At 06:20 AM 5/12/2008, you wrote:
>I'm going to be starting to use some of the small 8 pin Serial SPI
>EEPROM memories and would like to come up with a production-quality
>programmer for them.  On the PIC side, I'm using Olin's ProProg and it's
>working out well, and we like the way it works...  Insert chip, hit
>button, wait until LED comes back on steady, remove chip and repeat.  No
>need to have the computer on the same desk as the programmer (we have a
>table which parallels the desk with the computer on which we use for
>things which need the computer in a support role such as the ProProg).
>We just start the software and then it's just us, the chips, and the
>programmer.
>
>So far, I haven't found anything both reasonably priced and seemingly
>production capable.   I'm about ready to build my own (after all it is
>only SPI flash), but would prefer to do something a little less
>drastic.  So before I did I figured I'd ask on-list.
>
>Ideas?

I think most people use the system to program the EEPROM, so there's
(relatively) little need for such a programmer. It also makes sure there
is a way to recover if the data gets corrupted, which is much more
likely with an EEPROM than with flash or OTP EPROM cells. Aside from that,
I'd not envy the operator who would have to manually put some of the smaller
packages (eg. SOT-23 or 8-DFN) in a socket. If the system does it, you can
solder the part down at assembly, same as with the MCU when you use ISP.

Best regards,

Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..."            "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com



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