SGS-THOMSON offers flexible alternative to mask ROMs

A range of 8Mbit and 16Mbit UV erasable and OTP EPROMs which are mask ROM compatible has been introduced by SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics. These EPROMs give equipment makers the important new advantage of programming flexibility compared to mask ROMs and are ideal for use during prototyping and early production phases when data and software code updates are expected. The products are supplied in either the ceramic windowed FDIP42W or the surface mounting plastic SO44 package.

The M27C800 and M27C160 are 8Mbit and 16Mbit devices operating from standard 5V supplies. The low voltage version M27V800 operates from supplies as low as 3V, with a consumption of 30mA at 8MHz, making it ideal for battery operated equipment where the reduced power consumption allows the use of smaller batteries or longer intervals between recharging. The products features fast access times of 90 and 100ns for the 5V and 120ns for the 3V product.

All devices in the range can be configured to operate in x8 or x16 configurations and are pin compatible with equivalent mask ROMs. Ideal for use in applications such as games, PDAs, printers, musical instruments and cellular phones, they offer the advantage over mask ROMs of quick programming and are already supported by all the major makers of available EPROM programmers. The versions housed in SO44 packages are one-time programmable, while the devices housed in the Ceramic FDIP42W packages are fully erasable and reprogrammable.

Thanks to SGS-THOMSON's leadership in EPROM technology, the new devices offer both high performance and low cost. The 16Mbit parts are the highest capacity EPROMs available in the world today while the 8Mbit devices offer an economical and highly competitive solution.

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