SOUTHAMPTON, England, July 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- First of a new generation of capacitive touch sense ICs

Atmel(C) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the AT42QT2160 -- a
touch controller IC combining touch key and touch slider functions in a
single device. The AT42QT2160 can control up to 16 individual touch keys with
a slider comprising between 2 and 8 of the touch key channels. In addition,
the chip can also control up to 11 LEDs through a PWM output function that is
controlled by the host, eliminating the need for an external LED controller.

With this combination of functions, this device is ideal for use as a
multimedia HMI controller in mobile phones and consumer applications, such as
personal media players, where it saves space, minimizes design time and
allows the designer creative flexibility in laying out control keys. With its
wide voltage range (1.8V to 5.5V DC) and low power requirements, it is well
suited for other battery-driven applications, such as digital still cameras,
PDA's or handheld gaming devices.

The AT42QT2160 uses Quantum Research Group's (acquired by Atmel in March
2008) patented charge-transfer technology. This provides robust and reliable
performance, high immunity to EMI through spread-spectrum modulation and
filtering algorithms, calibration of the device over life and user-defined
sensitivity thresholds for individual keys. An additional patented function,
adjacent key suppression (AKS), intelligently suppresses signals present from
nearby keys so that only intended keys register a touch.

The AT42QT2160 has 3 GPIOs with PWM capability and a further 8 shared
ports that provide additional standard outputs for the host without adding
cost or using an extra I/O expansion device with PWM capability. Host
configurability is achieved via a 2-wire interface (I(2)C compatible). To
save system power, the chip provides a system Multi-Input Wake-up (MIWU)
function. This can trigger a reaction from the host or other system
components via the 2-wire interface, or using a dedicated output pin, when
pre-defined input signals levels are reached. Touch button sensor electrodes,
of arbitrary size (>6 x 6 mm) and shape, are usually formed from copper pads
on the printed circuit board or a flexible circuit. The touch surface can be
made from glass up to 3mm in thickness or plastic, up to 2.5mm thick.

Peter Jones, Managing Director of Atmel's MCU Business Unit, commented,
"This is the first of many new products that we will launch in the next year
as we accelerate our R&D in touch technology to capitalize on one of the
fastest growing embedded applications. We expect to see up to 60 models of
mobile phones adopting our technology over the next 12 months and the
increasing use of touch controls in everything from laptop PCs to consumer
electronics. It's a very exciting time to be in this business."

The AT42QT2160 is the latest addition to Atmel's comprehensive range of
capacitive touch controllers based on Quantum Research Group's
charge-transfer technology. These include QTouch(TM) controllers for single
and multiple touch buttons, touch sliders and touch wheels, together with
QMatrix(TM) devices for higher density matrix key panels.

Availability and Pricing

Samples of the AT42QT2160 IC are available now in a 28-pin, 4 x 4mm QFN
package. Pricing for the part is US$0.98 each for quantities of 100ku per 
year. A demonstration board for development support 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.

With its new touch technology division, formerly known as Quantum
Research Group, the company now offers dedicated touch sense controllers
addressing applications in the mobile communication and entertainment markets
as well as in PC, appliances and automotive applications.

(C) 2008 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), logo and
combinations thereof and others, are registered trademarks, QTouch(TM),
QMatrix(TM) and others, are trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its
subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be trademarks of others.

Information:

Atmel's AT42QT2160 product information may be retrieved at
http://www.qprox.com.

Press Contacts:
    Stephan Thaler, Marketing Director - Touch Technology Division
    Tel: +44-23-8056-5604, Email: stephan.thaler@atmel.com

    Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
    Tel: +1-408-487-2963, Email: hperlegos@atmel.com

    Robert Huntley, Publitek (PR agency)
    Tel: +44-1225-470000, Email: robert.huntley@publitek.com


    Web site: http://www.atmel.com
              http://www.qprox.com