Ramtron intros event data recorder with integrated F-RAM memory

Ramtron International Corporation’s FM6124 is said to be the semiconductor industry’s first F-RAM-based Event Data Recorder (EDR). This integrated event monitoring solution continuously monitors state changes, stores them in the F-RAM, and alerts the system to the changes. Like a programmable logic controller (PLC), it features simple device settings and data retrieval for easy system integration and a shorter design-in cycle.

The FM6124 is designed for broad industry use in the industrial control, medical, and metering markets. The EDR can perform in a host of applications such as activity/equipment/environmental monitoring; maintenance scheduling; power system management; automotive/industrial automation event recording; vehicle/pedestrian traffic counting; and surveillance systems.

The device features 32 Kbytes of F-RAM memory that can be used to store event records. Up to 24 Kbytes of F-RAM can be configured to store event/user data. The on-chip real-time clock (RTC) with calendar enables time stamping of events and can function as a system clock and calendar. The RTC enables further analysis of captured data, which can be used by the system to generate alerts such as an equipment malfunction or a call for maintenance.

The EDR includes 12 digital inputs that can be individually configured to trigger event recording on either a rising or falling edge. The FM6124’s F-RAM memory can store up to 4,000 event records. The device features an I2C interface that sustains communication speeds up to 100kbps. The I2C interface allows for flexible placement of the FM6124 chip away from the host system and closer to the equipment and/or sensors it is monitoring. Up to four FM6124 devices can share the same I2C bus.

Ramtron International Corporation, www.ramtron.com



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FM6124 provides a single-chip solution for digital event monitoring; ideal for industrial control, medical, and metering markets