News & Events
Xicor Announces Industry's Fastest Serial EEPROM
MILPITAS, Calif., February 10, 1997 - Extending its technology leadership in high density SPI Serial EEPROMs, Xicor, Inc. (NASDAQ: XICO) today announced a price/performance breakthrough. Operating twice as fast as previous SPI Serial EEPROMs, the 64K bit X25650 features 5MHz speed, advanced Block LockTM partitioned memory architecture, and reduced volume pricing. The new X25650 is a pin for pin replacement for the popular but slower 64K bit SPI EEPROMs from Xicor and other suppliers.
According to Bruce Mattern, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, "This is a major breakthrough in the evolution of Serial EEPROMs. Designers are craving increased performance, particularly in cellular phones and other wireless applications, modems and consumer equipment, and thats driving the demand for faster Serial EEPROMs. With a 200 percent speed improvement and high volume pricing well below $2.00, the X25650 achieves a new level of price/performance in the popular SPI memory architecture."
The X25650 is targeted for use in mobile wireless systems where high performance, small space and extended battery life are essential. Packaging options include small SOIC and thin TSSOP packages. This device is specified to operate from a battery power source over the range of 2.5 to 5.5 volts for both program and read operations and requires less than 1 microamp of standby current.
"Xicor's new X25650 Serial EEPROM device also offers advanced Block Lock data protection which provides increased flexibility in system design," added Mr. Mattern.
Block Lock allows the memory to be partitioned into segments having different levels of write protection, thus blocking certain data while allowing access to other portions of the memory. Block Lock supports a combination of software segmented data protection, as well as hardware data protection, using the write protection input pin. This capability allows the system designer to protect specific blocks of the memory area reserved for configuration or serialization data, such as phone numbers, from inadvertent alteration. The Block Lock architecture also eliminates the need for additional components to separate user-alterable data from manufacturer-alterable data.
US Pricing and Availability
Pricing for the new X25650 Serial EEPROM Memory in the SOIC (X25650S) or TSSOP (25650V) package, is $2.00 at 10,000 pieces; larger quantities are priced at significantly lower levels. Samples in the SOIC package are available now, and production quantities are scheduled for the second quarter of 1997. Samples and production quantities of the TSSOP X25650V are also planned for the second quarter.
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-the-system programmability enables telecommunications, consumer, computer, industrial, automotive and military products to adapt 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 throughout the world, with approximately half of Xicor's sales being exported. 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 proprietary products which incorporate its programmable technology, enabling customers to rapidly bring to market products with improved features, efficiency and maintainability.
In 1995 Xicor introduced to the market the industry's first SerialFlash Memory product family, operating from low voltage power sources. Xicor is a leading supplier of E2PROM memory products and E2POT 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.
