The VRS51L3074 is the first 8051-based microcontroller with nonvolatile ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM). FRAM provides a quick and reliable nonvolatile data storage and processing system.

FRAM simplifies the design cycle by eliminating the code overhead accompanying flash memory data storage, and the limited endurance and drawn out write cycles of flash memory/EEPROM. Unlike flash memory, FRAM bytes can be modified without first erasing an entire sector, rendering it easier to use. And unlike flash memory/EEPROM, FRAM provides virtually unlimited read/write cycles and fast data writes.

The VRS51L3074 combines 8 KB of FRAM with a fully integrated, high-performance System-on-a-Chip. Features include an advanced 40-MIPS, single-cycle 8051-core, 64-KB flash memory with in-system/in-application programming, 4-KB SRAM, a JTAG program/debug interface, digital signal processing extensions, and a robust digital peripheral set. Operating at 3.3 V over the entire industrial temperature range, the VRS51L3074 offers the ideal embedded data acquisition solution, targeting a wide array of applications from sensors and metering to industrial control, instrumentation, and medical devices.

The VRS51L3074 also features a 40-MHz precision internal oscillator, a JTAG interface, dual UARTs, an enhanced SPI, and eight pulse-width modulators. 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 VRS51L3074 is available in a QFP-64 package.

The VRS51L3074 costs less than $5 in volume.

Ramtron International Corp.
www.ramtron.com