External memory Flash SPI

Hello,

We've worked with an Atmel Flash Memory but we met some problem to Write and Read data ( explained in the post : Read / Write on Atmel Flash in Embedded Design). And even when we do a read Manufacturer and Devide ID, it didn't answer the good information.

Does anyone has already used a SPI memory ? Which kind of memory, easy to use, would you recommend ? Which memory is the most used ?

Thank you.

Regards.

fustini over 15 years ago

Howdy,

I've used Microchip 256Kb SPI SRAM with an Arduino before:

http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en539039

It was easy to work with especially as I found several SPI RAM libraries written for the Arduino. The biggest challenge was getting the logic level conversion between +5VDC Arduino digital pins and +3.3VDC Microchip SRAM. I ended up ordering SparkFun's little converter boards which worked well:

http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8745

Cheers,
Drew
http://twitter.com/pdp7
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Former Member over 15 years ago in reply to fustini

Thank you for your answer Fustini, but we need at least 4 MBytes space in memory.

We don't need to use a level conversion because our microcontroller is already at 3.3V

Do you know an other SPI memory that support at least 4 MBytes ?

Thank you.
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michaelkellett over 15 years ago

Hello LanziniF, Are you working the Atmel at the correct voltage - it is not a 3.3V part but specified to operate with supplies between 1.65 and 1.95 volts. Farnel list 21 different 4 Mbit SPI Flash memories from 6 different suppliers. You need to pick one according to other constrints like package, price etc. (I've never used the Atmel part but I'm sure it works - so you might not find it any easier to get a different part going apart for that supply voltage issue.)
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Former Member over 15 years ago

Hello Michael,

Thank you for your answer. The Atmel memory we've used is an AT25DF041A-SSH-BAT25DF041A-SSH-B and AT25DF081A. In their datasheet it's written :
• Single 2.3V - 3.6V or 2.7V - 3.6V Supply
So with 3.3V it should be OK.
The memory we've choosen is a SOP8 and is correct for our application but it didn't answer correctly to our SPI request....
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michaelkellett over 15 years ago in reply to Former Member

Sorry - confusion between A part and part non A part.
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fustini over 15 years ago in reply to michaelkellett

I should have clarified that I used Microcchip 23K256 which is Vcc 2.7 to 3.3V. There is the lower power version: 23A256.

Michael Kellett - I'm in the US and had been looking at Newark & element14 Store. I don't recall seeing that large of SPI RAM. It seemed like the only option above couple hunderd Kb was parallel. I'd love a 4Mbit serial memory! Could you post some part numbers?

[Background on my project which got put on-hold: I wanted to delay radio broadcast to sync up with digital cable TV for football games since I like the local play-by-play announcers on the radio versus national TV broadcast. Radio is up 10 seconds ahead of the TV so I wanted to ADC the audio, store in buffer in RAM, read from the buffer for PWM output.

I was using Arduino and Microchip 256Kbit SRAM (32KB). I discovered, that even at really low sample rate for the audio, the single 32KB could only provide 1-2 seconds buffering. I had thought of adding more chips to the SPI bus but hadn't tried.

I also ordered this CPLD shield for Arduino, Amani64, but haven't tried it yet. It could be used to offload the complexity of addressing multiple SPI RAM chips: http://majolsurf.net/wordpress/?page_id=1001]

Cheers,
Drew
http://twitter.com/pdp7
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michaelkellett over 15 years ago in reply to fustini

Hello Drew,
Lanzini and I are talking about SPI Flash memory not RAM - I don't know any serial RAMs anything like big enough. I had a quick look at the Amani64 but it seems very limited - only 64 register cpld. Have a look at the Lattice LCMXO2280-B-EVN, complete board with programmer for XO-2280 for $29. Enough FPGA to make an SDRAM controller with an SPI interface.
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fustini over 15 years ago in reply to michaelkellett

D'oh! I might be due for a new glasses Rx. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for the Lattice tip - I had been wondering about how I could do SDRAM.

Thanks,
Drew
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MicrochipRTCfr over 14 years ago in reply to fustini

Hi,

You can also find 4MB & even 8MB SPI Flash from SST (2.7V to 3.6V) @ 80MHz :
http://www.microchip.com/ParamChartSearch/chart.aspx?branchID=71201&mid=&lang=en

regards
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Former Member over 13 years ago

is there any one who use the FPGA to control the M25P16 SPI flash IC？
could you please contact me？suxilong517@163.com！
i need your help ，please！
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