Infineon Technologies CY15E004Q-SXA

Overview

CY15E004Q-SXA from Cypress Semiconductor is a 4-Kbit (512 × 8) serial SPI F-RAM nonvolatile memory with automotive-grade qualification (–40 °C to +85 °C), 20 MHz max SPI clock, NoDelay™ write capability, and 10¹⁴ read/write endurance. It serves as a hardware drop-in replacement for serial EEPROM/flash in data logging, engine control units, and battery management systems where rapid, reliable nonvolatile writes are critical.

For engineers reviewing the CY15E004Q-SXA datasheet, CY15E004Q-SXA pinout, CY15E004Q-SXA application, or CY15E004Q-SXA equivalent, key selection factors include its zero-write-latency operation, 151-year data retention, RoHS-compliant 8-pin SOIC package, and support for SPI modes 0 and 3 - all verified across automotive-A temperature range.

Technical Context

The CY15E004Q-SXA implements a ferroelectric memory array with direct byte-level write access at bus speed, eliminating polling and erase cycles required by flash/EEPROM. Its internal architecture includes a 9-bit address decoder, nonvolatile status register with WEL and block protection bits, and dedicated hardware write protection via WP pin.

It operates exclusively as an SPI slave device with synchronous full-duplex communication: SI latches on SCK rising edge, SO drives on falling edge. The HOLD pin enables transaction suspension without clock or CS interference, and the device supports both SPI mode 0 (CPOL=0, CPHA=0) and mode 3 (CPOL=1, CPHA=1).

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 8-pin Small Outline Integrated Circuit (SOIC), RoHS-compliant, body width 3.9 mm, standard JEDEC MS-012AC footprint.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar serial nonvolatile memory applications.

Compared with AT25DF041A-SSH-T and BR24G04FJ-WE2, the CY15E004Q-SXA delivers 100 million× higher endurance, zero write latency, and automotive-grade reliability - making it the sole choice for safety-critical, high-write-frequency automotive subsystems.

Availability

CY15E004Q-SXA is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for engine control units, telematics recorders, and battery management systems requiring stable component supply across extended automotive production lifecycles.

Supply support for CY15E004Q-SXA 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

Cypress Semiconductor (now part of Infineon Technologies) designs high-reliability semiconductor solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT applications, with emphasis on memory, PSoC, and connectivity.

The CY15E series targets automotive nonvolatile memory needs where traditional EEPROM/flash fails - specifically addressing write latency, endurance, and temperature robustness in safety-critical ECUs and ADAS modules.

FAQ

What is the function of the HOLD pin during SPI communication?

The HOLD pin suspends ongoing SPI transactions without disrupting the clock or chip select signals. When pulled LOW while SCK is LOW, it freezes the current read or write operation, allowing the host MCU to service higher-priority interrupts. Communication resumes immediately upon HOLD returning HIGH, with no data loss or reinitialization required - critical for deterministic real-time systems.

Does CY15E004Q-SXA require external pull-up resistors on SI/SO lines?

No external pull-ups are required on SI or SO. The device features internally weakly pulled SO to high-impedance when inactive and specifies SI must be actively driven to valid logic levels to meet IDD specifications. Pull-ups may cause excessive current draw or signal integrity issues and are explicitly discouraged in the datasheet.

How does the WP pin interact with software write protection?

The WP pin provides unconditional hardware-level write disable: when LOW, it overrides all software protections and blocks all writes - including Status Register modification. Software protection (via WREN/WRDI and status register bits) remains active only when WP is HIGH, enabling layered security for critical configuration sectors.

Is there known errata affecting normal operation of CY15E004Q-SXA?

Yes: the Write Enable Latch (WEL) bit in the Status Register does not clear after WRITE operations to memory locations 0x100–0x1FF. This may cause subsequent write attempts to fail silently. Workaround: issue WRDI instruction before each write to that address range, or avoid using those locations in safety-critical paths per Errata document 002-10235 Rev. *C page 19.