Xicor Announces Industry's Fastest 128-Kbit EEPROM.MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 3, 1997-- -- High Speed Interface Reduces Transfer Time and Extends Battery Life -- -- Block Lock(TM) Function Allows Device to Work Like "Two Chips in One" -- XICOR, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : XICO) today announced the industry's fastest 128-Kbit serial 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. . The X25138 is two and a half times faster than the industry's state-of-the-art speed for this density of EEPROM. The chip is ideal for portable systems that need high performance and extended battery life. The new chip uses a 5Mbps Serial Peripheral Interface (communications, hardware) Serial Peripheral Interface - (SPI) A serial interface in which a master device supplies clock pulses to exchanges data serially with a slave over two data wires (Master-Slave and Slave-Master). (SPI (1) (Stateful Packet Inspection) See stateful inspection. (2) (Service Provider Interface) The programming interface for developing Windows drivers under WOSA. ) to read and write data into its 128-Kbit EEPROM. The high-speed interface significantly extends battery life because the faster data transfer rate reduces the "on time" of the chip. Battery life is further extended due to a 1uA standby current and the ability to operate down to 2.5V. The Block Lock function allows the new device to work like "two chips in one" by effectively providing a "read only" memory area in addition to the main read/write EEPROM memory. This architecture reduces chip count by allowing sensitive data, such as the ID in a cellular telephone, to be securely stored without the need for a separate chip. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Gary Craig, Director of Product Marketing, "By combining a high-speed interface with our Block Lock feature we open up a broad range of new applications for high density serial EEPROMs. Engineers will no longer be constrained by slow transfer speeds and associated bottlenecks when using high-density serial devices; furthermore, engineers can reduce the chip count of their designs by using Xicor's Block Lock protection feature." The X25138 is targeted for markets such as consumer electronics, telecommunications, automotive, data acquisition and industrial systems. Product applications include conventional analog cellular telephones as well as the newer digital cell phones that store and display email messages. Applications also include pagers, video games, digital cameras, palm computers, data organizers, and various automotive systems. Block Lock Feature The Block Lock feature of the X25138 reduces chip count in a wide range of applications by working like "two chips in one." The device can be partitioned into separate read only and read/write memory areas. This architecture allows sensitive data to be securely stored without the need for a separate "ROM" chip. Block Lock is implemented by writing the sensitive data into a block of EEPROM memory. That block of data is then "locked" into a ROM mode by setting control bits in the status register. The locked data can be further protected by soldering the write protect pin of the chip to ground. This hardware connection ensures that no signal can inadvertently alter the control bits which would then unlock the sensitive data and allow it to be changed. Availability and Price The X25138 is sampling now with production in December. The device is priced at $3.10 in a 14-pin SOIC (Small Outline IC) A small-dimension, plastic, rectangular, surface mount chip package that uses gull-wing pins extending outward. See gull-wing lead, SOJ and chip package. (Small Outline Integrated Circuit), and $2.95 in an 8-pin PDIP (Plastic DIP) See DIP. (Plastic Dual In-line Package See DIP. (hardware) Dual In-Line Package - (DIL, DIP) The most common type of package for small and medium scale integrated circuits, with up to about 48 pins. The pins hang vertically from the two long edges of the rectangular package, spaced at intervals of 0.1 inch. ). Prices are for 10,000 piece quantities. Reader Contact Bob Anderson, Product Marketing Manager, Xicor, Inc., 1511 Buckeye Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035. Telephone: (408) 432-8888, X3179 E-mail: banderson@smtpgate.xicor.com Web site: http://www.xicor.com Company Background Xicor designs, develops, manufactures and sells nonvolatile in-the-system programmable products which retain information even when system power is turned off or is lost inadvertently. Xicor's product line includes advanced and standard EEPROMs, EEPOT EEPOT Electrically-Erasable Potentiometer (also seen as E2POT) digitally controlled potentiometers, Secure SerialFlash(TM) memories, various memory and secure Smart Cards, and nonvolatile SRAMs. In-the-system programmability benefits communications, consumer, computer, office automation, industrial, automotive and military products by adding advanced capabilities. Such capabilities include a much reduced design verification cycle, faster introduction to the market, easy adaptability to changing software and operating environments at the point of use, data security, remote maintainability, and personalization by the user. Many of Xicor's products consume little power, operate well from low voltage battery power sources, and come in small packages making them ideal for hand-held and portable applications. Xicor products are sold worldwide and are supported by technically staffed offices located in Asia, Europe, Japan and North America. Headquartered in Milpitas, California, Xicor holds the Underwriters Laboratories Certification of Compliance with the ISO (1) See ISO speed. (2) (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, www.iso.ch) An organization that sets international standards, founded in 1946. The U.S. member body is ANSI. 9001 quality standard and the joint automotive QS 9000 quality standard certification. Xicor's product, corporate and financial information is readily accessible on the World Wide Web at http://www.xicor.com, or by fax request to 408 432-0640. Acronyms that are also used for the products mentioned above include E2PROMs, E2PROM E2PROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory E2PROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Rom , eeprom, eePROM electrically erasable e·ras·a·ble adj. 1. Capable of being erased: erasable ink. 2. Capable of producing something that can be erased: an erasable pen. PROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM, E2POT E2POT Electrically-Erasable Potentiometer (also seen as EEPOT) digitally controlled potentiometers, E2POT, Nonvolatile RAM, NOVRAMs, NVRAMs. CONTACT: Xicor, Inc. -OR- Curtis & Associates Bob Anderson Curtis Panasuk Product Marketing Manager Principal (408) 432-8888, X3179 (415) 594-4800 |
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