Introducing Microchip’s NOR Flash Memory Devices with Embedded MAC Address

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Introducing Microchip’s new family of low-power, high-performance memory devices: Microchip NOR Flash Memory devices that are pre-programmed with MAC addresses to reduce production costs and time to market, available to businesses of all sizes.


In the growing world of Internet of Things (IoT), embedded system designers must currently source, program and serialise Media Access Control (MAC) addresses from the IEEE-Registration Authority (RA) for all connected products. Small to medium-sized businesses have to pay higher costs for low-volume services, sold from the IEEE-RA in blocks ranging from 4000 to 16 million; the new Microchip NOR Flash Memory devices do not have a minimum order requirement. By eliminating the need to self-procure and manage unique identifiers from the IEEE-Registration Authority (RA), Microchip will help designers save time and costs, whilst accelerating time to market. This makes it ideal for low to mid-sized volume production.


These devices are suitable for cloud-connected applications, such as smart hubs for homes, smart home appliances, building control equipment, factory automation, security and surveillance equipment, and many more.


The Microchip SST26VF Serial Quad I/O™ (SQI™) 3V Flash family is the industry’s first NOR Flash device that offers integrated MAC address options; Microchip’s latest NOR Flash devices can be pre-programmed with EUI-48™ and EUI-64™ addresses, making it a cost-effective, plug-and-play solution for connect applications that use Ethernet, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, IEEE 802.15.4 and FireWire®.


The SST26VF064BEUI, SST26VF032BEUI and SST26VF016BEUI are low-power, high-performance devices in a low pin-count package, featuring a six-wire, 4-bit I/O interface.



These are available in 8-pin SOIC and 8-contact WSON packages, occupying less board space and lowering overall system costs. Microchip’s pre-programmed SST26VF family of devices are flexible MAC address chips that come with uniquely pre-programmed EUI- 48 addresses and compatible EUI-64 addresses. MAC address options are available at Flash densities of 16 megabit (Mb), 32Mb and 64Mb. They feature rich SQI flash, with flexible write-protected functionality to eliminate accidental over-writing or erasure. Both the EUI-48 and EUI-64 node addresses consist of an Organizational Unique Identifier (OUI) and an Extension Identifier (EI). While the OUI is purchased from the IEEE by individual companies, the EI is assigned and managed through each company by building a unique EI into every product, thereby ensuring a globally unique Extended Unique Identifier (EUI) node address for every device used or shipped.


Overall, with the Microchip SST26VF Serial Quad I/O™ (SQI™) 3V Flash family:

  • You don’t need to buy MAC addresses
  • You don’t have to manage MAC addresses
  • You don’t need to program MAC addresses

For more information, please call +44 (0)1527 830800 or use the contact form below.