Microchip Technology announces serial EEPROM family on new single I/O bus

Microchip Technology has announced a new 10-member family of serial EEPROM devices with a single I/O bus interface. The devices are based upon Microchip's patent-pending UNI/O memory-device protocol (refer to USPTO patent number 7,376,020; to be issued on May 20, 2008). The 11XX010, 11XX020, 11XX040, 11XX080 and 11XX160 are the first single I/O EEPROM devices that can support any data rate from 10 kHz to 100 kHz; and the only 1 Kbit, 2 Kbit, 4 Kbit, 8 Kbit and 16 Kbit EEPROMs available in a 3-pin SOT-23 package (in addition to other higher pin count packages). With their powerful combination of features and small-footprint packages, the devices and bus are well positioned to help designers reduce system size and cost.

The UNI/O bus and EEPROM devices were developed in response to market trends toward smaller consumer-electronic products with more features and functionality. With this new bus, only one I/O port is needed for communication between the EEPROM device and the microcontroller (MCU). As a result, a smaller MCU can be used, which reduces overall design size. Additionally, a smaller MCU means that smaller connectors can be used - a single I/O reduces the number of signals needed for communication with the EEPROM - which enables the use of a lower pin count connector.

The UNI/O memory devices' small size and smallest possible I/O resource usage should not be mistaken for lower technology. These devices include advanced features previously only found on larger or more expensive devices, including status registers; software write protection for ¼, ½ or full array; noise filtering, and robust ESD protection for the highest reliability.

With the ability to track the host MCU's serial data rate over the range of 10 kHz to 100 kHz, most clock frequencies used by the MCU can be supported. Evaluation is simplified because the UNI/O memory devices are available in 8-pin packages with pin-outs that overlay any standard I2C or SPI EEPROM socket. This means that a customer's existing hardware can be used with the available UNI/O software drivers for a quick test.

Key applications for the UNI/O memory devices include portable/handheld and battery-powered devices in the Automotive (air bags, sensors and anti-lock brake systems); Medical (glucose test-strip calibration and various patient-monitoring devices); Consumer Electronic (printer cartridges, rechargeable batteries and PC Cards); and Industrial markets (portable instrumentation and data loggers), among others.

Microchip Technology