Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site fluke.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!floyd!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!fluke!kurt
From: kurt@fluke.UUCP (Kurt Guntheroth)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Terminal on a board... - (nf)
Message-ID: <835@vax2.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-Dec-83 11:31:28 EST
Article-I.D.: vax2.835
Posted: Tue Dec 13 11:31:28 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 16-Dec-83 02:57:59 EST
References: <4433@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Everett, Wash
Lines: 22

I don't know what kind of terminal is going to be shown in the Ciarcia
article, but I have seen a National Semiconductor terminal-on-a-chip which
is just entering production.  It is a processor (8051-oid), and video logic
on a single chip.  You add static RAM, external ROM if you want to change
the built in program, and RS-232 line driver chips if you want more than the
5V output.  The device scans a keyboard matrix with an 8-bit parallel port.
I think you should be able to make a complete system with about 6 (that's
six) chips.

I want to emphasize that this unit is entering production right now and is
supposed to cost <$20 when it has been around for awhile.  So don't be
surprised when you see a bunch of terminals that all look alike and are
about $200 less than current models.  

Oh, by the way, I'm not associated with National in any way.  I'm sure there
are other manufacturers just about to announce this same kind of part.  I've
just seen more detail on the NSC part.
-- 
Kurt Guntheroth
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
{uw-beaver,decvax!microsof,ucbvax!lbl-csam,allegra,ssc-vax}!fluke!kurt