New FRAM-Enhanced Processor Companions with high-speed SPI - FM33x - Ramtron

Ramtron introduced a new line of FRAM-Enhanced Processor Companions with a high-speed SPI connectivity. The new chips, the FM33x family combines a non-volatile RAM with a set of highly-integrated support and peripheral functions. The launched products are FM33256 with 256 Kbits of FRAM and FM3316 with 16 Kbits of FRAM. This single-chip solution replaces discrete components and reduces cost and board space, supporting commonly-needed system functions in processor-based systems such as meters and automotive telematics applications.

Mike Alwais, Ramtron, said:

The FM33x family was enhanced to meet the design requirements of the most advanced metering and car navigation systems…

Many of our metering and telematics customers have requested faster data collection capacity to support their need for higher data rates. This new integrated FRAM product family addresses their needs through a high-speed SPI bus that enables writes at maximum bus-speed…

About Ramtron's Processor Companion
The Processor Companion is a highly integrated FRAM-Enhanced system management solution that supports virtually any processor-based design. FRAM =  Ferroelectric Random Access Memory. By integrating a non-volatile FRAM, individual system features are improved over discrete versions, creating a single-chip solution with superior bill of material cost and reduced board space.

The FM33x FRAM-enhanced Processor Companions family incorporates an NV FRAM with No Delay writes, low power consumption and virtually unlimited endurance. The devices also include a real-time clock/calendar/alarm (RTC), as well as processor companion features such as a programmable low-VDD reset, a programmable watchdog timer, a manual reset function, a non-volatile event counter, a lockable serial number, and a general-purpose comparator that can be used for early warning power-fail interrupts (NMI). The devices operate from 2.7 to 3.6 volts over the entire industrial temperature range (-40 degrees C to +85 degrees C).

Key features of FM33x FRAM-enhanced Processor Companions includes:

• Processor Supervisor: Provides two functions to the host processor: detection of power supply fault conditions, and a watchdog timer to escape software lockup conditions.
• SPI Bus: Operates at up to 16MHz, providing high-performance serial communication to the host processor.
• Early Power-Fail Interrupt: A power fail comparator creates an NMI, warning the processor before the VDD drops out of specification. This is ideal for saving critical data to the FRAM.
• RTC: A time-keeping device that can be battery- or capacitor-backed for permanently-powered operation. The RTC offers a software calibration feature for high accuracy, and an alarm.
• Serial Number: A writeable, 64-bit non-volatile memory area that can be locked once the serial number is set.
• Event Counter: A 16-bit non-volatile event counter with a programmable edge detector that can be used to log system intrusions (tamper events) and other events.
• Backup Power: The RTC is intended to be permanently powered. When the primary system power fails, the voltage on the VDD pin will drop. When VDD is less than 2.5V, the RTC (and event counters) will switch to the backup power supply on VBAK. The backup source can be either a battery or a capacitor.
• Memory: 16 or 256Kb of true non-volatile RAM (not battery-backed). FRAM technology replaces SRAM and other non-volatile memories since it reads/writes at bus speed with 10 year data retention and effectively unlimited read/write endurance.
• Trickle Charger: Facilitates capacitor backup. The VBAK pin can optionally provide a trickle charge current. Data is non-volatile so it won't be lost if the capacitor fails.
• 14-pin SOIC RoHS-compliant package

Pricing (10K qty): $3.25 (FM33256) and $2.25 (FM3316)

Further reading: Ramtron FRAM-enhanced Processor Companions