Atmel Launches DVD-SoC Industry's Most Integrated and Powerful DVD-Single Chip

Enabling DVD Manufacturers to Develop Smaller, More Innovative Systems Supporting Emerging Consumer Trends

SAN JOSE, California, November 1, 2005 -- Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), a global leader in the development and fabrication of advanced semiconductor solutions, announced today its DVD Single Chip (SoC), the industry's highest level integrated optical system based on 0.13 micron technology. The AT78C4050 is capable of supporting Blue Laser and Red Laser technologies.

"Atmel's DVD-SoC is an advanced architecture taking advantage of a Partial Response, Maximum Likelihood (PRML) read channel which uses advanced mixed-signal and Digital Signal Processing (DSP), Optical Disc controller, servo logic and two 32-bit embedded microprocessors offering superior performance, scalability, integration and power efficiency for DVD-Recorder applications," said Mehdi Bathaee, General Manager for the Network-Storage group.

Atmel offers complete development platforms for Blue Laser and Red Laser OPU (Optical Pick-Up Unit), enabling customers to start system development with their own preferred OPU hardware. Development platforms include the Atmel AT78C4050 and AT78C3007 Motor Driver, Flash memory, Laser Diode Driver Integrated Circuit (LDDIC) and Photo Detector Integrated Circuit (PDIC). Complete reference design platforms including firmware and board support packages provide a complete tool for accelerated customer development.

"This technology enables us to reduce risk, accelerate time-to-market, and produce cost effective solutions that can span multiple product generations. Such technologies include portable recorders, and Digital DVD-Camcorders. This product is especially ideal for high performance and cost-sensitive applications," concluded Mehdi Bathaee.

Also available is an optional Serial ATA IC, which leverages the company's transceiver (PHY) technology. This product provides DVD-storage OEMs for developing mainstream PC DVD-storage, high-performance Set-Top Boxes and Recorder subsystems.

The AT78C4050 is available now at US$8.00 in 100 unit quantities. A hardware and firmware reference design is also available.

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, Atmel ICs can be found Everywhere You Are(R).

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