Instrumentation manufacturers and control system builders faced with a problem caused by NEC closing down production of its NMOS uPD7210 GPIB interface chip now have a solution.
    ComputerBoards has designed a pin-compatible replacement 'from the ground up', the CB7210.2, which not only takes over exactly where the uPD7210 left off, but has been updated to the latest IEEE-488.2 GPIB specification.
    The low power CMOS chip is available in 40-pin DIP and 100-pin TQFP versions. Both are found on ComputerBoards own GPIB controller cards which cover ISA, PCMCIA and PCI buffer. As it was originally designed for ComputerBoards' own OEM use, the design brief was strict about being able to handle legacy code perfectly, as well as allowing any circuitry to be preserved. ComputerBoards is also offering the VDHL source to customers. The company's range of GPIB
    interfaces which use the chip are all detailed in the latest 'GPIB' product guide.