Microcontroller Series with Dual-Flash Architecture

SST (Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.) has announced the availability of its next-generation FlashFlex51 family of 8-bit, 8051-compatible microcontrollers. The SST89E/V52RD2/RD, SST89E/V54RD2/RD and SST89E/V58RD2/RD microcontrollers leverage the company's proprietary SuperFlash technology with a dual-block flash architecture that supports in-application programming (IAP) and features SST's unique SoftLock security feature. In addition to up to 32 KB of on-chip SuperFlash memory, the RD2/RD product family offers 1 KByte of on-chip SRAM and fast clock speeds of up to 40 MHz. These microcontrollers are suitable for developing microcontroller-based application specific products for high-volume applications in industrial, PC, digital consumer, wireless and networking markets. The unique architecture of the RD2/RD enables users to map the Flash memory into two independent blocks. The primary memory block-0 is comprised of 8 KBs (SST89E/V52RD2/RD), 16 KB (SST89E/V54RD2/RD) or 32 KB (SST89E/V58RD2/RD) of SuperFlash EEPROM with a 128-Byte sector size, and occupies the internal ROM space for an 8051-compatible microcontroller. The secondary memory block-1 housing 8 Kb of SuperFlash EEPROM, also with a 128-B sector size, can be used as either electronically erasable nonvolatile data or code storage. The RD2/RD microcontrollers can be reprogrammed from a single-voltage 3V or 5V power supply. The dual-memory block architecture supports IAP. The IAP mode allows the CPU to run user programs from one Flash memory block, while servicing a Flash programming operation in the background on the other block concurrently, thereby allowing the Flash contents to be altered while the CPU continues to run the application software. IAP will have a significant role in enabling increased functionality, such as remote diagnostics and product monitoring, in network- or Internet-enabled devices. The RD2/RD microcontroller also features the company's memory remap feature. Memory remap enables the boot-strap loader in memory block-1 to be run at the onset of every MCU reset. This allows users to remap the secondary memory block-1 physical address to overlay the lower order logical address so that interrupts can be serviced when the primary memory block-0 is busy under program/erase operation. The RD2/RD Series of microcontrollers also include SST's proprietary SoftLock security features. SoftLock prevents both accidental overwriting of program memory and software piracy, while still enabling IAP operation under the secured environment. SST's SoftLock mode contains a four-level security lock scheme, thereby increasing the versatility of the Flash memory partition between the two memory blocks. The RD2/RD Series of microcontrollers is fully supported by industry-standard development tools including software, programmers and in-circuit emulators. SST also provides its own proprietary development tools and software utilities including an in-system programming boot-strap loader and a software-based emulator. The FlashFlex51 microcontroller family enables a seamless transition of 8051 designs from development to pre-production to high-volume manufacturing without the need to re-design and re-qualify at every cycle. The SST89E52RD2-40-C-NJ is priced at $1.20 each, the SST89E54RD2-40-C-NJ is priced at $1.38 each and the SST89E58RD2-40-C-NJ is priced at $1.55 each, all in quantities of 10K. Silicon Storage Technology Click on this URL for more: www.abm-infolink.com/infolinksearch/aspx/resultsframe.aspx?pub=EC&isn=4M17070