Out in Front: November 23, 1995

Hitachi has expanded its agreement with Ramtron to license and manufacture Ramtron's higher density nonstandard and standard ferroelectric-RAM (FRAM) products. Rohm also has a similar licensing and manufacturing agreement with Ramtron for lower density (4- to 64-kbit) products. Last August, Toshiba announced a licensing and manufacturing partnership with Ramtron to produce higher density FRAM devices.

FRAM technology, an offshoot of nonvolatile memory, combines the high performance of DRAM and SRAM with the nonvolatility of ROM. The 256-kbit FRAM device, which Hitachi jointly produces, runs at 2.7V, withstands 1010 read/write cycles, and reprograms at high speeds.

The Hitachi/Ramtron 256-kbit FRAM product should be available for samples at year's end, and production should begin in the first half of 1996. The first phase of this Hitachi/Ramtron development may produce devices with capacities as high as 4 Mbits. Rohm and Ramtron have agreed to introduce the 16-kbit FRAM as the standard for the first generation of products under their partnership. Shortly thereafter, both may consider the 4- and 64-kbit products to add to this family. Rohm expects to offer its first FRAM samples in early 1996.
-- by Alan Niebel, Senior Analyst, In-Stat.

In-Stat, Scottsdale, AZ. (602) 483-4442.