Atmel's Unique System IC for Automotive DC Motors Boosts Integration Level

Heilbronn, Germany (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Industry's Only Device Integrating Voltage Regulator, Window
Watchdog, and LIN Transceiver in One Package

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the
availability of its new ATA6823 H-bridge driver IC designed using
Atmel's state-of-the-art 0.8-um BCD-on-SOI technology (SMARTIS(TM)).
The ATA6823 provides industry's highest integration level and
includes all functional blocks needed for a complete
microcontroller-controlled DC motor system in H-bridge
configuration. The ATA6823 extends Atmel's broad driver family and is
designed to control a large variety of external power N-MOSFETs. The
device can be used with currents ranging from just 1.5A to over
100A, and this flexibility makes suitable for many different
applications.

The ATA6823 is not just a simple driver IC. In fact, it is a
complete system IC that, in addition to the driver stages, includes
the following functional blocks: a pin-adjustable 5V/3.3V voltage
regulator that supplies the external microcontroller; a programmable
window watchdog, which works independently from the microcontroller's
clock; and the same LIN transceiver IP as found in Atmel's
stand-alone LIN2.0 transceiver ATA6662. No other device available on
the market includes all these functions in one package.

The ATA6823's control logic takes over timing functions normally
handled by the microcontroller. These timing functions are used to
protect external transistors by preventing cross-conduction. As a
result, use of the ATA6823 reduces programming efforts of system
designers as only two microcontroller functions, motor direction and
PWM mode, need to be programmed. This facilitates faster, more stable
designs, and a shorter time to market.

The IC also provides a very low current consumption, less than 45
microamps in sleep mode, which reduces current consumption for
battery-powered systems.

Like all Atmel's driver ICs, the ATA6823 offers a broad range of
protection features (undervoltage, overvoltage, short circuit and
overtemperature). It also meets strict automotive qualification
demands (protection against conducted interference, EMC, and ESD
protection) and can withstand transients as specified in ISO/TR 7637.

Availability and Pricing

Samples of the ATA6823 driver IC are now available in
RoHS-compatible 7 mm x 7 mm QFN32 packages with pricing starting at
US $2.25 for 10k quantity. An application board for development
support can be ordered at US $130.

Footnote
BCD = Mixed Technology: Bipolar CMOS DMOS
DC = Direct Current
EMC = Electro Magnetic Capability
ESD = Electrostatic Discharge
LIN = Local Interconnect Network
PWM = Pulse Width Modulation
QFN = Quad Flat No Leads
RoHS = Reduction of Hazardous Substances
SOI = Silicon on Insulator

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) 2007 Atmel Corporation. All
Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), logo and combinations thereof, and others
are registered trademarks, SMARTISTM and others are trademarks of
Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names
may be trademarks of others.

Information

Product information on Atmel's new ATA6823 H-bridge driver IC may
be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=4210

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

Web site: http://www.atmel.com

ots Originaltext: Atmel Corporation
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

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