{"id":14922,"date":"2019-12-04T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-04T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.engineernewsnetwork.com\/blog\/?p=14922"},"modified":"2019-12-03T10:54:47","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T10:54:47","slug":"high-density-spi-eerams-up-to-1mb-for-task-data-logging-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.engineernewsnetwork.com\/blog\/high-density-spi-eerams-up-to-1mb-for-task-data-logging-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"High-density SPI EERAMs up to 1Mb for task data-logging applications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Microchip announces a new family of Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) EERAM memory products<\/strong><\/a> that offers system designers up to 25% cost savings over the current serial Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM) alternatives.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The family introduces four reliable SPI densities to Microchip\u2019s EERAM portfolio, ranging from 64Kb up to 1Mb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applications from smart meters to manufacturing lines, that require repetitive task data-logging, must be able to automatically restore content if power is disrupted during processing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current low-density (64Kb to 1Mb) NVRAM solutions used for these data logs are typically the highest price-per-bit memory in the resulting end products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EERAM is a standalone non-volatile RAM memory that uses the same SPI and I2<\/sup>C protocols as serial SRAM, enabling devices to retain SRAM content during power loss without using an external battery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All non-volatile aspects of the part are essentially invisible to the user. When the device detects power going away, it automatically transfers the SRAM data to non-volatile storage and moves it back to the SRAM once power returns to the part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In manufacturing lines, for example, stations handle up to millions of tasks over their lifetimes and lost data during a task can require overhauling or discarding items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

EERAMs automatically store SRAM content in these settings, allowing the manufacturing line to resume where the task was disrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The primary reason EERAM is available at a lower price point is the use of standard Complementary Metal-oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) and Flash processes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because these are the highest volume and most widely used processes, they offer the best reliability and lowest cost in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternative solutions such as Ferroelectric RAM (FRAM) use a specialty process, resulting in much higher costs and unstable long-term supply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new EERAM family comes with Microchip\u2019s customer-driven obsolescence practice, which helps ensure availability to customers for as long as needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following devices are available in 8-pin SOIC, SOIJ and DFN packages in volume production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n