming.”
About Atmel Wi-Fi Technology
Atmel recently extended its wireless product offerings through the acquisition of Ozmo, Inc. With that
acquisition, Atmel now offers the world’s first single-chip, Wi-Fi personal area network (PAN) solution,
ideal for battery-powered human-interface device (HID) peripherals like remote controls, wireless
“mouses” and keyboards, wireless audio adapters and many other applications. The Atmel chip is