HEILBRONN, Germany, August 28 /PRNewswire/ --

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the availability of 
the ATR1841 and ATR1842 front monitor diode (FMD) ICs for use in the optical 
pick-up units (OPUs) of slim and ultra-slim HD-DVD and Blu-ray drives. These 
new devices measure only 3 mm x 3 mm and provide outstanding performance.

As the market for high-capacity optical storage drives such as HD-DVD and
Blu-ray matures, drive-makers are looking for opportunities to further reduce
drive component sizes in order to produce slim and ultra-slim drives for use
in laptops, while at the same time continuing to address the requirements for
low noise and fast pulse response times. Atmel, with the introduction of its
extremely small FMD ICs, provides the technology not only to overcome space
limitations but also to improve on the noise, bandwidth, and gain performance
of today's drives.

The ATR1841 and ATR1842 support all wavelengths used in CD, DVD, and
HD-DVD/Blu-ray drives. Both devices have a serial interface, which easily
allows manufacturers, using firmware, to change between the 3 gain modes and
to adjust the gain by +/- 6 dB in each mode. The serial interface also
reduces the overall bill of material as external potentiometers are no longer
needed to control the gain. Additionally, it enables a reduction in
pin-count, thus allowing the device to be packaged in Atmel's advanced 3 mm x
3 mm QFN package.

This Atmel-patented open package has a cavity, which permits the laser
direct access to the die surface and therefore to the photo diode, resulting
in improved system performance and a higher yield.

Owing to Atmel's proprietary photo-diode processing technology, the
ATR1841 and ATR1842 have an unprecedented channel bandwidth of over 160 MHz,
while maintaining a low noise level of less than -80 dBm, ideal for 8x HD-DVD
and Blu-ray drives.

In addition, Atmel's process technology -- unlike some competing
technologies -- has been proven not to suffer from degradation of the photo
diode when exposed to blue laser light over extended periods of high
temperature (as in a standard HD-DVD/Blu-ray drive), which further improves
the reliability and lifetime of the drive.

Availability and Pricing

Samples of the ATR1841 and ATR1842 in 3 mm x 3 mm, environmentally-
friendly QFN open packages are now available. Pricing
starts at US $0.80 for quantities of 10k.

Footnote
    DVD = Digital Versatile Disc
    FMD = Front Monitor Diode
    HD = High Density
    OPU = Optical Pick-up Unit
    QFN = Quad Flat No Leads



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) 2007 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), logo and
combinations thereof, and others are registered trademarks or trademarks of
Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be
trademarks of others.

Information

Product information on Atmel's front monitor diode ICs ATR1841 and
ATR1842 may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=4213 (ATR1841)
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=4214 (ATR1842)

Press Contacts

    Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive
    Products
    Phone: +49-7131-67-2081, Email: susanne.van-clewe@hno.atmel.com

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



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