Atmel Launches New AVR32 Microcontroller With High Speed Communication for Digital Audio Solutions

San Jose, California (ots/PRNewswire) -

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the
introduction of a new AVR(R)32 microcontroller with high speed
communication. Featuring Atmel's 91 DMIPS AVR32 CPU, the AT32UC3A3
includes Hi-Speed USB interface with On-The-Go, a dual high speed
SD/MMC card interface plus SDRAM and NAND flash interface with SLC,
MLC, and ECC. It is targeted to the rapidly growing digital media
solutions and audio player docking station markets, where Atmel has
seen considerable success with the AT32UC3A introduced in 2007. The
AT32UC3A3 also fits a wider range of embedded applications where fast
transfer of large amounts of data is a requirement.

Distributed SRAM

AT32UC3A3 features Atmel's innovative peripheral DMA controller
in combination with a multilayer databus. This offloads the CPU by
automating the transmission of large packets of data. In addition, to
the dual port SRAM found in all AVR32 microcontrollers, the AT32UC3A3
introduces for the first time a distributed SRAM architecture that
eliminates latency and potential delay for data flowing through the
controller. The 128 KB of on-chip SRAM is split into 3 regions, each
offering a separate memory interface to the memory and peripheral DMA
controllers. This allows multiple hi-speed data transfers to run
simultaneously.

Software audio decoding

The AVR32 is unique in that it offers a wide range of DSP
instructions usually only found in high end CPUs and DSPs. Its high
performance eliminates the need for custom audio decoder hardware,
and it is capable of decoding a stereo MP3 stream at less than 25
MHz. With a maximum speed of up to 66 MHz, this means there is plenty
of CPU performance left to handle "heavier" audio formats such as
AAC.

High quality playback

The AVR32 microcontroller offers an integrated stereo 16-bit
bitstream DAC. This requires only a small external power amplifier to
generate the output voltages required for line, headphones or
external speakers. Playback in four channel audio or full surround
sound requires an external audio codec, usually connected to the
microcontroller's IIS interface.

High speed communication

Streaming a single digital audio track requires a bandwidth of
320 kbit/s or less. But the consumer demands much faster
communication for fast synchronization of a large music library with
cover art. The AVR32 AT32UC3A3 offers multiple high speed
communication interfaces, including a Hi-Speed USB interface with 480
Mbit/s, a NAND flash controller with support for Multi Level Cell
error correction, and an MMC/SD port with support for up to two SD
card slots with more than 12 Mbyte/s transfer speed.

Low Power consumption

Atmel's AVR32 microcontroller is one of the world's leaders in
low power design, and the AT32UC3A3 consumes less than 2.0mW/MHz in
active mode. This allows the AVR32 microcontroller to deliver more
than 150 hours of audio playback from two AA batteries. In standby
mode with only Real Time Clock running, a device can stay in the
drawer for more than 9 years.

ATEVK1104 reference design - digital audio docking station

To demonstrate the digital audio capabilities of the AVR32
microcontrollers and reduce the time to market for potential
customers, Atmel has designed the ATEVK1104 reference design. The kit
demonstrates playback from USB mass storage device, SD card or NAND
flash, and shows how music can be downloaded or streamed from a PC
through the Hi-Speed USB interface. Later this year, Atmel will
introduce Bluetooth(R), and ZigBee(R) radio connectivity add-on kits.
The reference design also demonstrates Atmel's capacitive touch
solutions.

iPod docking

More than 100 million iPod(R) and iPhone(R) devices have been
sold in the market, and consumer and automotive audio equipment
manufacturers are adding iPod docking capability to their existing
products. To registered Apple(R) "Made for iPod" licensees, Atmel
will provide an iPod docking extension kit to the ATEVK1104 and
ATEVK1105. The extension kit contains the hardware, firmware and
source code required to access and controls the iPod and iPhone via
the USB port.

Availability and Pricing

Samples of the AT32UC3A3 are available now. The devices are
priced at US$4.41 for 10k units. The ATEVK1104 development kit is
available now. The kit is priced for US$169.

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, and AVR(R), and others are registered
trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and
product names may be trademarks of others.

Information:

Atmel's AT32UC3A3 and ATEVK1104 product information may be
retrieved at www.atmel.com/UC3A3 and www.atmel.com/EVK1104.

For further information on AVR32, go to www.atmel.com/AVR32.

Press Contact:
Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
Tel: +1-408-487-2963, Email: helen.perlegos@atmel.com
Oyvind Strom, Product Marketing Director AVR32
Tel: +47-72-88-43-88, Email: oyvind.strom@atmel.com

ots Originaltext: Atmel Corporation
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Contact:
Helen Perlegos, Public Relations, +1-408-487-2963,
helen.perlegos@atmel.com, or Oyvind Strom, Product Marketing Director
AVR32, +47-72-88-43-88, oyvind.strom@atmel.com, both of Atmel