Analysis
FRAM-enhanced Processor family with high-speed serial interface
Ramtron International has introduced the FM33x product family – a new line of FRAM-Enhanced Processor Companions with a high-speed serial peripheral interface (SPI). The FM33x family combines, in one small package, all the benefits of a non-volatile RAM with a comprehensive set of highly-integrated support and peripheral functions for processor-based designs.
Ramt“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).