Nonvolatile memory records energy use

Plogg wireless energy management plugs use serial F-RAM devices for data logging.

UK-based Energy Optimisers, a designer and manufacturer of ZigBee and Bluetooth smart energy saving devices, has designed Ramtron's FM25L512 512Kbit serial F-RAM device into its series of Plogg wireless energy management plugs.

F-RAM's NoDelay writes, virtually unlimited endurance, and low power provide fast and frequent data logging and storage for this smart power meter that measures, monitors, and controls energy consumption at the point of use - the appliance.

The Plogg monitors energy use of household, medical, office and other appliances in volts, amps, watts, kilowatts and kilowatt-hours and records the data in a buffer.

Measuring up to 13 different variables, this wireless smart meter plug evaluates how energy is being used enabling the user to reduce consumption, save money and the environment.

The Plogg provides wireless data delivery to computers via Bluetooth or ZigBee technology allowing power consumption to be checked in real time and controlled remotely.

"We designed F-RAM into the Plogg for optimal data logging", says Shaun Merrick, General Manager of Energy Optimisers.

"When logging data very rapidly and frequently, as the Plogg is designed to do, the endurance on an EEPROM is insufficient and would be reached too quickly".

"The natural nonvolatile memory alternative for this demanding application is F-RAM, which has virtually unlimited endurance".

In the Plogg, F-RAM provides fast and reliable data storage for up to 5000 measured values and their associated date/time stamp, at intervals of one minute to one month.

When logging at one-minute intervals, the endurance limit of EEPROM is quickly reached, so an alternative nonvolatile memory technology is required.

The optimal option is F-RAM, which has virtually unlimited endurance and will not wear out.

F-RAM offers the benefits of RAM technology, but is nonvolatile.

F-RAM provides NoDelay write access, virtually unlimited write endurance (approximately 100 trillion write cycles), and low power consumption.

The FM25L512 is a 512Kbit F-RAM device with an industry-standard serial peripheral interface (SPI).

The device reads and writes continuously at bus speeds up to 20MHz and offers low operating currents.

Comparable EEPROM devices have long write delays and write-polling software, endurance limited to less than one million write cycles, and operate at higher power.

Available in lead-free, 8-pin SOIC and TDFN packages, the FM25L512 operates at 3V over the industrial temperature range.

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