Spehro Pefhany wrote:
>Hi,
>
>Looking for a good, cheap I2C RTC chip or module.
>
>I know about the Epson parts, what else good is out there?
>
>If the crystal and/or the backup power switch is built in, all
>the better, but need the price to be reasonable (a few dollars
>in 100's).
>


How about a PIC508 running off a 32Khz xtal. Guy like you
already has all the routines written. [but of course, Echelon
just notified Philips that you are now "thinking" about violating
their I2C license - the letter is already in the mail, Mr. P].

OTOH, according to what Steve Baldwin just said, if you have
another PIC controlling the I2C bus, you may be able to wing it
on a proprietary board [oops, I am afraid Echelon just reported
"that" back to Philips too - isn't modern electronics just
wunnerful]:

"""
The bottom line seems to be that if you have any licensed component
on your I2C bus, you are granted a license to use the bus. So you may
have 17 FPGA's and a 32 byte EEPROM and you're covered.
However, if you take the EEPROM off, you wouldn't be covered. If the
comms between the chips just stays within your board then who's to
say what it is or isn't so it's a non-issue. If you sell it as having
an  I2C interface or a two wire interface that looks like I2C, you
can expect a knock on the door.
"""

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