on November 16th 10,723

Guide to the AT24C256 EEPROM: Pinout, Datasheet, and Memory Addressing

The AT24C256 EEPROM stands out as a reliable and versatile Two-wire Serial memory component, offering 256 kilobits of storage to support various electronic data preservation tasks. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the AT24C256, covering its datasheet, pin configuration, and unique addressing mechanisms. We'll also explore its compatibility with Arduino microcontrollers. Join us as we dig into the technical specifics of this EEPROM, its potential for memory expansion, and its practical applications across diverse technological landscapes. Whether you want to enhance data logging, streamline storage, or secure your data, the AT24C256 has much to offer.

Catalog

Overview of AT24C256 EEPROM

The AT24C256 EEPROM is a multifunctional and dependable 8-pin memory component with an impressive storage capacity of 32 Kbytes. It effectively retains data, preserving information even when power is lost, similar to the function of a USB drive. This characteristic ensures secure data storage, providing a constant reference point regardless of power interruptions. Its ability to support data updating and retrieval makes it suitable for various applications, especially in environments demanding frequent data modifications.

Operable within a voltage bracket of 1.7V to 5.5V, the AT24C256 harmonizes with both 3.3V and 5V systems, enriching its usage across assorted technological landscapes. This adaptability facilitates its smooth incorporation into diverse electronic environments, from household gadgets to industrial regulation systems, where such flexibility can boost device effectiveness. For instance, you can often find value in this trait as it aids in crafting streamlined products without the necessity for multiple variations of components.

The AT24C256 EEPROM allows connecting up to 8 similar EEPROMs in series, affording expanded storage to tackle bigger datasets or raising your demand. This expandability proves exceptionally beneficial in fields like data logging within scientific investigations or extensive parameter storage in telecommunications. In practical situations, you can capitalize on this capability to achieve high data capacity without sacrificing system performance or physical footprint.

Pin Configuration

Pin No	Pin Name	Description
1	A0	User Configurable Chip Select
2	A1	User Configurable Chip Select
3	NC	No Connection
4	GND	Ground Pin
5	SDA	Serial Data Pin
6	SCL	Serial Clock Pin
7	WP	Write Protect Pin
8	VCC	Power Supply Pin

CAD Resources

Footprint

3D Visualization

Technical Specifications

Microchip Technology AT24C256B-PU specifications and attributes.

Type	Parameter
Mount	Through Hole
Mounting Type	Through Hole
Package / Case	8-DIP (0.300, 7.62mm)
Number of Pins	8
Supplier Device Package	8-PDIP
Memory Types	Non-Volatile
Operating Temperature	-40°C~85°C TA
Packaging	Tube
Published	1997
Part Status	Obsolete
Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL)	1 (Unlimited)
Max Operating Temperature	85°C
Min Operating Temperature	-40°C
Voltage - Supply	1.8V~5.5V
Frequency	1MHz
Base Part Number	AT24C256
Interface	2-Wire, I2C, Serial
Max Supply Voltage	5.5V
Min Supply Voltage	1.8V
Memory Size	256Kb (32K x 8)
Nominal Supply Current	3mA
Clock Frequency	1MHz
Access Time	550ns
Memory Format	EEPROM
Memory Interface	I2C
Write Cycle Time - Word, Page	5ms
Density	256 kb
Max Frequency	400kHz
REACH SVHC	No SVHC
Radiation Hardening	No
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant

Features

Feature	Description
Voltage Operation	Low-voltage and standard-voltage operation: 1.8V (VCC = 1.8V to 5.5V)
Organization	Internally organized as 32,768 x 8
Interface	Two-wire serial interface
Noise Suppression	Schmitt trigger with filtered inputs for noise suppression
Data Transfer Protocol	Bidirectional data transfer protocol
Speed Compatibility	1 MHz (5.0V, 2.7V, 2.5V), 400 kHz (1.8V)
Write Protection	Write protect pin for hardware and software data protection
Page Write Mode	64-byte page write mode (partial page writes allowed)
Write Cycle Timing	Self-timed write cycle (5 ms max)
Reliability	Endurance: One million write cycles
	Data retention: 40 years
Environmental Compliance	Lead-free/halogen-free devices available
Package Options	8-lead JEDEC PDIP, JEDEC SOIC, EIAJ SOIC, Ultra-Thin Small Array Package (SAP), TSSOP, and dBGA2
Die Sales	Wafer form, waffle pack, and bumped wafers

Diverse Uses of the AT24C256 EEPROM

Data Logging

The AT24C256 EEPROM frequently sees use in systems for data logging, providing robust storage where data reliability cannot be compromised. With its non-volatile characteristic, data remains intact amidst power disruptions, proving invaluable when documenting time-sensitive environmental conditions like temperature and humidity. You can thoughtfully construct setups to regularly capture and secure sensor information, showcasing the adaptability and resilience of EEPROM in practical applications.

Audio Devices

Within audio devices—including digital audio players and hearing aids—the AT24C256 EEPROM plays a major role in retaining configuration specifics and preferences. Its ability to sustain data without electricity ensures these gadgets preserve personal settings, offering seamless interaction even after power cycles. The firmware has been skillfully fine-tuned, enhancing both the effectiveness of read and write operations and supporting long-lasting device performance.

