BitSim Contributes BADGE Graphics Accelerator for Enhanced Visual Effects

ROUSSET, France and STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Atmel(R) Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML) announced today that it has enrolled BitSim AB as an expert design center for projects based on its AT91CAP Customizable Microcontroller. BitSim will contribute its expertise as an ASIC and FPGA developer to provide design services to the companies' mutual clients. In addition BitSim can offer its BADGE 2D graphics accelerator as an IP (intellectual property) core that can be integrated into the CAP(TM) MP (metal programmable) block. BADGE provides 2D graphics acceleration with single or multiple video streams (including text and graphics overlay), and is an Intellectual Property (IP) core that can be used in both FPGAs and ASICs. It includes an API, and drivers for both Windows(R) Embedded CE(R) and Linux(R).

Michel Le Lan, Atmel's Marketing Director for ASICs, commented, "We welcome BitSim to the growing ecosystem of expert design centers that we are building around CAP. BitSim's focus on the critically important Northern Europe region complements our provision in other regions, and their BADGE graphics accelerator, which can co-exist with other customer-specific IP in the CAP MP Block, fully exploits the advantages of the CAP architecture."

Anders Sivard, BitSim's CEO, added, "We see great opportunities for compact and effective customer solutions with Atmel's CAP platform in many different applications in our four focus areas: Chip Design, Digital Signal Processing, High Speed Communications System Design, and Video/Graphics. CAP together with our BADGE graphics IP is an excellent example of a perfect match, and we are looking forward to exploring these possibilities together with Atmel."

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.

About BitSim

BitSim is a leading consultant and design house, focusing on electronics and embedded software for board and chip design. BitSim today has one of Scandinavia's largest independent electronic development teams, with about 80 designers and engineers, averaging more than ten years of engineering experience. BitSim has development teams in six offices in Sweden, with headquarters in Stockholm. The Atmel CAP program is handled by BitSim South in Lund.

(C) 2008 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), Atmel logo and combinations thereof, and others, are registered trademarks, CAP(TM) and others are trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Windows(R) and others are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. ARM(R) is a registered trademark of ARM Ltd. Other terms and product names may be trademarks of others.

Information:

Atmel's AT91CAP product information may be retrieved at http://www.atmel.com/products/at91cap/default.asp For further information on BitSim, go to http://www.bitsim.com/ For details on the BADGE graphics accelerator, see http://www.bitsim.com/badge.htm

     Atmel Press Contacts:
     Peter Bishop, Communications Manager, Atmel Rousset
     Tel: (+33) (0)4 42 53 61 50, Email:  peter.bishop@atmel.com
     Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
     Tel: (+1) 408 487-2963, Email: hperlegos@atmel.com

     BitSim Press Contact:
     Leif Jespersson, Manager, BitSim South
     Tel: (+46) 46-2862240, Email: info@bitsim.com

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