TNT4882 and NAT7210 comparison

[GRS]

Dear Friends,

I am working on the development of GPIB interface to one of my product. Upon careful reading I realized that TNT4882 does not have Controller capability. However TNT4882C has the Controller capability which will be available upon signing a Non Discloser Agreement. Before I go ahead for this I want to know

1.    Will TNT4882C be pin to pin compatible to TNT4882?

2.    I have bought TNT4882 already. As it is only a software access to the contro register does this mean that after I have signed NDA I can treat TNT4882 as TNT4882C. This will be great as this will save time required for procurement.

3.     This is a bit offesive. I fell to understand how one could write "The register set of the TNT4882 is a superset of the 7210 register set". This is misleading to the designer.

[Collin M]

1.    Will TNT4882C be pin to pin compatible to TNT4882?
Yes, the TNT4882 and TNT4882C are pin compatible. They are electrically and physically interchangeable.

2.    I have bought TNT4882 already. As it is only a software access to the contro register does this mean that after I have signed NDA I can treat TNT4882 as TNT4882C. This will be great as this will save time required for procurement.
The GPIB controller circuitry in the TNT4882 is physically disabled. There is no way to enable the controller circuitry in the TNT4882. You will need to procure TNT4882C if you need controller functionality.

3.     This is a bit offesive. I fell to understand how one could write "The register set of the TNT4882 is a superset of the 7210 register set". This is misleading to the designer.
I understand your point. It would be more accurate to say "The register set of the TNT4882C is a superset of the 7210 register set". The majority of customers buying GPIB ASICs are not using any controller functionality so the original statement is accurate for them.

[GPIB_Guru]

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@GRS wrote:

Dear Friends,

I am working on the development of GPIB interface to one of my product. Upon careful reading I realized that TNT4882 does not have Controller capability. However TNT4882C has the Controller capability which will be available upon signing a Non Discloser Agreement. Before I go ahead for this I want to know

1.    Will TNT4882C be pin to pin compatible to TNT4882?

2.    I have bought TNT4882 already. As it is only a software access to the contro register does this mean that after I have signed NDA I can treat TNT4882 as TNT4882C. This will be great as this will save time required for procurement.

3.     This is a bit offesive. I fell to understand how one could write "The register set of the TNT4882 is a superset of the 7210 register set". This is misleading to the designer.

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1. Yes, the TNT4882C is pin to pin compatible with the TNT4882.
2. No, they are different ASICs. The TNT4882C has extra internal circuitry to perform controller actions. It is not just extra defined registers.
3. Superset: "The set A is a superset of set B iff every member of B is also a member of A.". Since every regsiter that is implemented in the 7210 is also implemented in the TNT4882C, the TNT4882C register set would be a superset of the 7210 register set. The TNT4882 register set it not a superset due to lack of controller functionality.

Message Edited by GPIB Guru on 11-17-2005 07:25 AM

[GPIB_Guru]

Message Edited by GPIB Guru on 11-17-2005 07:26 AM

[GRS]

Thanks to both of you for the clarification