Atmel Launches Unique Single Development Platform Development Kit for Automotive Applications

Detroit (ots/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

ots Originaltext: Atmel Corporation
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Contact:
Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive
Products, +49-7131-67-2081, susanne.van-clewe@atmel.com, or Helen
Perlegos, Public Relations, +1-408-487-2963, hperlegos@atmel.com,
both of Atmel Corporation