Embedded System Product News

Ramtron Introduces 8051 Microcontroller with 64 KBytes Flash and 2 KBytes Nonvolatile F-RAM

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — September 18, 2007 — Ramtron International Corporation (Nasdaq: RMTR), a leading developer and supplier of nonvolatile ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) and integrated semiconductor products, today launched the VRS51L3072, an 8051-based microcontroller with 2KB of nonvolatile F-RAM memory.

"We have expanded the Versa 8051 family with the 2KB F-RAM MCU for our customers who require a lower density F-RAM 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 F-RAM," says David Lee, Ramtron International Strategic Marketing Manager. "Pin-compatible with our 8KB F-RAM MCUs, it’s a cost effective alternative for applications that require less than 8KB of F-RAM."

F-RAM Instead of EEPROM or Data Flash for Nonvolatile Data Storage
F-RAM eliminates the code overhead accompanying Flash data storage, and the limited endurance and drawn out write cycles of Flash/EEPROM. Unlike Flash, F-RAM bytes can be modified without first erasing an entire sector, rendering it easier to use. And unlike Flash/EEPROM, F-RAM provides virtually unlimited read/write cycles and fast data writes.

Features of the VRS51L3072 include:

• A 40 MHz, near single-cycle 8051-core
• DSP extensions (MAC unit with Barrel Shifter)
• 64 KBytes Flash with in-system/in-application programming
• 4K Bytes SRAM
• 2 KBytes F-RAM
• Watchdog Timer
• Two Pulse Width Counter (PWC) modules
• Eight PWMs with 16-bit resolution
• Three 16-bit General Purpose Timers
• 3.3 volts over industrial temperature range
• USB
• JTAG
• 2x UARTs, I²C
• SPI configurable from 1 to 32-bits and performance up to 20MHz

Pricing and Availability
Engineering samples of the VRS51L3072 are available now.  The device is packaged in a RoHS-compliant 64-QFN.  Unit pricing starts at $4.50 for quantities of 10,000 units.

About Ramtron
Ramtron International Corporation, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets specialized semiconductor memory and integrated semiconductor solutions used in a wide range of product applications and markets worldwide.