Infineon Technologies CY15B201QN-50SXE

Overview

CY15B201QN-50SXE from Infineon is an automotive-grade 1-Mb ferroelectric RAM (F-RAM) organized as 128 K × 8, supporting SPI interface up to 50 MHz, operating from 1.8 V to 3.6 V, and rated for –40°C to +125°C. It delivers instant non-volatile writes with 10¹³ read/write endurance and 121-year data retention-enabling high-frequency logging in engine control units and ADAS sensor fusion modules.

For engineers reviewing the CY15B201QN-50SXE datasheet, CY15B201QN-50SXE pinout, CY15B201QN-50SXE application, or CY15B201QN-50SXE equivalent, key selection considerations include SPI mode 0/3 compatibility, hardware write protection via WP pin, 256-byte special sector survivability across reflow cycles, and AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualification for under-hood deployment.

Technical Context

The CY15B201QN-50SXE implements a true SPI slave architecture with zero-write-latency operation: data commits immediately upon byte transfer without polling or erase cycles. Its ferroelectric memory array eliminates wear leveling and page programming overhead inherent in flash/EEPROM.

It integrates dedicated on-die circuitry for Device ID (manufacturer + product ID), unique ID, and 8-byte user-writable serial number registers-enabling secure board-level traceability. The 256-byte special sector retains data through ≥3 standard reflow soldering cycles, supporting post-manufacturing calibration storage.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 8-pin Small Outline Integrated Circuit (SOIC), RoHS-compliant, surface-mount.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar non-volatile serial memory applications.

Compared with CY15B102QN-50SXE, the CY15B201QN-50SXE doubles capacity while retaining identical timing, protection, and reliability-making it ideal for next-gen ADAS log buffers. Versus AT25DF041A-SSH-T, it eliminates write latency and endurance bottlenecks but trades raw density for deterministic performance in safety-critical writes.

Availability

CY15B201QN-50SXE is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for engine control units, ADAS domain controllers, electric power steering modules, and telematics control units requiring stable component supply across automotive production lifecycles.

Supply support for CY15B201QN-50SXE includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Infineon Technologies is a German semiconductor manufacturer specializing in power management, automotive ICs, and security solutions, with global R&D and manufacturing infrastructure.

The EXCELON™ Auto F-RAM product line targets automotive applications demanding ultra-high endurance, zero-write-latency non-volatility, and AEC-Q100 compliance-specifically for ECU data logging, sensor calibration storage, and safety-critical configuration retention.

FAQ

Is CY15B201QN-50SXE pin-compatible with standard SPI EEPROMs or flash devices in 8-pin SOIC?

Yes-it uses industry-standard SPI pinout (CS, SCK, SI, SO, WP, VDD, VSS) and supports SPI modes 0 and 3. The DNU pin is unused and must be left floating or tied to VDD. No level-shifting or protocol translation is required for drop-in replacement of legacy serial EEPROMs in existing PCB layouts.

Does the 256-byte special sector require separate addressing or commands?

No-the special sector resides at fixed address range 0x1FFC0–0x1FFFF and is accessed using standard READ/WRITE opcodes (0x03/0x02). It behaves identically to main array memory but is fabricated with enhanced thermal stability to survive ≥3 reflow cycles without data loss.

How does write protection work when both WP pin and Status Register settings are active?

Hardware WP takes precedence: when WP is LOW and WPEN bit = 1 in Status Register, Status Register writes are blocked regardless of WREN state. Main array writes remain enabled unless block protection bits are set. This layered scheme ensures fail-safe configuration locking in ASIL-B/C systems.

What is the maximum sustained write throughput achievable in continuous burst mode?

At 50 MHz SPI clock with 8-bit data, theoretical peak is 50 MB/s. Real-world sustained throughput is ~4.8 MB/s (40 MHz effective) due to opcode/address overhead and CS assertion/deassertion. Each byte writes instantly-no inter-byte delay-enabling true streaming to memory without gaps or buffering.