40-MIPS Single-Cycle 8051-based Microcontroller with FRAM Memory - VRS51L3174 - Ramtron

Ramtron has launched the VRS51L3174, an 8051-based microcontroller with 8 KB of NV (non-volatile) FRAM memory. The new MCS-51-based microcontroller features an advanced 40-MIPS single-cycle 8051-core, 4KB SRAM, 64KB Flash with ISP (in-system programming) capability and digital signal processing (DSP) extensions. The VRS51L3174 is the ideal embedded data acquisition solution, targeting a wide array of applications from sensors and metering to industrial control, medical and instrumentation peripherals.

Ramtron’s VRS51L3174: 40 MIPS 8051-based Microcontroller with FRAM Memory

Why use FRAM instead of Flash or EEPROM for non-volatile data storage?
FRAM simplifies the design cycle by eliminating the code overhead accompanying Flash data storage, and the limited endurance and drawn out write cycles of Flash/EEPROM. Unlike Flash, FRAM bytes can be modified without first erasing an entire sector, rendering it easier to use. And unlike Flash/EEPROM, FRAM provides virtually unlimited read/write cycles and fast data writes.

Key features of VRS51L3174 microcontroller:

• 40MHz, Single-Cycle 8051 Processor: Its advanced core can deliver up to 40 MIPS throughput and is instruction-compatible with standard 8051/MCS-51.
• 8K x 8 FRAM: 8KB of non-volatile RAM mapped into the VRS51L3174 XRAM memory for easy access, fast writes and essentially unlimited endurance.
• MULT/ACCU/DIV Unit with 32-bit Barrel Shifter: This hardware calculation engine significantly outperforms 8-bit processors when executing DSP operations. It performs 16-bit signed multiplication and 32-bit addition in one cycle and 16-bit signed division in 5 cycles.
• 40MHz Internal Oscillator: The internal oscillator cuts system costs by eliminating the need for an external crystal oscillator.
• USB-JTAG Interface: For user-friendly and quick device programming and real-time, in-circuit debugging/emulation of the user application without the need for a costly emulator.
• Enhanced SPI: The communication speed on the serial peripheral interface can be configured up to 20 Mbps and transactions are adjustable from 1 to 32 bits.
• Dual UARTs with Baud Rate Generator: The universal asynchronous receiver/transmitters operate at up to 1.25 Mbps. Each UART incorporates a dedicated baud rate generator with 20-bit equivalent resolution.
• PWMs: Eight pulse width modulators with up to 16-bit adjustable resolution. Each PWM includes its own timer, which can also be used as general purpose timers.
• PWCs: Two pulse width counter modules provide advanced timer control, simplifying event duration measurement.

Other support peripherals include an I²C interface, three 16-bit general purpose timers/counters with three timer capture inputs, a watchdog timer, and 49 interrupts that share 16 interrupt vectors. The VRS51L3174 is available in a QFP-44 package that is pin-compatible with standard 8051 MCUs.

VRS51L3174 is shipped in 44-pin QFP package and it cost $5 (each for 10K unit quantity).

About Ramtron
Ramtron International Corporation is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets specialised semiconductor memory, microcontroller and integrated semiconductor solutions used in a wide range of product applications and markets worldwide. Ramtron pioneered the integration of ferroelectric materials into semiconductor products, which enabled the development of a new class of non-volatile memory products called ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) products. Ramtron has shipped more than 150 million FRAM memory products to customers for use in automotive navigation and entertainment systems, digital electricity meters, multi-function printers, and RAID disk controllers, among others. FRAM products merge the advantages of multiple memory technologies into a single device that retains information without a power source, can read and write at high speeds, can be written to many times, and consumes low amounts of power.

More info: Ramtron VRS51L3174 8051-based Microcontroller with NV FRAM