Breakthrough Semiconductor Memory Introduced by Hitachi and Ramtron; Ideal semiconductor device consolidates functions of many mainstream memory technologies

Business Wire, Sept 30, 1996

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 1996--U.S. semiconductor maker Ramtron International Corporation (NASDAQ:RMTR) and its technology and manufacturing partner Hitachi, Ltd. announced today the world's first high-density 256 kilobit (K) ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM)(R) chip.

Today's event marks the second of Ramtron's four strategic manufacturing partners to announce FRAM memory products this month. With the addition of Hitachi as a FRAM product supplier and manufacturing source, Ramtron expects to receive the expanded capacity and market support that is necessary to further expand its FRAM product business.

"Hitachi will increase our FRAM capacity, and provide entry into the much anticipated high-density FRAM market," said L. David Sikes, Ramtron's chairman and CEO. "Due to its encompassing feature set, FRAM memory is the only technology that has the potential to participate in every mainstream memory market. Hitachi's advancement to commercial status is further confirmation that FRAM memory is on its way to becoming the memory of the future," Sikes added.

The new 256K FRAM memory is targeted for use in many current consumer electronics applications as well as a range of new products created by the rapid shift to down-sized, portable electronic devices such as multi-media systems, communication products, and other rapidly growing portable-application areas.

Ramtron has been working with Hitachi since 1992 when the companies agreed to jointly commercialize high-density FRAM memory products. Ramtron, founded in 1984, has invested more than $100 million in the development of an ideal semiconductor memory device -- known as FRAM memory -- that merges the benefits of many mainstream memory technologies into a single device.

The technology offers the ability to read and write data at high speeds, operates with low power consumption, and retains data in memory even after power has been removed. These advantages in the aggregate have not historically been available in a single memory device.

Products

Hitachi will supply FRAM products to the market under its own name and supply a significant percentage of its capacity to Ramtron for sale under Ramtron's name. Ramtron expects to begin receiving sample shipments of the Hitachi-built 256K FRAM memory during the fourth calendar quarter of 1996, with volume production anticipated during the first half of 1997.

Ramtron currently markets a line of 4K to 64K FRAM products that the Company manufactures in limited quantities at its fab in Colorado Springs. The Company recently announced that another of its manufacturing partners, Rohm Company, Ltd., will begin supplying low-density FRAM products to the market in October.

Ramtron International Corporation is a leading developer and supplier of specialty memories including proprietary FRAM products that retain information without power and ultra-high performance EDRAMs. Ramtron holds 73 international and U.S. patents covering its proprietary technologies and products, and has more than 74 additional patent applications filed.

For more information about Ramtron and its products, contact: Communications Department, Ramtron International Corporation, 1850 Ramtron Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, 80921. Telephone is 800/545-FRAM; fax is 719/481-9294; E-mail address is info@ramtron.com. Homepage is http://www.csn.net/ramtron. -0-

Note to Editors FRAM is a registered trademark of Ramtron International Corporation.

CONTACT: Ramtron International Corp.

Lee A. Brown, 719/481-7213