Leveraging 0.13µm SONOS (silicon oxide nitride oxide silicon) embedded, non-volatile memory technology, serial non-volatile SRAMs have been introduced by Cypress Semiconductor. The company has launched a 1Mbit serial nvSRAM (non-volatile SRAM) and has also introduced 4 and 8Mbit nvSRAMs, each with an integrated real-time clock. The memory-manufacturing technology offers greater densities and improved access times and performance, claims the company. It can be used in applications requiring absolute non-volatile data security, such as RAID systems, industrial control and automation—for example PLCs, motion control, motor drives and robotics—single-board computers, POS terminals, electronic metering, as well as automotive, medical and data-communication systems. The 1Mbit CY14B101Q1 and CY14B101Q2 devices are available in multiple configurations with an industry-standard SPI and come in an eight-pin DFN package. The CY14B101P device, which also has a real-time clock, and the CY14B101Q3 are available in a 16-pin SOIC package. Operating frequencies are up to 40MHz. There are infinite read, write and recall cycles, as well as up to 20 years of data retention. The 4Mbit CY14B104K and CY14B104M and the 8Mbit CY14B108K and CY14B108M nvSRAMs all integrate a real-time clock that enables time-stamping of critical data for back-up and also features a programmable alarm function and watchdog timer. The SRAMs are ROHS-compliant and directly replace SRAM, battery-backed SRAM and EEPROM devices, for fast non-volatile data storage without batteries. Data transfers from the SRAM to the device's non-volatile elements take place automatically at power down. On power up, data is restored to the SRAM from the non-volatile memory. Both operations are also available under software control.
