I want to hook my GPS up to it so that I have a really mini data logger/w
custom
application program.

I've got a busted one that I've taken apart, but I don't know what the two
blobs
are.

Craig

-----Original Message-----
From: pic microcontroller discussion list
[mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of M. Adam Davis
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 12:38 PM
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: [OT]: Re: REX - using for other purposes


I mentioned earlier about the chips which appear to be:
> 1 Sanyo LE28CV1001ATS

1Mbit nonvolitile memory (Flash or ROM) for the lower module.  Sanyo didn't
have
a datasheet on this particular chip.


> 2 NEC D431000AGZ

128k x 8bit SRAM



> 1 NEC D43256BGW

32k x 8bit SRAM

I suspect one of the COBs is the uC, while the other is likely a display
chip
(it would be cheaper, power wise, to run the LCD from a dedicated chip)

The 32kB SRAM is probably for the display, with the remaining two 128kB
chips
for data.  I imagine for the larger modules you end up replacing the 128kB
chips
with 256kB chips.

I do not have a REX, but if we can hack it (either through established
interfaces, or by programming the flash directly) then I would certianly be
interested in buying and using one for my own nefarious purposes... (no
PCMCIA!
bleh.)

-Adam

Compaq's research center has released full specs on their ITSY pda device,
including enough info to build your own (schematics, software, PCB files,
etc)
using a strongarm processor.  Perhaps this would be another route, although
battery consumption would be greater, it would provide more power and
flexibility...

http://research.compaq.com/wrl/projects/itsy/itsy.html

Marc wrote:
>
> Yesterday I wrote about reverse engineering the REX.  Today I found
> some more info on this topic:
>
> The REX seems to use an 8bit Toshiba CPU, and 128k/512k of FLASH rom.
> That makes it reprogrammable.  Basically all what's needed to use the
> REX for own projects is to reverse engineer how to bootstrap it from
> the PC, the LCD interface and the buttons, and of course datasheets
> and tools for the CPU.
>
> All the rest can be developped by ourselves.
>
> If interested, contact me.