Mentor Graphics Accelerates “Smart” User Interface Innovation with Nucleus Software Platform for Atmel Microcontrollers

WILSONVILLE, Ore., April 15, 2008 – Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq: MENT) today announced a software platform based on the Nucleus® Operating System (OS) that is integrated, validated and optimized for Atmel® AT91SAM9 ARM926EJ-S™-based microcontrollers. Unlocking the full performance of Atmel silicon, the platform provides developers with an out-of-the-box foundation upon which to more rapidly and cost-efficiently create, integrate and deliver innovative “smart” user interface applications.

“Mentor Graphics’ Nucleus-based platform takes significant time and risk out of software development for Atmel customers,” said Neil Henderson, general manager, Mentor Graphics Embedded Systems Division. “Now developers can start with a validated working system from day one, allowing them to fully focus on their value-add--building innovative applications with highly-functional, media-rich user interfaces, or modifying existing ones without changing the code.”

The Atmel AT91SAM9 ARM9-based microcontrollers target smart control panel solutions across a broad range of applications. These include white goods, medical, printing, security systems, Internet tablets, electronic books, ATM machines, game pads and remote controls. The Nucleus-based platform offers a complete and robust development environment enabling application developers to deliver a quality user experience with less time and effort. Supported on Atmel’s SAM9261, SAM9261S, SAM9263 and SAM9RL64 MCUs, demos running on the respective evaluation kits are available for download from Mentor’s web site.

“Atmel is addressing the growing market need for smart control panels in control applications featuring graphical representations, access to electronic user guides and touch screens or capacitive sensing, technologies pioneered in portable media players and smart phones. With Mentor Graphics, we deliver a fully integrated off-the-shelf hardware/software platform to application developers,” noted Jacko Wilbrink, ARM product marketing director for Atmel. “The Nucleus OS platform with its small footprint and rich multimedia capabilities leverages the high-bandwidth architecture and the robust set of peripherals on our AT91SAM9 ARM9-based microcontroller family, offering a very competitive cost/performance combination.”

Nucleus Software Platform Cuts Development Time
Traditionally, implementing interfaces with audio and video content and advanced visual effects such as animation and one-click re-theming required weeks of development effort. With the Nucleus platform’s full-featured real-time operating system and advanced UI engine, such user interfaces can be built, tested and modified rapidly with drag-and-drop tools and deployed without any modification to the underlying software stack.

To enable application software development by in-house teams or independent software vendors, the Nucleus platform is complemented by end-to-end tools including a C++ compiler, debugger, profiler, drag and drop UI designer and host simulation environment, as well as a JTAG probe.

Mentor Graphics at Embedded Systems Conference in Silicon Valley
To find out how Mentor’s Nucleus software platforms enable the delivery of innovative electronics products in less time and with lower cost, visit us at ESC Silicon Valley, San Jose Convention Center, April 15-17, Booth #716.

Availability and Pricing
Nucleus OS platform solutions are available immediately. For more information and pricing for Mentor Graphics embedded solutions, please call 1-800-547-3000 or e-mail embedded_info@mentor.com. To learn more about Atmel Corporation microcontrollers, visit www.atmel.com.

About Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world’s most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of over $875 million and employs approximately 4,350 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.

(Mentor Graphics and Nucleus are registered trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.)

For more information, please contact:
Karel Rasovsky
Mentor Graphics
503.685.7814
karel_rasovsky@mentor.com

Sonia Harrison
Mentor Graphics
503.685.1165
sonia_harrison@mentor.com