FRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory) is at the forefront of next generation non-volatile memory technology, and is embedded in select MSP430 microcontrollers. Embedded FRAM is enabling faster speeds, lower power, and smaller form factors.

How can FRAM help your design?

Sample Applications:

• Data
  Loggers
• Remote
  Sensors
• Equipment
  Powered by
  Energy Harvesting

FRAM Benefits for your Applications

• Ultra-Low-Power Read/Write With Increased Throughput
• True Unified Memory – Configurable as Flash or RAM
• Industry-leading Read/Write Speeds
• Virtually Unlimited Write Endurance – 10¹⁴ Cycles
• Inherently Secure and Radiation-Resistant

Data Loggers

Challenge

Regardless of the type of data logger, information is being continuously captured or written to memory often requiring a high data rate. Writing data is typically the point of highest power consumption with a flash based microcontroller.

TI FRAM Solution

FRAM writes data 100 times faster while consuming less than half the power of a conventional flash microcontroller. Quite simply, using FRAM from TI saves time and energy. If that's not enough, FRAM can write data over 100 trillion times to a single device, considerably extending the life of your end equipment.

• Flow Meter
• Blood Pressure Monitor

Remote Sensors

Challenge

Sensors are not always located in convenient places. Extending battery lifetime by lowering the average energy per function in the sensor is a requirement for most remote sensors.

TI FRAM Solution

By designing your battery-powered wireless sensors using FRAM from TI, you can increase the battery life of your application while significantly reducing field maintenance cost and effort.

• Temperature Sensor Diagram
• Pressure Sensor Diagram

Equipment Powered by Energy Harvesting

Challenge

The unpredictable availability and timing of alternative energy such as solar, thermal and vibration can sometimes mean power loss to your equipment.

TI FRAM Solution

Because FRAM is non volatile memory, data is retained and writes are completed even if power is lost. It also can write data at 2V (with no additional charge pump or boost) as compared to the 10-14V required for conventional flash microcontrollers.

White Paper: FRAM for Energy-Harvesting

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