Mystery device

[Caloroso, Michael E]

> On Wed, 8 Dec 1999 12:14:34 -0000
> "Tony Allgood" <oakley at techrepairs.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> > I have just received my latest order from Maplin, and as most Maplin
> > customers know, the fun one has discovering which parts they have
> > forgotten or put in their place. Well I ordered ten M3 bolts worth about
> > 40pence, and got a 40 pin DIL IC. Easy mistake to make of course!!!
> > However, I am puzzled by the device. I can't find any reference to it in
> > their's, or any other catalogue. It has the folowing markings:
> > 
> > NEC
> > D8279C-2
> > 9543X8026
> > 
> > NEC is obviously the manuf, and the lower line is probably the date
> > code, but the part number eludes me. Any ideas?
> 
> Hi Tony,
> it's one of the 82xx micro processor peripherals, used with Intel 80xx
> type processors. I'm not quite sure what the 8279 is, but I think it's
> something keyboard-and-display-controllerish. I could dig out those old
> data books...
> 
Yeah, I think that's right, I knew it rang a bell.  It was originated by Intel.  I'm 90% confidant that the 8279 is used on the Intel 8086 Developer's kit, it's the keypad interface IC.  My kit is out of reach for the moment (I'm working out of town).  I'm surprised they're still making those, the design is twenty years old now.  You should easily find the spec in an Intel databook.

Just be thankful you didn't have to order 74xx TTL chips in the year 1974...

I'm curious how ICs will be datecoded after December 31, 1999.

MC
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