Product category:
Memory Devices and Modules
News Release from: Ramtron International | Subject: FM25C160
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 23 May 2006
FRAM adds intelligence to automotive
safety
Hyundai Autonet of Korea is using nonvolatile FRAM technology for smart airbags and occupant sensors in Hyundai automobiles among others.
Hyundai Autonet of Korea is using nonvolatile FRAM technology for smart airbags and occupant sensors in Hyundai automobiles among others FRAM's unparalleled write endurance along with its fast data collection capability makes it an ideal nonvolatile memory technology for today's sophisticated airbag systems
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 25 Dec 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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"Our design win success with Hyundai Autonet for smart airbags is evidence of FRAM's growing acceptance among top automotive system suppliers", said Ramtron CEO Bill Staunton.
"FRAM possesses key features for smart airbag systems that competitive memory technologies cannot easily provide".
"We expect smart airbag usage to continue to grow as the technology makes its way into an increasing number of car models".
"Airbags are just one of many places in automobiles that can leverage FRAM benefits", Staunton added.
To date, Ramtron FRAM products have been designed into smart airbag systems for eight different car manufacturers across the USA, Asia, Japan and Europe.
The company anticipates volume FRAM shipments into smart airbag systems to exceed 2 million units by the end of 2006.
Ramtron's 16Kbit FM25C160 is a popular choice among airbag users due its 5V operating power and SPI interface.
Today's smart airbags are designed to increase or decrease deployment force based on accident event parameters such as the severity of the crash, the weight of the occupant, and the interaction with other safety systems within the car.
The parametric data sent to the car's electronic control unit (ECU) are generated by sensors throughout the interior.
In newer safety systems, sensors built into the seats send data to the ECU so the airbag can deploy "intelligently".
As more and more sensors are added to cars, more data need to be collected.
FRAM allows automotive manufacturers to collect more data at higher frequencies enabling the car's systems to store and act on the timeliest information available.
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