DETROIT, October 21 /PRNewswire/ --

- Flexible Modular Architecture for Complete Automotive System Solutions

Convergence Show -- Atmel(R) (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the
availability of its brand-new automotive development kit ATAPMxx, 
representing a single development platform for Atmel's current and future
automotive products. The new kit provides an efficient and easy way to
develop, set-up, and test the capabilities and characteristics of Atmel's key
automotive applications including car access (remote keyless entry, passive
entry/go, immobilizer, and remote start), tire pressure monitoring systems,
and in-vehicle networking including LIN and driver applications. ATAPMxx is
ideal for the development and customization of a complete automotive solution
without requiring advanced knowledge of RF or LF engineering. The kit can be
operated in stand-alone mode or using a PC-based powerful GUI (Graphical User 
Interface).

ATAPMxx includes a complete set of hardware and software needed to
develop, evaluate, optimize, and demonstrate complete automotive system
solutions. Customers can easily develop their application and evaluate the
best performance in a single environment. The kit's versatile architecture
can accommodate nearly all application combinations. The development kit
consists of a main board, application-specific extension boards, and daughter
boards containing the RF or LF reference boards. This flexible and modular
approach allows customers to upgrade the kit without additional costs in the
event of new Atmel automotive devices as the same platform can be used for
future Atmel automotive ICs.

At the system's core is the main board with a system microcontroller
(Atmel's well-known AVR(R) AT90USB1287) and an LCD touch screen. If used in
stand-alone mode, the main board controls the complete system via a
two-wire-interface; if connected to a PC, the main board handles the
communication with the PC via USB. Each connected application (i.e., 
extension board and daughter board) is controlled by its own AVR
microcontroller, which manages communication with the main board.

As royalty-free source code, Gerber schematics, and layouts are included,
this automotive kit provides a unique and convenient environment for users to
develop, implement, test, and optimize system-level designs.

Availability and Pricing

Samples of the new development kit for remote keyless entry and
immobilizer systems are available now. Versions of the kit for further
automotive applications will be introduced throughout Q4/2008 and beginning
of 2009. Pricing for the complete remote keyless entry kit (ATAPMRKE-DK1)
starts at US $599 per unit (including one main board, one extension board and
two RF daughter boards).

Footnote
    GUI = Graphical User Interface
    LCD = Liquid Crystal Display
    LF = Low Frequency
    LIN = Local Interconnect Network
    RFID = Radio Frequency IDentification
    USB = Universal Serial Bus



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), Atmel logo and
combinations thereof, AVR(R) and others are registered trademarks or
trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product
names may be trademarks of others.

Information

More information on the new automotive development kit may be retrieved
at http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?tool_id=4419

Press Contacts
    Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive
    Products
    Tel: +49-7131-67-2081, Email: susanne.van-clewe@atmel.com
    Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
    Tel: +1-408-487-2963, Email: hperlegos@atmel.com



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