Atmel Targets Automotive LIN Networking Applications with Introduction of New AVR Microcontroller

San Jose, California (ots/PRNewswire) -

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the
availability of a new AVR(R) 8-bit microcontroller for automotive LIN
networking applications. The ATtiny87 is the second device of a
LIN-dedicated low pin-count family specially optimized for
cost-sensitive LIN slave applications.

Many automotive body electronic subsystems including door lock,
window lift, wiper, light system, sun, and rain sensors are connected
via LIN networks. They require tiny LIN controllers with
Analog/Digital converters for sensor signal formatting and a
versatile 16-bit timer. The ATtiny87 includes hardware LIN UART with
automatic baud-rate synchronization in slave mode. The frame
processing requests only 2 interrupts; one for LIN identifier
available and one for transmit or receive completed.

The ATtiny87 (8K Flash) is fully compatible with the ATtiny167
(16 KB Flash) and is available in the same set of packages: QFN32,
SO20, and TSSOP20. It supports AECQ-100 grade0 and can sustain
ambient temperature up to 150 degree Celsius, which is required for
under-the-hood applications such as engine sensors, water pumps, and
exhaust gas systems. The ATtiny87 is also available in AECQ-100
grade1 (125 degree Celsius).

As a result of the collaboration with Vector, a leading
manufacturer of software tools and components for automotive
networking, a complete hardware and LIN2.1 software networking
solution is now available. Due to tightly integrated hardware
routines, the code size for LIN is reduced to about 1 Kbyte of Flash
leaving about 7 Kbytes of Flash available for the user application.

"One of the critical requirements for using embedded processors
in the automotive market is the availability of an effective and
well-supported LIN communication stack. Customers can easily
integrate the LIN2.1 communication stack in their application and
take full advantage of the code efficiency," said Michel Passemard,
Director of Automotive MCU Marketing at Atmel.

Vector has developed the LIN driver for the Atmel ATtiny87 and
ATtiny167 microcontroller family. This new LIN driver supports
communication packages for all Automotive OEMs. In addition,
associated configuration and generation tools are also available. The
LIN communication package supports all protocol versions in master or
slave configurations including transport and/or diagnostics layers.

Atmel's AVR Studio(R) and AVR JTAGICE mkII provide a
multiplatform integrated development environment (IDE). The STK(R)
600 with STK600-SOIC add-on starter kit is available to start
development.

Availability and Pricing

The ATtiny87 is readily available for samples and volume
production. It is packaged in a 20-pin SOIC, 20-Pin TSSOP, and 32-pin
QFN. ATtiny87 will be qualified at 125 degree Celsius in all packages
and 150 degree Celsius in QFN and TSSOP packages. Prices start at
US$1.12 in 10,000 quantities for the 125-degree qualified version. A
32 Kbytes Flash version will be introduced later to complete the
family of 8 KB to 32 KB Flash low pin-count LIN controllers.

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, AVR(R), AVR Studio(R), STK(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:

ATtiny87 product information can be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=4575

For further information on AVR Automotive microcontrollers, go
to: www.atmel.com/products/automcu/

For further information on Vector, go to
www.vector-informatik.com

Press Contacts:
Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Director Automotive
Phone: +49-7131-67-2081, Email: susanne.van-clewe@atmel.com
Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
Phone: +1-408-487-2963, Email: Helen.perlegos@atmel.com

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