Atmel Introduces New JTAG In-Circuit-Emulator Targeted to Increase Speed and Accuracy While Reducing Development Costs.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 2001

Atmel Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the availability of a new low cost in-circuit-emulator (ICE) that supports all megaAVR(R) 8-bit Microcontrollers with a JTAG interface. As a part of Atmel's strategy to help the design engineer drastically reduce development costs, design time and ultimately production costs, the JTAG ICE represents a revolutionary new approach to debug 8-bit microcontollers, previously only cost justified on 32-bit cpu's. Atmel's advanced process technology used on the megaAVR family allows cost effective integration of debug logic on 8-bit microcontrollers with memory sizes as small as 16KB.

The JTAG ICE can be used to control the execution of the megaAVR and provides the user with exact electrical and timing characteristics. This capability is not available on traditional ICEs. The JTAG interface allows high-speed communication with the target device thus eliminating the bottleneck associated with other on-chip debug methods. The JTAG ICE communicates with the on-chip debug block via the test access port and can execute code and monitor results in the megaAVR microcontroller. The emulation interface is independent of clock frequency, which will result in significantly communication and debugging when the device is clocked at any frequency between 32-KHz to 16-MHz.

The megaAVR JTAG interface is an IEEE 1149.1 compliant four wire test access port that provides a standard way to implement boundary scan and on-chip debug. Atmel has extended this capability to include full system programming and on-chip debug support. Cost is reduced by off loading expensive SRAM and emulation circuits from ICE to using existing resources on chip.

"Atmel's JTAG ICE enable users to do real time emulation on the microcontroller while it is running in the target system," said Jim Panfil, Director of Microcontroller Products. "The on-chip debug protocol gives the user complete control of the internal resources of the megaAVR and the ability to set hardware and software breakpoints at a fraction of the cost of traditional emulators." He added.

AVR Studio(R) is the common user interface for JTAG ICE and all other AVR(R) development tools. Debug Features include the ability to set four hardware and an unlimited number of software break points. Two of the hardware breakpoints can be placed in the data memory providing the capability to break when a specific RAM address is accessed.

The JTAG ICE system is available from authorized Atmel distributors at a suggested resale price of $299. The ordering code is ATJTAG ICE. Availability is 2-4 weeks.

For more product information: http://www.atmel.com/atmel/acrobat/doc2489.pdf

User guide can be found at: http://www.atmel.com/atmel/acrobat/doc2475.pdf

About Atmel

Founded in 1984, Atmel Corporation is headquartered in San Jose, California with manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe. Atmel designs, manufactures and markets worldwide, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and RF semiconductors. Atmel is also a leading provider of system-level integration semiconductor solutions using CMOS, BiCMOS, bipolar SiGe, and high-voltage BCDMOS process technologies.

Requests may be sent via e-mail to [e-mail] or by visiting Atmel's website at www.atmel.com.

(c) Atmel Corporation 2001. All rights reserved. Atmel, the Atmel logo, AVR, AVR Studio, megaAVR and combinations thereof are registered trademarks and others contained herein, are trademarks of Atmel Corporation. Terms and product names in this document may be the trademarks of others.