Ramtron F-RAM Technology Enables Greener Wireless Sensor Applications
20 Septiembre 2012 - 7:30AM
Marketwired
Ramtron International Corporation (NASDAQ: RMTR), a leading
developer and supplier of nonvolatile ferroelectric random access
memory (F-RAM) and integrated semiconductor products, revealed
today that the Zurich University of Applied Sciences Institute of
Embedded Systems (ZHAW InES) recently presented a paper summarizing
research conducted with Ramtron F-RAM designed into a battery-free
wireless sensor node. The research, presented this summer at the
European ZigBee® Developers Conference in Munich, Germany,
demonstrated that the use of F-RAM nonvolatile memory in energy
harvesting applications can reduce energy consumption of the
wireless sensor node by over 40 percent while reducing the total
wireless sensor system cost, as compared to systems built with
standard nonvolatile memory components.
Wireless sensor -- an ingenious, high-tech Rube
Goldberg device Wireless sensor networks are designed into
state-of-the-art building automation systems. A wireless switch,
for example, can operate without batteries or hardwired electrical
infrastructure. The switch uses energy harvested from solar,
mechanical or piezoelectric input (energy formed by compressing or
deforming a material). The minute amount of energy given off from
the switch is sufficient to power up a transmitter that sends a
radio signal to a receiver that powers up lighting or other systems
in a home or office. The wireless switch is economical and
eliminates wiring, battery replacement, and labor costs. A wireless
switch can also provide creative design flexibility for architects,
as the wireless switch can be positioned virtually anywhere,
uninhibited by wires and conduit.
F-RAM reduces cost, improves performance
Research led by ZHAW professor, Dr. Marcel Meli, concluded that the
use of F-RAM nonvolatile memory in a wireless switch can improve
the performance of energy harvesting powered ZigBee wireless nodes
(low-power digital radio). "The justification for using a wireless
switch comes from lower installation and maintenance costs, but a
ZigBee-sensor requires a lot of overhead. The more energy is
required, the more expensive the system," comments Prof. Dr. Meli.
"We have discovered that by using the inherently low-power F-RAM
from Ramtron in our experimental board designs, more energy is
available for the transmitter and other functions, like saving the
processor status. We also recognize the longevity of the F-RAM
cell. Compared to traditional nonvolatile memories like EEPROM or
Flash, F-RAM can be rewritten virtually forever -- well in excess
of a typical wireless product's lifetime."
Prof. Dr. Meli's research also suggests that F-RAM can reduce
the total bill-of-materials associated with wireless sensor nodes
powered by harvested energy. By using F-RAM to restore the state of
the processor only when enough energy is available, less power
management is required and there are fewer constraints on the
storage system, thereby reducing system complexity and component
costs.
A PDF presentation of the research by Prof. Dr. Marcel Meli and
Mr. Marcel da Silva, Using F-RAM in Battery-less 802.15.4/ZigBee
Applications, is available for download from bit.ly/Qlaq9r.
About ZHAW InES The Institute of Embedded
Systems (InES) is a recognized research and development institute
at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) with a primary
focus on networked embedded systems in energy, health and mobility
applications. Located in Winterthur, Switzerland, the ZHAW is a
major R&D center in Europe. InES offers clients and partners
low-risk access to pioneering technologies. With a team of forty
graduate engineers, InES's world-class experience in innovative
technology has made the institute the partner-of-choice for many
leading companies. InES technological expertise includes: highly
available and real-time Ethernet communication; precision
time-synchronization; wireless communication, RFID and energy
harvesting; low power embedded systems; formal engineering methods
for embedded system design; audio and video processing and
transmission. For more information, visit
www.ines.zhaw.ch/en.html.
About Ramtron Ramtron International
Corporation, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a
fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets
specialized semiconductor memory and integrated semiconductor
solutions used in a wide range of product applications and markets
worldwide. For more information, visit www.ramtron.com.
For a 300-dpi product photos, visit
www.ramtron.com/press-center/image-bank.aspx (see F-RAM Low Energy
Memory).
Cautionary Statements This press release
contains forward-looking statements. These statements may be
identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," and "potential," among
others. These forward-looking statements are inherently difficult
to predict and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to:
general and regional economic conditions and conditions specific to
the semiconductor industry; demand for Ramtron's products; order
cancellations or reduced order placements; product sales mix; the
timely development of new technologies; competitive factors such as
pricing pressures on existing products and the timing and market
acceptance of new product introductions; Ramtron's ability to
maintain an appropriate amount of low-cost foundry production
capacity from its foundry sources in a timely manner; our foundry
partners' timely ability to successfully manufacture products for
Ramtron; our foundry partners' ability to supply increased orders
for F-RAM products in a timely manner using Ramtron's proprietary
technology; any disruptions of Ramtron's foundry or test and
assembly contractor relationships; currency fluctuations;
unexpected design and manufacturing difficulties; defects in
products that could result in product liability claims; risks and
uncertainties relating to the possible transaction and process of
exploring strategic alternatives; and the risk factors listed from
time to time in Ramtron's SEC reports, including, but not limited
to, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2011 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 2012. SEC-filed documents are available at no charge at
the SEC's website (www.sec.gov) or from the Company.
All forward-looking statements included in this release are
based upon information available to Ramtron as of the date of this
release, which may change.
Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine
PR CONTACT: Christopher Wray (719) 481-7182 Email Contact
IR CONTACT: Lee A. Brown (719) 481-7213 Email Contact
Ramtron International Corp. (MM) (NASDAQ:RMTR)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De May 2024 a Jun 2024
Ramtron International Corp. (MM) (NASDAQ:RMTR)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De Jun 2023 a Jun 2024