Atmel’s MPCF-II Technology Brings ARM Processor-based Custom SoCs to 10K-unit Apps With No License Fees

SAN JOSE, California - CAP7L Customizable Microcontroller with US$75K NRE enables lower cost
of entry markets

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today its CAP7L
customizable microcontroller that allows fabless semiconductor companies to
implement ARM7(TM) processor-based systems-on-chip (SoCs) with a turn-around
period as low as 12 weeks, a nominal NRE charge of only US$75,000, and unit
costs as low as US$5, without requiring a separate license from ARM.

CAP7L SoCs are economical in volumes of 10K units, with a fully-amortized
unit cost of US$17. In 50K unit volumes, the amortized unit cost is only
US$7, including NRE and IP expense.

The AT91CAP7L is a microcontroller with 200K gates of metal programmable
cell fabric that can be used to implement proprietary customer IP, hardware
accelerators, additional processor cores or unique peripherals sets to
achieve a customized SoC. Atmel has a large library of license- and
royalty-free IP that has been fully verified and tested in the CAP7L MP
block.

Atmel’s second-generation metal programmable cell fabric technology
(MPCF-II) has cut the mask charges to US$75K by using only three metal and
three via layers for configuration.

According to Jay Johnson, Atmel’s director of CAP(TM) marketing, “Fabless
semiconductor companies are often stuck between a rock and a hard place when
it comes to implementing new designs. Low-volume, quick-turnaround ASICs
typically have unit costs of hundreds of dollars and often require the
purchase of an ARM IP license. The CAP7L provides an affordable low-volume
solution with the power consumption, performance characteristics, and IP
security of a custom-SoC, without excessive license fees or units costs.
Worst-case static power consumption for the CAP7L is between 3mW and 4mW -
98% less than the power consumed by a typical FPGA,” Johnson concluded.

The HDL code for any custom-IP is developed using standard,
vendor-specific or third-party FPGA design tools. Once verified, the customer
needs to provide the register transfer level (RTL) netlist to Atmel for
implementation in the MP block on the CAP7L. Prototypes can be available
within 10 weeks of final gate level netlist and production quantities within
12 weeks.

Existing Third-party Tools. The same C-compilers, RTOS, OSs, ICEs and
IDEs used with Atmel’s ARM processor-based MCUs can be used with the CAP
versions of the devices. These include Atmel’s free GNU gcc C compiler, GNU
gdb debugger, FreeRTOS.org real-time kernel. Commercially available tools
include ARM (RealView Development Suite, RealView ICE, RealView Trace2) Green
Hills(R) (Multi(R) IDE, TimeMachine(TM), Integrity(R) OS), IAR(TM) (C
compiler - Embedded Workbench), ExpressLogic (Real-time Operating System -
ThreadX(R)) and Micrium (Real-time Operating System - uCOS/II).

Availability and Pricing- CAP7L customizable microcontrollers are
available now. NRE is US$75K, with unit costs of US$5.50 in quantities of 50K
units in the 144 LQFP package. Included in the US$75K NRE is design
engineering to assist customers in re-targeting their FPGA code into Atmel’s
metal programmable library, static timing analysis and closure, place and
route, design finishing, masks and 10 quick-turn prototypes. In addition, a
low cost starter kit is available for engineering evaluation. The
AT91CAP7A-STK kit is priced at US$399.

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, Everywhere You Are(R), and others, are registered
trademarks, CAP(TM) and others are trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its
subsidiaries. ARM(R) and others are registered trademarks or trademarks of
ARM Ltd. Other terms and product names may be trademarks of others.

Information:

Atmel’s CAP product information may be retrieved at
www.atmel.com/products/AT91CAP

Press Contacts:
Barbara Bailey, Marketing Communications Manager - USA
Tel: +1-719-540-1895, Email: barbara.bailey@atmel.com
Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
Tel: +1-408-487-2963, Email: helen.perlegos@atmel.com

Source: Atmel Corporation

Barbara Bailey, Marketing Communications Manager - USA, +1-719-540-1895, barbara.bailey at atmel.com, or Helen Perlegos, Public Relations, +1-408-487-2963, helen.perlegos at atmel.com, both of Atmel Corporation