ROUSSET, France, September 8 /PRNewswire/ --

- AT73C224 Sources 3V to 5V Supplies, Provides Four Regulated Power
Supply Channels, Integrates Real Time Clock and Two Wire Interface

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the release of its
AT73C224 Analog Companion Power Management Unit designed for a wide range of
applications based on 32-bit MCUs. The AT73C224 supplies the required
voltages and currents to the main sections of generic 32-bit MCU-based
applications including MCU core, memory, I/O, USB host and interfaces.

The AT73C224 outputs four power supply channels. For the MCU core and
new-generation low-voltage memories, one Step Down DC to DC converter
supplies a 0.9V to 3.4V programmable output voltage and a 500 mA output
current. Completing the coverage of output voltage, one Step Up DC to DC
converter supplying 5.2V or higher output voltage is integrated, with output
current set by an external FET up to 1A. This can be used to supply a USB
host, display modules or HDD devices. Two linear regulators (LDO) with
programmable output voltage from 1.3V to 3.3V and programmable output current
are able to supply generic interfaces with up to 200 mA in "Smoother Mode"
and up to 100 mA for sensitive RF sections using "RF Mode". Finally, a Real
Time Clock (RTC) is integrated together with a very low current (1uA) crystal
oscillator and backup battery management system.

The AT73C224 integrates several state machines that can be selected
during factory test, to significantly reduce stabilized output delivery time
during the start up sequence or default voltage configuration. All the
programmable features in the AT73C224 can be controlled by the MCU using TWI,
SPI or GPIO mode.

"The AT73C224 is an excellent example of an Analog Companion for any
32-bit MCU application, especially Atmel ARM(R), AVR(R) or CAP(TM) based
applications," commented Michele Casetta, Marketing Manager for Atmel's Power
Management And Analog Companions (PMAAC) Product Line. "The key point of the
AT73C224 is its flexibility: it is able to accept any type of power input
from 3V to 5V, it is able to generate power supplies from 0.9V up to 5.2V and
even higher. Finally it can manage the RTC mode of the system thanks to its
own 1uA crystal oscillator and RTC macro, allowing the MCU to be switched
off, cutting leakage current and increasing battery operating time.
Confirming Atmel's leadership in the MCU market, the AT73C224 supports the
company in offering a system solution."

Pricing and Availability

Atmel offers the AT73C224 in a 5 x 5 mm, 32-pin QFN package in order to
satisfy portable device manufacturers' minimum space and low cost
requirements. The AT73C224 is priced at US$1.08 in quantities of 100K units.
It is available now mounted on a reference design board or as engineering
samples.

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.

(C) 2008 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), logo and
combinations thereof, AVR(R) and others, are registered trademarks, CAP(tm)
and others are trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. ARM(R) is
a registered trademark of ARM Ltd. Other terms and product names may be
trademarks of others.

Information:

Atmel's AT73C224 product information may be retrieved at
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/devices.asp?family_id=639

Press Contacts:
    Peter Bishop, Communications Manager, Atmel Rousset
    Tel: +33(0)4-42-53-61-50, Email: peter.bishop@atmel.com
    Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
    Tel: +1-408-487-2963, Email: hperlegos@atmel.com



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