SAN JOSE, California, April 20 /PRNewswire/ --

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the introduction of a
new AVR(R)32 microcontroller with high speed communication. Featuring Atmel's
91 DMIPS AVR32 CPU, the AT32UC3A3 includes Hi-Speed USB interface with
On-The-Go, a dual high speed SD/MMC card interface plus SDRAM and NAND flash
interface with SLC, MLC, and ECC. It is targeted to the rapidly growing
digital media solutions and audio player docking station markets, where Atmel
has seen considerable success with the AT32UC3A introduced in 2007. The
AT32UC3A3 also fits a wider range of embedded applications where fast
transfer of large amounts of data is a requirement.

Distributed SRAM

AT32UC3A3 features Atmel's innovative peripheral DMA controller in
combination with a multilayer databus. This offloads the CPU by automating
the transmission of large packets of data. In addition, to the dual port SRAM
found in all AVR32 microcontrollers, the AT32UC3A3 introduces for the first
time a distributed SRAM architecture that eliminates latency and potential
delay for data flowing through the controller. The 128 KB of on-chip SRAM is
split into 3 regions, each offering a separate memory interface to the memory
and peripheral DMA controllers. This allows multiple hi-speed data transfers
to run simultaneously.

Software audio decoding

The AVR32 is unique in that it offers a wide range of DSP instructions
usually only found in high end CPUs and DSPs. Its high performance eliminates
the need for custom audio decoder hardware, and it is capable of decoding a
stereo MP3 stream at less than 25 MHz. With a maximum speed of up to 66 MHz,
this means there is plenty of CPU performance left to handle "heavier" audio
formats such as AAC.

High quality playback

The AVR32 microcontroller offers an integrated stereo 16-bit bitstream
DAC. This requires only a small external power amplifier to generate the
output voltages required for line, headphones or external speakers. Playback
in four channel audio or full surround sound requires an external audio
codec, usually connected to the microcontroller's IIS interface.

High speed communication

Streaming a single digital audio track requires a bandwidth of 320 kbit/s
or less. But the consumer demands much faster communication for fast
synchronization of a large music library with cover art. The AVR32 AT32UC3A3
offers multiple high speed communication interfaces, including a Hi-Speed USB
interface with 480 Mbit/s, a NAND flash controller with support for Multi
Level Cell error correction, and an MMC/SD port with support for up to two SD
card slots with more than 12 Mbyte/s transfer speed.

Low Power consumption

Atmel's AVR32 microcontroller is one of the world's leaders in low power
design, and the AT32UC3A3 consumes less than 2.0mW/MHz in active mode. This
allows the AVR32 microcontroller to deliver more than 150 hours of audio
playback from two AA batteries. In standby mode with only Real Time Clock
running, a device can stay in the drawer for more than 9 years.

ATEVK1104 reference design - digital audio docking station

To demonstrate the digital audio capabilities of the AVR32
microcontrollers and reduce the time to market for potential customers, Atmel
has designed the ATEVK1104 reference design. The kit demonstrates playback
from USB mass storage device, SD card or NAND flash, and shows how music can
be downloaded or streamed from a PC through the Hi-Speed USB interface. Later
this year, Atmel will introduce Bluetooth(R), and ZigBee(R) radio
connectivity add-on kits. The reference design also demonstrates Atmel's
capacitive touch solutions.

iPod docking

More than 100 million iPod(R) and iPhone(R) devices have been sold in the
market, and consumer and automotive audio equipment manufacturers are adding
iPod docking capability to their existing products. To registered Apple(R)
"Made for iPod" licensees, Atmel will provide an iPod docking extension kit
to the ATEVK1104 and ATEVK1105. The extension kit contains the hardware,
firmware and source code required to access and controls the iPod and iPhone
via the USB port.

Availability and Pricing

Samples of the AT32UC3A3 are available now. The devices are priced at
US$4.41 for 10k units. The ATEVK1104 development kit is available now. The
kit is priced for US$169.

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) 2009 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), Atmel logo and
combinations thereof, and AVR(R), and others are registered trademarks of
Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be
trademarks of others.

Information:

Atmel's AT32UC3A3 and ATEVK1104 product information may be retrieved at
www.atmel.com/UC3A3 and www.atmel.com/EVK1104.

For further information on AVR32, go to www.atmel.com/AVR32.

Press Contact:
    Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
    Tel: +1-408-487-2963, Email: helen.perlegos@atmel.com
    Oyvind Strom, Product Marketing Director AVR32
    Tel: +47-72-88-43-88, Email: oyvind.strom@atmel.com