Ramtron extends Versa 8051 family with VRS51L3072 2-kilobit FRAM microcontroller

“We have expanded the Versa 8051 family with the 2Kb FRAM MCU for our customers who require a lower density FRAM for real-time data collection and storage. The high-performance core in the VRS51L3072 controls peripherals and gathers data, and its onboard digital signal processing (DSP) functions process the data, which is then stored in FRAM,” says David Lee, Ramtron International Strategic Marketing Manager. “Pin-compatible with our 8Kb FRAM MCUs, it’s a cost effective alternative for applications that require less than 8Kb of FRAM.”



FRAM instead of Flash/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.



The VRS51L3072 combines 2Kb of FRAM with a fully integrated, high-performance system-on-chip. Features include an advanced 40-MIPS, single-cycle 8051-core, 64Kb Flash with in-system/in-application programming, 4Kb SRAM, DSP extensions, and a robust digital peripheral set. Operating at 3.3 volts over the entire industrial temperature range, the VRS51L3072 is the ideal embedded data acquisition solution for a wide array of advanced applications.



VRS51L3072 features



The new VRS51L3072 MCU features:

* 2KB FRAM: 2048 bytes of true non-volatile RAM (no battery/super cap required to maintain data) mapped into the VRS51L3072’s XRAM memory for easy access, fast writes and essentially unlimited endurance.

* 40MHz, Single-Cycle 8051 Processor: One of the fastest 8-bit processors on the market, its advanced core can deliver up to 40 MIPS throughput and is instruction-compatible with standard 8051s for smooth device migration.

* MULT/ACCU/DIV Unit with 32-bit Barrel Shifter: This hardware calculation engine significantly outperforms 8-bit processors when executing DSP operations (FIR filtering, sensor output linearization, multiple-byte arithmetic operations, etc). It performs 16-bit signed multiplication and 32-bit addition in one cycle and 16-bit signed division in five cycles. The barrel shifter enables logic/arithmetic shift operations.

* 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.

* Dual UARTs with Baud Rate Generator: The universal asynchronous receiver/transmitters operate at up to 1.25Mbps. Each UART incorporates a dedicated baud rate generator with 20-bit equivalent resolution.

* Enhanced SPI: The communication speed on the serial peripheral interface can be configured up to 20 Mbps and transactions are adjustable from 1-bit to 32-bits.

* PWCs: Two pulse width counter modules provide advanced timer control, simplifying event duration measurement.

* PWMs: Eight pulse width modulators with 16-bit adjustable resolution. Each PWM includes its own timer, which can also be used as general purpose timers.



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 device is packaged in a RoHS-compliant 64-QFN.