STMicroelectronics Completes Miniature Serial EEPROM Families with New 128Kbit and 64Kbit Introductions

Comprehensive, footprint-compatible families save space and cost, ease scalability

Geneva, March 2008 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a world leader in non-volatile memory technology, today announced it is the first to offer a complete serial EEPROM portfolio from 2 Kbit to 128 Kbit in both I2C and SPI versions, with all family devices benefiting from space-saving Micro Leadframe (MLP) package technology. Three new devices in the 2 x 3 x 0.6mm MLP8 package now allow designers to choose from footprint-compatible devices at any required density, saving space, cost and development time.

The M95128 is the first 128-Kbit SPI device to reach the market in the MLP8 package size. As a further benefit, the device has a sub-3µA stand-by mode, allowing its use in energy-sensitive battery-powered products. The four-wire SPI interface supports communication at up to 2 Mbit/s, and also allows software-based write protection, in addition to standard protection implemented in hardware.

The 64-Kbit M24C64 and 128-Kbit M24128 complete ST’s family of I2C devices in the MLP8 package, which the company first announced in March 2007. The built-in I2C interface supports 400-kbit/s Fast Mode communication, operating as a slave on the I2C bus. Both devices reduce current draw to below 1µA in stand-by mode, to help extend battery life in portable and handheld products.

With their small size, high performance and wide range of capacities, this family of devices is ideal for applications including Bluetooth headsets and modules, wireless LAN adapters, portable media players, cellular handsets and smart phones, camcorders and digital still cameras. From a system designer’s point of view, the operating voltage range is compatible with virtually all ASICs and chipsets. The M24C64 and M24128 are even specified to operate with power supplies as low as 1.7V.

Other valuable features include: a write-control input, byte- and page-write modes, random and sequential read modes, self-timed programming cycle and automatic address incrementing. Device lifetime is greater than one million write cycles, and data retention more than 40 years.

All of the devices in the I2C and SPI families, in the MLP-8 package and spanning densities from 2 Kbit to 128 Kbit, are available now. The M24C64-FMB6TG is priced at $0.24 in quantities of 1000 units, the M24128-FMB6TG at $0.34, and the M95128-RMB6TG at $0.48 in the same quantities.