Atmel Introduces Mixed Mode Analog Companion IC for Low-cost Music Players

Atmel Introduces Mixed Mode Analog Companion IC for Low-cost Music Players

AT73C209 Regulates Power Supplies from 1-cell Alkaline Battery and Generates High-quality Audio Signals

Rousset, France, March 18, 2008 . . . Atmel® Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML),announced today the release of its AT73C209 Analog Companion power supply and audio interface IC designed for low-cost music players. The AT73C209 supplies the required voltages and currents to all the sections of these portable devices taking energy from a single alkaline battery, and also provides a high-quality audio interface.

The AT73C209 integrates power management and high-quality audio circuitry on a single chip. It has 2 linear regulators (LDO) and one very low input voltage and high-efficiency Step Up switching regulator (DC-DC) working down to 0.9V, thus particularly suited for 1 cell Alkaline/NiMh batteries. On the audio side, the AT73C209 offers an audio-quality 16-bit Stereo Audio DAC with headset driver and microphone preamplifier to interface with the recording stage of a MCU.

“The AT73C209 introduction confirms Atmel’s strategy to provide analog companions for generic handheld applications,” commented Michele Casetta, Marketing Manager for Atmel’s Power Management and Analog Companions (PMAAC) Product Line. “The AT73C209 is one of the few ICs on the market that integrates 3-channel power supplies and a high-quality audio interface for music players. The AT73C209 is the first device on the market that can be supplied with a 1-cell Alkaline/NiMh battery or USB port, with automatic switch, and manage all the rest of the system.”

“The AT73C209 can minimize the BOM by reducing the component count to only 3 ICs: (MCU + Memory + AT73C209). In the past the system consisted of at least 8 components due to the number of discrete analog devices,” concluded Michele Casetta.

Availability and Pricing

Atmel offers the AT73C209 in a 7 x 7 mm, 32-pin QFN package in order to satisfy portable device manufacturers’ minimum space requirements and low cost. The AT73C209 is priced at US$1.30 in quantities of 100K units. It is available now mounted on a reference design board or as engineering samples.

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.

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Information:

Atmel’s AT73C209 product information may be retrieved at http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/devices.asp?family_id=639.

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