Japanese

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1997-0267

Fujitsu Succeeds In Producing World's First FRAM Using 0.5 Micron Technology

-- Realizes world's smallest 64kbit FRAM and device that integrates both 8bit MCU and 64kbit FRAM on a single chip --

Tokyo, December 8, 1997 -- Fujitsu Limited, in cooperation with FRAM memory pioneer Ramtron International Corp., has developed the world's smallest 64kbit FRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory) device. The 64kbit FRAM was fabricated using Fujitsu's 0.5 micron process technology.

Fujitsu's newly developed memory device processing technology enables CMOS logic and FRAM memory to be integrated on a single chip simply and at low cost. Using this embedded technology, Fujitsu and Ramtron successfully developed a prototype device which combines an 8bit MCU and 64kbit FRAM on a single chip. In addition to the FRAM/CPU, the embedded chip has 8kbit of ROM and 1kbit of SRAM on the chip. This type of device is seen as an ideal LSI for high-performance IC cards.

FRAM devices feature memory cells which employ ferroelectric material (such as PZT) for the capacitor as a non-volatile element. Memory function is achieved through spontaneous polarization of the ferroelectric material, which enables storage of digital data as "0s" and "1s" in the memory cell, since the polarization is stable after application of the electric field. FRAMs exhibits faster write times, lower power consumption and longer endurance than other non-volatile memories.

Current IC cards use EEPROMs that are lower in performance compared to FRAMs. FRAMs are 1000 times faster in writing, 1/10 the power consumption and 100 thousand times in the number of re-writes compared to EEPROMs. Until now, the processing technology for FRAMs was limited to 1.0 micron which made it very difficult to construct highly integrated LSIs. Fujitsu's new 64kbit FRAMs with 0.5 micron processing technology made the device small enough for easy integration and will be the first step in realizing the high-performance IC cards.

Fujitsu and Ramtron plans to release the FRAM embedded chip to the market in 1998.

Details on the newly developed technology will be presented at IEDM97, (the International Electronic Device Meeting 1997) which begins December 8, 1997 in Washington D.C.

* FRAM is registered trademark of RAMTRON International Corp.

Fujitsu

Founded in 1935, Fujitsu Limited is an international leader in information technology, telecommunications, semiconductors and other electronics devices. The Fujitsu Group of over 400 technology, software and service companies posted global revenues of more than $36 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.
URL: http://www.fujitsu.com/

For more information:

Press Contact: Asako Umano, Scott Ikeda Fujitsu Limited, Public Relations Tel: +81-3-3215-5236 (Tokyo) Fax : +81-3-3216-9365

Customer Contact: Fujitsu Limited LSI Products Group Tel: +81-44-754-3405 Fax: +81-44-754-3574 e-mail:query@sales.ed.fujitsu.co.jp