Atmel Introduces 4-Mbit Serial EEPROMs for Configuration of Million Gate FPGAs and Programmable SoCS.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2001 Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:ATML ATML Automatic Test Markup Language ATML Automated Test Markup Language ) today introduced two versions of a programmable four-megabit, 3.3-volt serial configuration EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) A rewritable memory chip that holds its content without power. Although EEPROMs spawned flash memory, EEPROMs are byte addressable at the write level, whereas flash chips must erase a block of bytes before rewriting. for the storage of configuration and application data. These have been designed to work with ultra high density FPGAs and programmable systems-on-chip (SoCs) from Atmel, and other SRAM-based FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) A type of gate array that is programmed in the field rather than in a semiconductor fab. Containing up to hundreds of thousands of gates, there are a variety of FPGA architectures on the market. vendors. The new EEPROMs offer ultra low power An ultra low power, or ULP device, is an electronic gadget that has milli- or micro-watt power consumption. Some examples of ultra-low power devices:
According to Martin Mason, Atmel's FPGA Product Marketing Manager, "All SRAM-based FPGAs derive their functionality from configuration data (series of 0s and 1s) that are read into them on power up from external non-volatile memory. Serial Configuration EEPROMs are the most popular for bitstream storage because they can be programmed in system and contain all of the logic required to program SRAM-based devices. As FPGA densities have increased to a million or more gates, the densities of configuration EEPROMs have not kept pace, thus requiring the use of multiple EEPROMs, resulting in higher power consumption and board complexity. "The advent of programmable SoCs that include a microcontroller with high density programmable logic compounds the problem, as non-volatile storage is required for the MCU (1) (MicroController Unit) A computer on a single chip. See microcontroller. (2) (Multipoint Control Unit) A device that is used to moderate a videoconference of three or more end points (users at computers or groups of users program code, as well as the FPGA bitstream and application data. Atmel's new ultra high density EEPROMs solve this problem by providing single-chip bitstream, code and data storage for the most popular FPGAs and programmable SoCs on the market today. "Atmel has always been a leader in EEPROM and flash technology, having introduced the world's first in-system-programmable serial EEPROM and the first single voltage EEPROM. These new high density EEPROMs are the next step in the refinement of our process technology," Mason concluded. The AT17LV040, can store all the configuration information for Atmel's FPSLIC FPSLIC Field Programmable System Level Integrated Circuit programmable SoC family, and high density Xilinx Virtex or any Spartan FPGA. A second version, the AT17LV040A supports the high gate count Apex20K FPGAs from Altera. The AT17LV040 and AT17LV040A use a single 3.3 or 5 volt power supply for both read and write operations and contain on-chip logic to allow faster FPGA loading. Write-protect mechanisms, set by external pins, allow any portion of the EEPROM array to be protected, so the rest of the array may be used for application data storage. Atmel guarantees the AT17LV040 EEPROM for 10,000 write cycles and data retention of at least 100 years. The devices may be in-system programmed using Atmel's ADH ADH: see antidiuretic hormone. 2200E programming kit or industry standard programmers from Advantech, Advin, BP Microsystems, Data I/O, Logical Devices, Needham, Stag, System General and others. The 4-Mbit AT17LV040 will be available in Q2 2001 in a 44-pin TQFP See QFP. package costing $33.50 in quantities of 1,000. About Atmel Founded in 1984, Atmel Corporation is headquartered in San Jose, California San Jose (IPA: /ˌsænhoʊˈzeɪ/) is the third-largest city in California, and the tenth-largest in the United States. It is the county seat of Santa Clara County. with manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe. Atmel designs, manufactures and markets worldwide, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and RF semiconductors. Atmel is also a leading provider of system-level integration semiconductor solutions using CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) Pronounced "c-moss." The most widely used integrated circuit design. It is found in almost every electronic product from handheld devices to mainframes. , BiCMOS, bipolar SiGe, and high-voltage BCDMOS process technologies. Atmel product and financial information can be retrieved from its Fax-on-Demand service. In North America call 1-800/292-8635. Internationally from a fax phone, dial 408/441-0732. Requests may be sent via e-mail to literature@atmel.com or by visiting Atmel's website at www.atmel.com. Note to Editors: Atmel, the Atmel logo and combinations thereof and others contained herein, are trademarks of Atmel Corporation. Terms and product names in this document may be the trademarks of others. |
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