Atmel Pre-Qualifies CAN Flash Microcontrollers for Extended Temperature Range of Automotive Applications

Automotive Design Will Benefit from Atmel's Innovative Self-Programming ICs Allowing for the Update of Code or Data Within an Application Even After System Deployment

NANTES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 16, 2002-- Atmel® Corporation (Nasdaq:ATML - News) announced today the successful pre-qualification of its CANary(TM) microcontrollers for automotive temperature range and quality requirements. Atmel's CAN (Controller Area Network) microcontrollers, which are based on the industry standard 80C51 architecture, are already used successfully in many industrial networking applications. Manufactured using mature embedded flash technology, these devices will be available with the equivalent functionality and performances for the automotive market.

Complementary to Atmel's strategy to provide the design engineer with the tools necessary to react fast to changing market requirements, the CANary devices implement an innovative self-programming code flash memory and data EEPROM. By executing the C51 code located in the boot flash memory, one can update the code or data in flash and EEPROM in-application, after system deployment. Therefore, the download of updated content is easily achieved to respond quickly to the changing needs of end customers and of the marketplace. The changes may be handled either through the UART or the CAN bus or any tailored customer interface at any step of the end-product's life cycle.

The CANary microcontrollers are available with different flash memory sizes and packages for diverse automotive applications. For embedded target applications, Atmel's embedded CAN microcontrollers are fully compliant with specification levels 2.0A and 2.0B. Additionally, they can handle from 4 up to 15 message objects independently and dynamically assign them to the reception, transmission or reception buffers in case of multiple CAN frames. To complete the full capability line up of the CAN product family, these devices also support a variety of possible secure applications by supporting industry requirements such as, for example, time triggering and time stamping.

Philippe Malecha, business development director -- Automotive Microcontrollers, commented, "Atmel now provides a unique solution to automotive system designers with its Flash-based CAN microcontrollers which are now fully compliant with the CAN specifications, as well as automotive temperature range and quality requirements."

A wide range of peripherals are also provided on-chip, including 16-bit timers, serial channels, 10-bit/8-channel analog/digital converter, programmable counter arrays, interrupt handling, power saving modes. The microcontrollers operate between 2.7V to 5V over the extended -40 to +125 degree Celsius automotive temperature range.

T89C51CC01 (32-KB Flash) and T89C51CC02 (16-KB Flash, low pin count) in automotive temperature range are available for sampling now. A 64 KB Flash version will be introduced later. Full automotive-grade qualification is planned by 2002 year-end. Among a complete range of available support tools, Atmel offers a Starter Kit to allow designers easy and quick access to product functionalities.

Product Information

For information on the AT89C51CC01 go to: http://www.atmel.com/atmel/acrobat/doc3afbdd3939d4e.pdf and information on the AT89C51CC02 go to: http://www.atmel.com/atmel/acrobat/doc3b03a6d767c88.pdf

Requests may be sent via e-mail to literature@atmel.com or by visiting Atmel's website at www.atmel.com.

About Atmel

Founded in 1984, Atmel Corporation is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., with manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe. Atmel designs, manufactures and markets worldwide, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and RF semiconductors. Atmel is also a leading provider of system-level integration semiconductor solutions using CMOS, BiCMOS, SiGe, and high-voltage BCDMOS process technologies.

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     Atmel
     Thierry Corbiere, +33 2 40 18 17 58
     (Automotive Microcontroller Marketing)
     thierry.corbiere@nto.atmel.com
     Veronique Sablereau, +33 1 30 60 70 68
     (Corporate Communications Manager/Europe)
     veronique.sablereau@atmel.com
     Clive Over, 408/451-2855
     (Director of Press Relations/USA and Asia)
     cliveover@atmel.com