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Fram to prove its worth
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24/11/2006
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With 40million frams shipped, Ramtron is now setting its sights on the consumer and automotive markets. FRAMs will finally be able to claim the ‘proven technology’ badge if Ramtron’s growing focus on automotive applications and the introduction of a processor companion, targeting consumer products, are achieved. “With 2million devices shipped in 2000 and more than 40m now shipped, the technology has truly established itself,” said Mike Alwais, Ramtron’s VP of marketing.
Specifically, Ramtron is developing fram for the Grade 1 (-40 to 125°C) operating range. Fram’s fast write and high endurance qualities, says Alwais, are being used for capturing data from sensors in noisy automotive environments – such as in intelligent airbags, anti trap sunroofs or steer by wire systems. Another indicator is the company is moving from the current 0.25µm process to 130nm next year.
Meanwhile, designed as a drop in replacement for standard synchronous srams, Ramtron’s fram based 8051 based microcontroller targets data collection and storage systems, such as metering, where customers need to collect information quickly and often, and save state events that occur. Notes Alwais: “This could enable a range of ‘smart’ applications, such as the opportunity within an airbag controller to take a record of what happened before and after the accident.”
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Author
Vanessa Knivett
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