Atmel Announces ARM Cortex-M3 License and AT91SAM3 Flash MCU Family

Extends Atmel's Market-leading AT91SAM Microcontrollers to Next-generation ARM Technology

ROUSSET, France -- June 24, 2008  -- Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today that it has licensed the ARM(R) Cortex(TM)-M3 32-bit RISC processor for the next generation of its market-leading AT91SAM ARM technology-based microcontrollers. This reinforces Atmel's commitment to the ARM architecture, complementing its existing licenses for the ARM7TDMI(R), ARM926EJ-S(TM) and ARM1176JZ-S(TM) processors.

Atmel's planned AT91SAM3 Flash MCU family will combine the ARM Cortex-M3 processor with the outstanding system implementation features that have placed the AT91SAM series at the forefront of its market. These include the multi-layer internal buses, an enhancement to the DMA for system peripherals and distributed peripheral data controllers (PDCs) that give the AT91SAM family its high internal data bandwidth, and enable intensive data processing and high-speed data transfers to take place concurrently, when compared to other implementations of the Cortex architecture. Atmel's high-density on-chip Flash memory reduces the application chip count, shortens boot and program load times and improves system security. The multiple operating modes of the AT91SAM3 enable it to achieve excellent power consumption under all conditions of use.

The AT91SAM3 family has Atmel's distinctive uniform peripheral register structure that simplifies application programming, and enables software modules to be easily transferred from one family member to another. This uniformity of peripheral programming extends to development tools from Atmel's established ecosystem of industry-leading third-party suppliers. It is a major aid to application development.

Alfredo Vadillo, Atmel's Managing Director for ARM Microcontrollers, commented, "The ARM Cortex-M3 processor gives our customers the option of taking advantage of the latest developments in ARM's 32-bit RISC technology in terms of performance and power consumption, together with all the benefits of the AT91SAM family architecture and IP, as well as the ARM ecosystem. The addition of the ARM Cortex-M3 processor strengthens Atmel's leadership in the fast growing embedded 32-bit microcontroller market. It complements our current market-leading product offering of AT91SAM and AVR32 microcontrollers."

"Atmel's decision to add the Cortex-M3 processor to its existing licenses for the ARM7TDMI, the ARM926EJ-S and the ARM1176JZ-S processors indicates its on-going commitment to the ARM architecture," said Eric Schorn, VP Marketing, Processor Division, ARM. "Atmel joins the growing ranks of ARM Cortex-M3 processor implementers, and reinforces our architecture as the reference for 32-bit microcontrollers."

Atmel is today one of the industry's leading suppliers of microcontrollers with a wide range of products. The ARM Cortex-M3 processor will be used to expand today's product range of 8051, AVR(R), AVR32, and ARM7(TM) and ARM9(TM) family-based microcontrollers into new markets.

Availability

Atmel's AT91SAM3 Flash microcontroller family based on the ARM Cortex-M3 processor will be available in 4Q 2008.

About Atmel

Atmel is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of microcontrollers, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry's broadest intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide the electronics industry with complete system solutions focused on consumer, industrial, security, communications, computing and automotive markets.

Information:

Atmel's AT91SAM product information may be retrieved at: http://www.atmel.com/products/AT91/