- Atmel
Infobox Company
company_name = Atmel Corporation
company_
company_type = Public (nasdaq|ATML}
foundation =1984
location =San Jose, California , USA
industry =Semiconductors
products =Microcontroller sFlash memory
num_employees = 7800
homepage = [http://www.atmel.com/ www.atmel.com]Atmel Corporation (nasdaq|ATML) is a manufacturer of
semiconductors , founded in1984 . Its focus is onsystem-level solution s built around flashmicrocontrollers . Its products include microcontrollers (including 8051 derivatives andAT91SAM andAT91CAP ARM-based micros), and its ownAtmel AVR andAVR32 architectures,radio frequency (RF ) devices,EEPROM andFlash memory devices (includingDataFlash -based memory), and a number of application-specific products. Atmel supplies its devices as standard products, ASICs, or ASSPs depending on the requirements of its customers. In some cases it is able to offersystem on chip solutions.Atmel serves a range of application segments including
consumer ,communication s,computer networking , industrial,medical ,automotive ,aerospace andmilitary . It is an industry leader in secure systems, notably for thesmart card market.The President and
CEO of Atmel is Steven Laub.Atmel owns two semiconductor facilities:
* Fab5 inColorado Springs (USA )
* Fab6 inHeilbronn (Germany ) (Sold)
* Fab7 inRousset (France )
* Fab9 inNorth Tyneside (England ) (Sold)Among its chief competitors are
STMicroelectronics ,Texas Instruments ,Freescale ,Analog Devices andMicrochip Technology .History
Atmel introduced the first 8-bit Flash microcontroller in 1993, based on the 8051 core [ [http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc2464.pdf Atmel's Self-Programming Flash Microcontrollers White Paper ] ] .
Atmel announced the sale of its
North Tyneside , (England ) facility (Fab9) on October 08 2007. The manufacturing equipment was sold to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.(TSMC ) and the property and associated land to Highbridge Business Park Limited. The closure led to the loss of 600 jobs when production ceased in early 2008.On
2 October 2008 , Steven Laub announced [ [http://www.atmel.com/corporate/documents/SLL_Customer_Letter.pdf letter to customers and business partners] ,Atmel , 2 October 2008, accessed 6 October 2008] an unsolicited offer fromMicrochip Technology andON Semiconductor valued at $5 per share.Controversy
The former chairman and CEO, George Perlegos, was terminated after an eight-month investigation into theft by Atmel's travel manager. The Board of Directors accused him and his brother Gust (an executive vice president of the company) of spending US$235,000 of the company's money on airplane tickets for themselves and their immediate families. [Letter from Steve Laub to Atmel shareholders, dated
April 11 ,2007 ] However, the Delaware Chancery Court expressed its "discomfort with the thoroughness and fairness of the investigation and with the decisions."In August 2006, Perlegos called a meeting to replace five of the existing board of directors, which the Board of Directors attempted to cancel. In March 2007, the Delaware Chancery Court ruled that the shareholder meeting must proceed. This action was completed before Perlegos was dismissed as a board member, but after he was removed as president. The action resulted in a special shareholder vote. The meeting was held on May 18. According to the certified vote count, one of the directors proposed by Perlegos garnered just under 30% of the votes, short of the 50% needed. [ [http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=atml&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=1010360 Atmel Investor Relations ] ]
ee also
*
AT91SAM
*AT91CAP
*Atmel AVR family
*AVR32
*Arduino References
External links
* [http://www.atmel.com/ Atmel Corporate Site]
* [http://www.atmel.com/products/AVR/thirdparty.asp Atmel AVR third party site]
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