News & Events
Xicor Announces A New 2-Wire EEPROM Family With the Industry's Best Combination of High Performance and Lockable Memory Blocks At 1.8 Volts
MILPITAS, Calif., April 28, 1997 - Xicor, Inc. (NASDAQ: XICO) today introduced a new family of 32K, 64K, and 128K density 2-wire interface serial EEPROMs that provide 400Khz performance at 1.8 Volts. The family features the popular Block Lock write lock out which allows 1/4, 1/2 or all of the memory to be set to Read Only, while the remainder of the array is available for Read/Write operations. The X24128 (128K) and the X24320 (32K) are available now, with the X24640 (64K) in the third quarter of 1997.
According to Bruce Mattern, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, "These new devices enhance the capabilities of 2-wire serial interface EEPROMs. They provide designers faster speed at lower voltage, and higher density with memory segmentation into Read Only and Read/Write blocks."
"The Block Lock feature enables the designer to combine factory - programmed data and userprogrammable data in a single memory device. Furthermore, by connecting the Write Protect pin to the Vcc power supply, the locked Read Only segment of the memory is permanently secured. This feature can be activated during system manufacturing for safe storing of configuration or serialization data against future inadvertent or intrusive data changes once the system is in operation," concluded Mr. Mattern.
These new devices provide an easy upgrade path for new portable system designs where small space and extended battery life are essential. They operate from a single low voltage power source of 1.8 to 5.5 Volts for both program and read operations. This family of EEPROMs also features very low power operation requiring less than 1 microamp of standby current.
US Pricing and Availability
Pricing for the new 128K-bit X24128 Serial EEPROM Memory in an SOIC or TSSOP package is $2.95 in 10,000 unit quantities. Pricing for the 32K-bit X24320 Serial EEPROM Memory in the same packages is $1.49 in quantities of 10,000 units. Samples and production quantities of both parts are available now. The 64K-bit X24640 will be available in Q3'97 at $1.95 for quantities of 10,000 in both SOIC and TSSOP packages.
Xicor Corporate Information
Xicor develops and manufactures a broad line of in-the-system programmable semiconductor integrated circuits which retain information even when system power is lost or turned off. In-thesystem programmability enables telecommunications, consumer, computer, industrial, automotive and military products to be adapted to changing software and operating environments and to be personalized by the user. Many of Xicor's products consume little power and operate well from a battery powered source, making them ideal for hand-held and portable applications.
Xicor products are used by manufacturers of electronic products worldwide, with approximately half of Xicor's sales coming from exports. Xicor products are supported by regional technical sales offices located in the USA, Europe, Japan and South Korea, and by independent sales representatives and electronic component distributors.
Xicor emphasizes the development of differentiated products incorporating its programmable technology which enables customers to rapidly bring to market products with improved features, efficiency and maintainability. To address the large market for undifferentiated EEPROMs, Xicor is also redesigning certain key popular products for cost reduction through smaller chip sizes. Xicor is a leading supplier of EEPROM and SerialFlash memory products and EEPOT digitally controlled potentiometers.
Xicor's headquarters and principal manufacturing facilities are located in Milpitas, California. Xicor has received the Underwriters Laboratories Certification of Compliance with the ISO 9001 quality standard and the joint automotive QS 9000 quality standard.
Xicor's product, corporate and financial information is readily accessible on the World Wide Web at http://www.xicor.com.