Secondary Storage Solutions

When used as a secondary storage resource, the AT24C256 EEPROM is a practical, compact option for devices needing moderate memory expansion. This application helps microcontroller-driven systems manage non-critical data, reserving primary memory for more intensive processes. You can design these systems with a keen focus on memory access patterns, leveraging efficient storage management to extend the life expectancy of memory resources.

Data Analytics

Involving advanced data analytics, mostly in portable or edge devices, the AT24C256 EEPROM serves as auxiliary storage for transitional data and parameters. Its straightforward interface simplifies incorporation into analytic frameworks, allowing for swift algorithm deployment, used for accessing stored coefficients or historical records. You can observe its transformative impact in boosting computational efficiency, occasionally unlocking notable advancements.

Additional Memory Needs

In scenarios where system architecture demands expanded memory to boost functionality, the AT24C256 EEPROM presents an affordable avenue. It's mostly advantageous for embedded systems with tight board spaces or limited budgets for pricier alternatives. You can often employ this EEPROM to enhance capability without major redesigns, reflecting its practical utility in navigating design complexities and promoting technological dexterity. These strategies accentuate the EEPROM's prominent contribution to modern electronics' evolution.

Equivalents

• 24LC512

Alternatives

• 24C04

• 24LC1026

• 25LC040

• 24C32

Optimal Engagement with the AT24C256 EEPROM

Configuring I2C Communication

Utilizing the AT24C256 EEPROM to its fullest involves initializing a dependable I2C communication channel. Connection diagrams act as basic guides, directing the precise wiring of the SCK and SDA pins to your microcontroller. Integrating suitable pull-up resistors enhances the dependability and resilience of these lines, helping avoid data issues due to interference. The process of tweaking resistor values to match circuit necessities can substantially bolster signal integrity, fostering a secure data flow.

Addressing Multiple EEPROMs

The task of addressing gains significance when coordinating numerous EEPROM units. By configuring the address pins A0, A1, and A2, each unit receives a unique identity, allowing the microcontroller to navigate multiple devices smoothly and avoid communication clashes. Strategically planning the address setup during the hardware design phase can ease future expansions, reducing project scalability challenges and facilitating system upgrades.

Maintaining Security and Data Integrity

The Write Protect function in the AT24C256 safeguards sensitive information against unauthorized alterations. Activating this control secures serious data, primarily in scenarios where data integrity is a substantial consideration. Initiating these security features early during design phases can alleviate potential risks, amplifying system robustness. In addition, applications reveal that combining hardware protection with software security protocols formulates a robust defense, ensuring comprehensive data safety.

Executing Data Transfer Efficiently

Precision in programming the register address is key for smooth data transfer operations, enabling reliable reading and writing while minimizing errors. Understanding the device's addressing framework coupled with hands-on programming practice is active in maximizing the EEPROM’s capabilities. Moreover, exchanging insights or tactics in configuring these registers can lead to an enhanced, cohesive design in team-oriented projects.

Circuit Design Considerations for the AT24C256 EEPROM

Connect the SCK and SDA lines of the AT24C256 EEPROM to the appropriate microcontroller pins, making sure to incorporate suitable pull-up resistors. These resistors are instrumental in maintaining the I2C bus lines in a stable and default high state, reducing noise interference and improving signal integrity. In environments prone to electromagnetic interference, maintaining stable communication on these lines becomes useful for trustworthy data transfer.

Address pins A0, A1, and A2 significantly influence the selection of individual EEPROM chips. In systems requiring multiple EEPROMs, these pins enable the unique selection of each chip by setting distinct address configurations. This facilitates the seamless integration of multiple devices. Avoiding data errors in dense circuit designs requires unique address assignments to prevent the unintentional accessing of incorrect chips, a concern often observed in complex system designs.

The Write Protect pin acts as a precautionary measure for the EEPROM. Engaging this pin can securely lock the data, blocking inadvertent writes and safeguarding stored information. This feature proves especially beneficial in systems where preserving data integrity is serious, as unintended changes could result in substantial system failures or data loss. Interacting with the AT24C256 EEPROM involves using register addresses to adeptly manage read or write tasks one byte at a time. By methodically accessing registers, you can carry out efficient data operations. Professional circuit design emphasizes this structured communication to ensure devices function within anticipated parameters, minimizing potential data handling errors.

Dimension

Manufacturer

Microchip Technology is based in Chandler, Arizona, and is renowned for its expertise in microcontroller and analog solutions. With a focus on providing reliable products, the company aims to reduce system costs and speed up market entry. Their extensive range of products serves various applications globally, including automotive systems, consumer electronics, and industrial machinery. This wide appeal illustrates Microchip's capability to adapt and meet the intricate requirements of diverse markets.

Microchip Technology places a strong emphasis on innovation and ensuring quality, which empowers industries to pursue precision and functionality. By incorporating advanced safety measures and connectivity options, Microchip's solutions keep pace with the ever-changing demands of modern technological infrastructures. The company’s dedication to energy-efficient designs also promotes sustainable practices, aligning with the industry’s move towards minimizing environmental impact in electronics.

Datasheet PDF

AT24C256B-PU Datasheets:

Cylindrical Battery Holders.pdf