SAN JOSE, California, July 8 /PRNewswire/ --

- SRAM-based key storage ensures keys are permanently destroyed if IC is
removed from battery

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today its AT88SA100S
(http://www.atmel.com/products/cryptoauthentication/default.asp ) ultra
low-cost, cryptographic battery authentication IC for mobile-phones, cameras,
portable power tools, and other battery-powered applications.

The AT88SA100S CrytpoAuthentication(TM) IC is the only battery authentication
IC that uses a SHA-256 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sha_256 ) cryptographic
engine and a 256-bit key that cannot be cracked using brute force methods. It is
used to protect mobile phones, portable power tools, cameras, and other
microcontroller-based products from counterfeit battery packs.

Counterfeit batteries are often less expensive than those provided by the
original equipment manufacturer (OEM) because they often do not have appropriate
protective mechanisms to prevent short circuits, abnormal heat or leakage,
ignition, rupture and other malfunctions. They also are likely to lose their
charge sooner and wear out more quickly than authentic battery packs. It is
estimated that 75% of the replacement batteries sold are clones.

The AT88SA100S ensures replacement batteries meet the product manufacturer's
standards by providing secure, reliable authentication that can be used to
prevent product operation and/or charging with counterfeit product.

The AT88SA100S has 256-bits of SRAM for key storage, a guaranteed unique 48-bit
serial number stored permanently inside the chip and 88 one-time,
user-programmable fuses that can be used for the storage of battery parameters
or status information. The 256-bit key is stored in the on-chip SRAM at the
battery manufacturer's site and is powered by the battery pack itself. Physical
attacks to retrieve the key are very difficult to effect because removing the
CryptoAuthentication chip from the battery erases the SRAM memory, rendering the
chip useless.

Challenge/response Authentication. Battery authentication is based on a
challenge/response protocol between the microcontroller in the portable
end-product (host) and the CrytpoAuthentication IC in the battery (client).

Easy System Integration. In order to speed system design, Atmel provides
complete ARM(R)- and AVR(R)-compatible source code libraries that implement all
necessary cryptographic modules for performing the host-side authentication
capability. The AT88SA100S requires only a single GPIO pin on the host processor
and only three wires on the connector to the battery, plus a standard bypass
capacitor for a low overall BOM impact.

Pricing and Availability. The AT88SA100S battery authentication IC is available
now in production quantities in a 1.3mm x 3mm, green-compliant (exceeds RoHS)
3-pin SOT-23 package. Priced at US$0.65 in quantities of 1K units, it is 40% to
60% less expensive than any other battery-authentication IC on the market.

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) 2009 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), Atmel logo and
combinations thereof, AVR(R) and others, are registered trademarks,
CryptoAuthentication(TM) and others are trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its
subsidiaries. ARM(R) is a registered trademark of ARM Ltd. Other terms and
product names may be trademarks of others.

Information: For more information, visit
www.atmel.com/products/cryptoauthentication Press Contacts: Sharon Harnisch,
Marketing Communications Tel: +1-719-540-1723, Email: sharon.harnisch@atmel.com
Helen Perlegos, Public Relations Tel: +1-408-487-2963, Email:
Helen.perlegos@atmel.com

SOURCE: Atmel Corporation

Sharon Harnisch, Marketing Communications, +1-719-540-1723,
sharon.harnisch@atmel.com, or Helen Perlegos, Public Relations, +1-408-487-2963,
Helen.perlegos@atmel.com, both of Atmel Corporation