Cypress Combines PSoC and Non-Volatile SRAM Technologies for Fail-Safe, Mixed-Signal Data Logging

New PSoC NV Family Unites Unlimited Read, Write and Recall Endurance of nvSRAMs With Flexibility and Integration of PSoC Architecture

SAN JOSE, Calif.--  September 22, 2008 --Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:CY) today introduced the industry’s first device to integrate a non-volatile static random access memory (nvSRAM) and a programmable system on chip. The new PSoC® NV family combines the flexible design capabilities of Cypress’s flagship PSoC architecture with an infinite endurance nvSRAM in a single package. PSoC NV devices integrate configurable analog and digital circuits, controlled by an on-chip microcontroller, providing both enhanced design revision capability and component count savings. The secure-store data logging devices target the computing, networking, telecomm, automotive and industrial markets.

The PSoC NV family serves applications requiring continuous data logging from sensors, analog, and digital inputs. The devices have a powerful analog front-end that can simultaneously sample up to 8 inputs from sensors and analog sources and store the data in the embedded nvSRAM. Regular operation accesses are directed to an SRAM array and automatically secured into a non-volatile quantum trap cell in case of power failure. This data can be recalled on power up. The data logging capabilities of the PSoC NV family enables field diagnostics and failure mode analysis, helping customers identify problems quickly and reducing system downtime. The devices have a 20-year data retention capability and can perform a host of applications such as voltage monitoring, voltage sequencing, thermal management, on-board diagnostics, power management, fan control, industrial data logging, and sequence-of-events monitoring. For more information on the products, visit www.cypress.com/go/PR/PSoCNV.

“The PSoC architecture offers integration and flexibility advantages over other embedded control offerings, and nvSRAMs deliver superior performance compared to other non-volatile memories,” said Robert Dunnigan, vice president of Non-Volatile Products business unit at Cypress. “The PSoC NV family delivers both of these functions in an integrated solution that serves as a ‘black box’ for industrial controls, servers, and other applications.”

PSoC NV devices feature:

• A 64-, 128- or 256-Kbyte nvSRAM with a throughput of up to 100 Kbps
• An M8C-based core with speeds up to 24 MHz
• 32 Kbytes Flash and 2 Kbytes SRAM
• 12 analog blocks that can be programmed to create an ADC, DAC and comparator
• 8 analog channels with a channel sampling rate of 820 samples/sec
• 16 digital blocks that can be programmed to create timers, counters, PWM, UART and SPI
• Programmable GPIOs
• An I2C interface
• Watchdog and sleep timers
• On-chip precision voltage reference
• 3.3V operation over the industrial temperature range (-40°C to +85°C).

Cypress also introduced two kits to support the PSoC NV family:

• The PSoC NV Demonstration Kit showcases the fail-safe data logging capabilities of the PSoC NV family in an event monitoring and diagnostics application. Data from multiple analog channels are continuously sampled and logged by the device. For a power failure, data can be retrieved through a plug-and-play interface via a versatile GUI, reconstructing the events leading to system failure.

• The PSoC NV Evaluation Kit provides a flexible and easy-to-use platform for developers to experiment with the mixed-signal and data-logging capabilities of PSoC NV devices. The kit includes a fan module for temperature sensing and fan control applications, PSoC Designer software and example projects.

Availability

The 3.3V CY8CNP102B device is now sampling with full production expected in Q4 2008. The device is available in a 100-pin TQFP package. The PSoC NV Evaluation Kit will be available in October 2008 and the PSoC NV Demonstration Kit will be available in November 2008. Visit the Cypress Online Store at www.cypress.com or contact your local sales representative for more information. 

About Cypress nvSRAMs

Non-volatile SRAMs reduce board space and design complexity compared to battery-backed SRAMs, and are more economical and reliable than magnetic (MRAM) or ferroelectric (FRAM) memories. Cypress’s offers the industry’s most complete line of nvSRAMs, including 16-Kbit, 64-Kbit, 256-Kbit, 1-Mbit, 2-Mbit, 4-Mbit and 8-Mbit devices. The nvSRAMs are manufactured on Cypress’s S8™ 0.13-micron SONOS (Silicon Oxide Nitride Oxide Silicon) embedded non-volatile memory technology, enabling greater densities and improved access times and performance. SONOS technology is highly compatible with standard CMOS technologies and offers numerous advantages including high endurance, low power, and radiation hardness. In addition, SONOS provides a more robust, manufacturable and cost-effective solution compared to other embedded non-volatile memory technologies.

PSoC -- Because Change Happens

PSoC devices employ a highly configurable system-on-chip architecture for embedded control design, offering a flash-based equivalent of a field-programmable ASIC without lead-time or NRE penalties. PSoC devices integrate configurable analog and digital circuits, controlled by an on-chip microcontroller, providing both enhanced design revision capability and component count savings. They include up to 32 Kbytes of Flash memory, 2 Kbytes of SRAM, an 8x8 multiplier with 32-bit accumulator, power and sleep monitoring circuits, and hardware I2C communications.

The flexible PSoC resources allow designers to future-proof their products by enabling firmware-based changes during design, validation, production, and in the field. The unique PSoC flexibility shortens design cycle time and allows for late-breaking feature enhancements. All PSoC devices are also dynamically reconfigurable, enabling designers to morph internal resources on-the-fly, utilizing fewer components to perform a given task.

Easy to use development tools enable designers to select configurable library elements for analog functions such as amplifiers, ADCs, DACs, filters and comparators and digital functions such as timers, counters, PWMs, SPI and UARTs. The PSoC family's analog features include rail-to-rail inputs, programmable gain amplifiers and up to 14-bit ADCs with exceptionally low noise, input leakage and voltage offset.

A single PSoC device can integrate as many as 100 peripheral functions saving customers design time, board space and power consumption while improving system quality. Customers can save as much as $10 in system costs. More information about PSoC products is available at www.cypress.com/psoc and free online training is at www.cypress.com/psoctraining.

About Cypress

Cypress delivers high-performance, mixed-signal, programmable solutions that provide customers with rapid time-to-market and exceptional system value. Cypress offerings include the PSoC® Programmable System-on-Chip™, USB controllers, general-purpose programmable clocks and memories. Cypress also offers wired and wireless connectivity solutions ranging from its WirelessUSB™ radio system-on-chip, to West Bridge® and EZ-USB® FX2LP controllers that enhance connectivity and performance in multimedia handsets. Cypress serves numerous markets including consumer, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial, and solar power. Cypress trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol CY. Visit Cypress online at www.cypress.com.