-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BrKsXcV7Bi/0j1AcYRxFLRm6lQ5F//Q1E3Y6QY5nE7TRqtMWCuiNqCUiXw0RE4DP
 OmE3sp7s8WyjsX6VyARAsQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000872448-06-000008.txt : 20060418
<SEC-HEADER>0000872448-06-000008.hdr.sgml : 20060418
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060418180120
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000872448-06-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060414
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060418
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060418

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ATMEL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000872448
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				770051991
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2325 ORCHARD PKWY
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95131
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4084410311

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2325 ORCHARD PKWY
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95131

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMAS T PETER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201589

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19032
		FILM NUMBER:		06765580

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3000 SAND HILL ROAD
		STREET 2:		BLDG 2 SUITE 290
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6508540132

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3000 SAND HILL ROAD, 2-290
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-04-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000872448</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ATMEL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATML</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201589</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMAS T PETER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2325 ORCHARD PKWY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95131</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.99</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-05-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-04-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The grant was approved by the board of directors on 4/14/2006 at $4.99 the fair market value of 4/17/2006.   The grant will vest monthly at 1/12 per month until fully vested one year after grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Column 8 is not a required reportable field.  New SEC EDGAR software requires dollar amount;  Used zeros per SEC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Elena Farias  For: Peter T. Thomas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-04-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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