Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, today announced the 24XX1025 I2C(TM) serial EEPROM family of devices with 1 Mbit of memory - the highest memory density available for I2C serial EEPROM devices. Based upon Microchip's advanced PMOS Electrically Erasable Cell (PEEC) process technology, the 24XX1025 serial EEPROMs give designers working with I2C buses the freedom to add more memory to their system without major hardware or layout modifications.

The 24XX1025 I2C serial EEPROM devices provide an easy upgrade path from lower-density I2C devices. The family's page size, pinout, and signal and command structure are a natural extension of, or identical to, Microchip's 512 Kbit serial EEPROMs, already in production. The 24XX1025 EEPROMs feature page and byte write, write protection of the entire array, 1.8 V - 5.5 V operation, and cascadeability. In addition, they allow up to one million erase/write cycles. With up to 1 MHz of bus speed and 200 years of data retention, these devices have industry-leading endurance, retention, and quality advantages.

"Microchip continues its lead in supplying cutting-edge serial EEPROM performance with these 1 Mbit I2C devices," said Barry Blixt, marketing manager withAdvertisement
Microchip's ROM Microcontroller and Memory Division. "We understand that our customers are developing applications that require more and more memory. These new products allow our customers to easily break the 512 Kbit barrier, while still using the popular I2C bus."

To help designers get started with the 24XX1025 serial EEPROMs, Microchip offers the SEEVAL® 32 Serial EEPROM Designer's Kit, available today at Microchip website for just $99.99. The SEEVAL 32 development kit enables quick and easy development of robust, reliable serial EEPROM-based applications, while significantly reducing the time required for system integration and hardware/software debug. The kit includes:

o Microchip's Total Endurance(TM) software model
o SEEVAL 32 developer board and user interface software
o Serial cable and power supply
o Serial EEPROM sample pack
o SEEVAL 32 Quick Start Guide

The Total Endurance software is a powerful and easy-to-use tool for modeling and designing serial EEPROM applications. The software takes the guesswork out of determining the life of a serial EEPROM device in an embedded design. Design trade-off analysis that formerly consumed days or weeks can now be accomplished in minutes, with a level of accuracy that delivers a truly robust design.