Ramtron Expands Product Line with 64Kb FRAM; Latest FRAM Product to Feature Unlimited Endurance...

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 2001

Ramtron International Corporation (Nasdaq:RMTR), a leading developer of specialty semiconductor memory products, today announced the introduction and availability of FM24CL64, the second

in a new line of unlimited endurance, 3-volt operation ferroelectric random access nonvolatile memory (FRAM) products. The low-power 64-kilobit (Kb) FM24CL64 provides reliable data retention for 10 years while eliminating the complexities, overhead and system level reliability problems caused by EEPROM and other nonvolatile memories. It offers significantly lower power consumption, while maintaining drop-in compatibility with industry standard serial EEPROM. Its speed and unlimited endurance also allow it to serve as expansion RAM for low-cost microcontrollers. Ramtron's FM24CL64 opens numerous possibilities for reducing the customer's time to market with new flexibility for the system designer.

"Our customers in the industrial control and test and measurement segments have told us that high reliability and unlimited endurance combined with low power and design simplicity are critical for bringing differentiated products to market quickly," said David Bondurant, Ramtron's vice president of marketing. "With the introduction of FM24CL64, our second 3-volt product delivered this year, we've given customers the ideal memory for use in write-intensive and power-sensitive systems."

Product Application

The FM24CL64 FRAM is a high-performance, nonvolatile memory that is ideal for applications including palm-top computers, information appliances, Internet-connected home networks, laser printers, electric meters, and telecom and networking equipment. In addition, the FM24CL64 introduces a variety of possibilities for write-intensive applications, such as data collection, configuration storage and RAM expansion as well as nonvolatile storage in power-sensitive systems, allowing users to extend battery life and improve system performance.

Product Benefits

Ramtron's FM24CL64 offers single-byte writes that are 280 times faster than EEPROM. In addition, the FM24CL64 offers no timing delays and can be written at standard bus speeds versus EEPROM, which requires a 10 millisecond write delay before new data can be registered. The new 3-volt device features an unlimited number of write cycles, compared to 1 million write cycles for EEPROM, and has an extremely low standby and operating current, which is over 50 times better than competing parts.

Product Features

The FM24CL64 is a 64Kb nonvolatile RAM with an industry standard 2-wire interface and pin compatibility with industry standard 24C64 type EEPROMs. Read and writes are performed at bus speeds up to 1MHz. It operates from 2.7V to 3.6V and draws 75 microamps for reads and writes at 100 kHz. The FM24CL64 offers 10 years of data retention and is rated over the industrial temperature range of -40 Degrees C to +85 Degrees C.

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the FM24CL64 are available immediately in 8-pin SOP, with pricing starting at $1.41 in 10K quantities.

About Ramtron

Ramtron's patented FRAM memories are a new generation of semiconductor memory that combine high-performance and low-power operation with the ability to store data in the absence of power. Due to the product's unique advantages, FRAM memories are expected to revolutionize a variety of electronic consumer and industrial products. The company also develops and markets ultra-high-performance memory products through its subsidiary, Enhanced Memory Systems, Inc.

Except for historical information, the statements preceding contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and the actual events or results may differ materially. These forward-looking statements speak only as of this date. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made today to reflect events or circumstances after today, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For more information about Ramtron and its products, contact: Ramtron International Corporation, 1850 Ramtron Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, 80921. Telephone is 719-481-7000 or 800-545-FRAM (800-545-3726); FAX is 719-481-7058; E-mail address is info@ramtron.com. Homepage is www.ramtron.com.

For Product Photo go to: www.ramtron.com/press/photoarchive.htm