From: LEEK@QUCDN.QueensU.CA
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: GAL LOGIC
Date: 14 Sep 92 18:24:38 GMT
 <1992Sep9.200458.8595@adobe.com> <92254.103444LEEK@QUCDN.QueensU.CA>
 <1992Sep13.184958.6583@adobe.com>
Organization: Queen's University at Kingston

In article <1992Sep13.184958.6583@adobe.com>, pngai@adobe.com (Phil Ngai) says:
>
>In article <92254.103444LEEK@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> <LEEK@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> writes:
>
>>I can't just go into a store and ask for 16V8 and expect the product
>
>Given your expectations, no. But you can't ask for a 16R4 and get
>a generic product either. You can't ask for a 4 meg EPROM and get
>a generic product. You can't even ask for a 1 meg DRAM and get
>a generic product.

>The problem is, you don't understand what GAL means, or what 16V8
>means.

16: Max # of inputs
V : variable (GAL only)
8 : Max # of outputs

The problem is more I have a different definition for GAL.  When I say
GAL I mean both the functionality & programming specs for GAL.  I have
the programming specs for GAL sitting in a blinder right here.  The
PALCE ships cannot be programmed with the GAL specs and AMD is  not
a 2nd source for the line of product call GALs from Lattice.

Furthermore the Engineer at AMD did agree that PALCE is NOT GAL.

If you have a Universal programmer, this is a non-problem.  On the
other hand if you built something that only program GALs, than that's
a big problem.  At least 2 other people have the same problem emailed
me.

>>I wanted.  On the other hand I did specify GAL16V8 and got PALCE16V8.
>>I could have asked my Credit Card company to cancel payment as I
>>didn't get what I specified.  a Cyrus 486 is the same as an Intel 486?
>
>Yes, you did get what you specified, you just didn't specify
>what you wanted.

The recept says  2 03AMD    GAL16V8A-15LP
The parts I received say    PALCE16V8H-15PC/4  on the chip.

GAL16V8 should have been sufficient.  I have no problems with GAL16V8
from either Lattice, NS (and SGS Thomas).  All of them have GAL16V8 on
the package.  On the other hand if the recept did say PALCE16V8, I am
quite helpless.  (I am not going to bother with $30 worth of chips)

I wouldn't have made the same mistake if they put PALCE16V8 as a
different product than GAL16V8 (they did that for PEEL) in the
mail order catalog.  I guess if I have an AMD databook along with
their programming specs, I wouldn't make the same mistake.  A company
like Electrosonics lists alternative suppliers with the same part #
separately.  Given the limited info, I can only do so much.

>But what does it MEAN? Until you understand, you are going to
>keep getting in trouble like this.

May be you can enlighten me here... What's the meaning then ?

Most of the chips (analog & digital) are generic in the sense that a
NE555 is similar enough to a LM555.  That's true for products with all
the specs published.  It's a bit difficult when the companies stopped
publishing all their specs (ie the programming spec, some even without
the fuse map).

It means the mail order people have a different naming convention
and extra care should be used in the PLD area by both the consumers
and suppliers.

>My opinions are my own.

My mistakes are my own, but they are not the only ones made here.

K. C. Lee
Elec. Eng. Grad. Student