Ramtron is launching the FM33x Processor Companion family with two products: the FM33256 and the FM3316, which are 3-volt devices with 256 kilobits and 16 kilobits of FRAM, respectively. 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.
“The FM33x family was enhanced to meet the design requirements of the most advanced metering and car navigation systems,” explains Mike Alwais, Vice President of Marketing at Ramtron. “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.”
The FM33x family incorporates a non-volatile FRAM memory with No Delay™ writes, virtually unlimited endurance and low power consumption. 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).