Flash memory devices to reduce production costs and time to market

The SST26VF family of flexible MAC address chips help designers to save time and costs while accelerating time to market for low- to mid-sized volume production. MAC address options are available at Flash densities of 16 megabit (Mb), 32Mb and 64Mb.

The rapid growth of the IoT means that embedded system designers must currently source, programme and serialise Media Access Control (MAC) addresses from the IEEE-Registration Authority (RA) for all connected products. Only sold from the IEEE-RA in blocks ranging from 4,000 to 16 million, small-to medium-size businesses pay higher costs for low volume services. The SST26VF help to eliminate the need for companies to self-procure and manage these identifiers from the IEEE-RA.

Both the pre-programmed EUI-48 and EUI-64 node addresses consist of an Organisational Unique Identifier (OUI) and an Extension Identifier (EI). While the OUI is purchased from the IEEE by individual companies, the EI is assigned and managed through each company by building a unique EI into every product, thereby ensuring a globally unique Extended Unique Identifier (EUI) node address for every device used or shipped.

The SST26VF064BEUI, SST26VF032BEUI and SST26VF016BEUI devices feature a six-wire, 4-bit I/O interface, allowing for low power and high performance operation in a low pin-count package. Available in 8-pin SOIC and 8-contact WSON packages, the devices occupy less board space and lower overall system costs.

They feature rich SQI Flash, with flexible write-protected functionality to ensure code cannot be inadvertently over-written or erased. Integrated with Microchip’s proprietary SuperFlash technology, the family offers high endurance, low operating currents and low power draw, making these devices well suited for industrial and consumer cloud-connected applications, such as smart hubs for homes, smart home appliances, building control equipment, factory automation, security and surveillance equipment.