Atmel Introduces World's Lowest Cost, RISC-Based Programmable System-on-Chip.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4, 2001

Sub-$5 Micro-FPSLIC Includes Embedded 20+ MIPS AVR(R) Processor,

5K Gate FPGA, 20KB SRAM Plus Peripherals at ASIC Prices

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:ATML) announced today that it has introduced the world's lowest cost, RISC-based programmable system-on-a-chip (SoC); the AT94K05 micro-FPSLIC. With volume unit pricing under $5, Atmel's newest Field Programmable System Level IC is the first programmable SoC to offer 20+ MIPS performance in a programmable SoC, with ASIC-level pricing and ultra-low power consumption. Micro-FPSLIC consumes only 50 uA in standby mode and 2 to 3 mA/MHz during operation, a fraction of the power of any other programmable SoC available today.

The micro-FPSLIC programmable SoC integrates, on a single chip, a high performance 8-bit AVR RISC processor, peripherals that include UARTS, timer/counters, oscillators, I/O ports, 8x8 multiplier and a two-wire serial interface plus 5,000 gates of AT40K FPGA, and 20 Kbytes of program and dual port data SRAM.

Atmel was the first vendor to introduce a RISC-based programmable system-on-a-chip in 1999 with its AT94K40 FPSLIC device. Micro-FPSLIC is the third in a family of FPSLIC products that bring the advantages of user-programmability to system-on-chip design.

According to Martin Mason, Atmel's Programmable SLI Marketing Manager, "Our goal, when we introduced FPSLIC, was to be able to replace masked ASICs in the system-on-a-chip market with a competitive programmable solution. With the introduction of micro-FPSLIC and our complete suite of SoC design tools, we have achieved that goal."

"Atmel's micro-FPSLIC offers substantial advantages over ASIC solutions, including the elimination of NRE charges, expensive tools and the long time-to-market issues associated with custom ASICs, including Fab through out times, debug cycles, and inability to make field updates. Micro-FPSLIC offers the combination of high performance, low power and low cost required for high volume portable, industrial and consumer products. "Unlike other programmable SoCs, which sell between $35 and $1,000, micro-FPSLIC offers ASIC-level pricing of less than $5 for a programmable system solution," Mason concluded.

High Performance RISC Processor -- The heart of micro-FPSLIC is the 20+ MIPS AVR RISC processor with hardware multiplier. Similar to the ARM Thumb, the AVR is a pipelined RISC processor. The micro-FPSLIC's 129 instructions are optimized so that nearly all the processor's functions can be executed in a single clock cycle, resulting in very compact code size, higher system performance, and lower power consumption.

With a fixed 16-bit instruction, 8-bit data, and the capability to perform very efficient 32-bit math, the combination of the AVR's very dense code and single cycle instructions give it performance characteristics that compare favorably to many 32-bit processors running at the same clock speed. This exceptional performance allows designers to make trade-offs between throughput and power consumption, when designing portable consumer products.

Low cost comprehensive tools -- Atmel's System Designer(TM) EDA tool suite seamlessly integrates Atmel's FPGA design tools, Exemplar(R) Lenonardo(R) Synthesis, MTI(R) HDL simulator and AVR Studio(R) debugging tools. In addition designers can use the supplied co-verification tools to simulate C or assembly language microcontroller code with the FPGA HDL code, as well as evaluate hardware and software tradeoffs early in the design cycle.

Pricing, Packages & Availability -- micro-FPSLIC (AT94K05AL) is available now in 84 PLCC, 100 VQFP (Very thin Quad Flat Pack), 144 TQFP (Thin QFP) and 208 PQFP package. Micro-FPSLIC prices start at $7.00 now and will be $4.95 in quantities of 100,000 in 2002.

Prices for Atmel's System Design programmable SoC tool suite start at $495.

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.

Atmel product and financial information can be retrieved from its Fax-on-Demand service. In North America call 800/292-8635. Internationally from a fax phone, dial 408/441-0732. Requests may be sent via e-mail to [e-mail] or by visiting Atmel's website at www.atmel.com.

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