Technology Includes Now DMOS Devices Operating up to 120 V

HEILBRONN, Germany, March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Atmel(R) Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML), a global leader in the development and fabrication of advanced semiconductor solutions, announced today that the Company has added a new high-voltage option to its leading-edge mixed-signal BCD-on-SOI technology, that is offered as a foundry service to customers. Applications that will benefit from this new high-voltage option include intelligent drivers for Internet access (DSL) and plasma displays (flat screen monitors). Atmel is the only company combining high-voltage capability with the benefits of SOI technology.

Atmel's current "Smart Power" technology includes 0.8 (0.5) micron meter CMOS devices with up to 80 V power DMOS transistors on a single chip. A significant amount of logic or even a microprocessor core with high voltage components can be integrated on a single device. Due to a maximum operation temperature of 200 degrees C (392 degrees F), offering outstanding low noise, and excellent EMI as well as latch-up behavior, the SMARTIS process is especially suited for automotive power management applications.

Atmel has now extended its well-proven technology foundry service, which already includes bipolar LPNP and LNPN transistors as well as low-voltage CMOS and DMOS devices of up to 80 V, with the introduction of very high voltage DMOS devices operating up to 120 V. These new devices are optimized in terms of energy capability and Rdson resistance, enabling new application areas with high-voltage requirements. To speed up and simplify the application process for electronic equipment manufacturers, Atmel can integrate these new high-voltage DMOS devices, together with the standard devices, into Cadence(R) Design Kits. Design Kits with the new 120-V option will be available end of March 2005, with an option to develop EEPROM cells operating up to 200 degrees C later in the year.

   Footnote
   BCD-on-SOI = Mixed-signal Silicon-on-Insulator technology combining
   bipolar, CMOS and DMOS devices
   CMOS = Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor
   DMOS = Double Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor
   DSL = Digital Subscriber Line
   EEPROM = Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
   EMI = ElectroMagnetic Interference
   LNPN = Lateral NPN transistors
   LPNP = Lateral PNP transistors

  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, Atmel ICs can be found Everywhere You Are(SM).

NOTE: Atmel(R), logo and combinations thereof, and others are registered trademarks, and Everywhere You Are(SM) and others are trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be trademarks of others.

Information:

Information on Atmel's BCD-on-SOI Foundry service may be retrieved at: http://www.atmel.com/products/BCDSOI/

   Atmel Press Contacts:
   Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive
   Products
   Phone:  +49 7131 67-2081, Email:  
Email Contact
   Clive Over, Director of Press Relations - USA and Asia
   Phone:  +1-408-451-2855, Email:  
Email Contact
   Veronique Sablereau, Corporate Communications Manager - Europe
   Phone:  +33 1 30 60 70 68, Fax:  + 49 7131 67-2423,
   Email:  
Email Contact

CONTACT: Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and
Automotive Products, +49 7131 67-2081, or Email Contact, or
Clive Over, Director of Press Relations - USA and Asia, +1-408-451-2855, or
Email Contact, or Veronique Sablereau, Corporate Communications Manager
- Europe, +33 1 30 60 70 68, Fax: + 49 7131 67-2423, or
Email Contact, all of Atmel Corporation

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