Mystery device

[Magnus Danielson]

From: "Tony Allgood" <oakley at techrepairs.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: Mystery device
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1999 12:14:34 -0000

> Hi all,
> 
> 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?

No, I have no idea, I just *know* ;)

It took no time to find it in my NEC Microprocessors and peripherals handbook.
It's a "Programable keyboard/display interface".

Don't expect too much from the "display" part, it really means that you can
hook it up to some simple display unit (like 7-segment or something) and it
will hold the 16x8 bits and do the scanning for you. It will also scan the
keyboard for you.

It's really an old Intel chip.

Cheers,
Magnus