-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001332805-05-000005.txt : 20050715
<SEC-HEADER>0001332805-05-000005.hdr.sgml : 20050715
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050715175829
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001332805-05-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050715
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050715

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Avery Robert C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001332805

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19032
		FILM NUMBER:		05958108

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		719-540-7142

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

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
</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>2005-07-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001332805</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Avery Robert C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2325 ORCHARD PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95131</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CORPORATE FINANCIAL OFFICER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.67</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>87449</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-01-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-07-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>87449</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>87449</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.67</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>112551</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-01-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-07-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>112551</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>112551</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option price is equal to the fair market value of Atmel on the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">12.5% of the total shares granted vest and become exercisable six months after the grant date,  The remaining balance vest and become exercisable over the next forty-two months at a rate of  2.0833% per month of the total shares granted.  The option was granted as an Incentive Stock Option up to the $100,000 limitation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Grant price was selected from the closing fair market value of July 15, 2005.  The same day when the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee met to approve the Stock Grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The shares vests ratably over fours years measured from the date of grant.  The vesting schedule being 12.5%  of the total shares granted becoming vested and exercisable within 6 months from the date of grant and the remaining shares vesting monthly thereafter up to the full vest date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert C. Avery</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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