Product category:
Memory Devices and Modules
News Release from: Ramtron International | Subject: FM25L256
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 11 August 2004
High-speed FRAM to feature in Munich
Making its European debut at Electronica 2004 (Hall A5, Booth 321) will be Ramtron's new FM25L256 high speed serial ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) device.
Making its European debut at Electronica 2004 (Hall A5, Booth 321) will be Ramtron's new FM25L256 high speed serial ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) device Also on show will be the FM32x FRAM-based processor companion family and FM4005 stand-alone processor companion device
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 9 Dec 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The FM25L256 is a 256Kbit 3V nonvolatile ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) with a serial peripheral interface (SPI).
All the devices are now shipping in preproduction volumes.
Targeting both consumer and industrial applications, the FM25L256 is a 256Kbit, 3V nonvolatile FRAM device with a serial peripheral interface (SPI) - the highest performance SPI memory available.
The FM25L256 reads and writes at bus speeds comparable to those of a high-speed RAM, but provides nonvolatile storage like a conventional nonvolatile memory.
Further reading
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The FM24CL64 is a popular choice for automotive radio applications with its fast writes and high endurance.
Serial F-RAM remembers pressure transmitters
F-RAM device stores configurable parameters such as transmitter ranges, signal types, fluid properties etc, and retains the data when power is removed.
The FM25L256 offers 25MHz NoDelay writes so, unlike EEPROM or Flash, no write delays are incurred.
Also like high-speed RAM, the FM25L256 supports an unlimited number of read or write cycles, whereas EEPROM wears out after approximately one million cycles.
These benefits allow the FM25L256 to perform the functions of RAM and nonvolatile memory technologies in a single chip.
The FM25L256 rivals existing parallel nonvolatile RAM solutions and uses only 16% of the board space allowing OEMs to cut cost and fit more functionality into an increasingly limited space.
The device operates from 2.7 to 3.6V and offers pin compatibility with industry-standard serial EEPROMs.
The FM32x processor companion family combines a nonvolatile FRAM with a processor supervisor and additional peripheral functions to provide a single-chip solution to commonly needed system functions for a variety of automotive, consumer, communications, industrial, metering, and computing applications.
The FM32x Processor Companion family includes a choice of 4Kbit (FM3204), 16Kbit (FM3216), 64Kbit (FM3264) or 256Kbit (FM32256) of nonvolatile FRAM with a processor supervisor that features a programmable low-VDD reset, a programmable watchdog timer and a manual reset function.
Additional peripherals include an event counter, a lockable 64bit serial number area and a general-purpose comparator that can be used as an early power-fail (NMI) interrupt or for other purposes.
Implementing these complementary but distinct functions using an advanced 0.35-micron manufacturing process allows them to share a common interface and fit in a tiny 14-pin SOIC package, eliminating the need for multiple parts on a system board.
An industry-standard two-wire bus is used to access the memory and control all functions.
All devices operate from 2.7 to 5.5V.
The FM32x is pin- and function-compatible with the previously announced FM31x that also includes a real-time clock.
The FM4005 combines five separate but distinct, highly integrated analogue and mixed-signal functions for processor-based systems in a single 14-pin SOIC package, replacing the need for multiple devices on a system board.
The FM4005 device combines a real-time clock (RTC), low-VDD reset, watchdog timer, battery-backed event counter, lockable 64bit serial number area, and general-purpose comparator that can be used as an early power-fail (NMI) interrupt or for other purposes.
The on-chip integration allows the functions to be controlled with a single interface.
The device operates from 2.7 to 5.5V providing commonly needed system functions for a variety of automotive, consumer, communications, industrial, metering, and computing applications.
The FM4005 provides all the commonly needed peripherals and supervisors for systems that use nonvolatile memory.
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