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Product category: Memory Devices and Modules
News Release from: Ramtron International | Subject: FM24CL16
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 24 October 2006

Nonvolatile memory passes automotive
test

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16Kbit, 3V serial FRAM is been qualified to AEC-Q100 standards.

Ramtron's FM24CL16 - a 16Kbit, 3V serial FRAM device - has been qualified to AEC-Q100 (Automotive Electronic Council's Stress Test Qualification for Integrated Circuits) standards Ramtron is aggressively pursuing plans to grow a broad line of AEC-Q100-qualified FRAM products to meet the design and sourcing challenges of the automotive market

This qualification programme has been developed to support a number of customer design-ins from in-cab applications to the vehicle's most stringent environments.

"FRAM's NoDelay writes sets it apart as the only nonvolatile memory technology suitable for advanced automotive electronic systems such as adaptive cruise control", says Ramtron Vice President Mike Alwais.

"The FM24CL16 has been designed into such systems and is now qualified for automotive applications as a reliable, high-quality component".

The AEC-Q100-qualification programme comes in tandem with the growing need for better nonvolatile data storage solutions in automotive subsystems.

Electronic content in vehicles is becoming "smarter" with the use of microcontrollers and sensors; FRAM already plays an integral role in high-content applications such as intelligent airbags, occupant sensors, infotainment systems, anti-pinch/trap sunroofs, automatic transmission, adaptive cruise control, steer by wire etc because it offers what older memories like EEPROM and Flash cannot: fast writes, high endurance and low power consumption.

Ramtron is also developing a number of FRAM configurations specified for the Grade 1 (-40 to +125C) operating range.

The FM24CL16 is a 16Kbit nonvolatile RAM with an industry standard two-wire interface.

Pin-compatible with comparable EEPROM devices, but far superior, the FM24CL16 reads and writes at bus speeds up to 1MHz with virtually unlimited endurance, 45 years of data retention and low power.

It operates at 2.7 to 3.6V over the industrial temperature range (-40 to +85C), draws 75uA for reads and writes at 100kHz.

This serial FRAM device provides unparalleled nonvolatile memory for data collection and storage in automotive electronics.

Fast writes are beneficial when capturing data from sensors, especially in noisy automotive environments or when power may suddenly fail, such as smart airbags and crash recorders.

High endurance enables designers to capture information as often as they wish without the risk of wearing out the memory.

Low power is an added benefit in applications with ever-lower power budgets such as car entertainment systems.

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