Pinout data grumble

Why don't more manufacturers provide their device pinouts (pin numbers 
and names) as a spreadsheet or text file? It would make part creation 
for PCB design packages *much* easier. Sometimes the data can be 
extracted from the PDF file without too much trouble and then imported 
directly into the PCB software, but in many cases this can't be done 
because of the way the document is formatted. It's a real pain typing in 
stuff like RA5/AN4/LVDIN over and over again for devices with 80 pins or 
more.

Xilinx provides this info. for many of their newer chips; if enough 
people complained to the other purveyors of silicon they might get the 
message.

Leon
-- 
Leon Heller, G1HSM
Email: aqzf13@dsl.pipex.com
My low-cost Philips LPC210x ARM development system:
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller/lpc2104.html

Leon Heller wrote:

>Why don't more manufacturers provide their device pinouts (pin numbers
>and names) as a spreadsheet or text file? It would make part creation
>for PCB design packages *much* easier. Sometimes the data can be
>extracted from the PDF file without too much trouble and then imported
>directly into the PCB software, but in many cases this can't be done
>because of the way the document is formatted. It's a real pain typing in
>stuff like RA5/AN4/LVDIN over and over again for devices with 80 pins or
>more.
>
>Xilinx provides this info. for many of their newer chips; if enough
>people complained to the other purveyors of silicon they might get the
>message.

I've long had a similar complaint, except on the software side.  The first
thing I (and most programmers) do when writing a driver is write a header
file that symbolically defines devices' register addresses and mask and
such.  Imagine the resulting number of man-hours in duplicated effort.
Wouldn't it be a competative advantage for the chip manufacturers to
provide this information?

-- 
========================================================================
          Michael Kesti            |  "And like, one and one don't make
                                   |   two, one and one make one."
          mkesti@gv.net            |          - The Who, Bargain

most chip makers do

CBarn24050 wrote:

>most chip makers do

Can you provide any examples, especially of such information that is
freely downloadable via the Internet?

-- 
========================================================================
          Michael Kesti            |  "And like, one and one don't make
                                   |   two, one and one make one."
          mkesti@gv.net            |          - The Who, Bargain

In article <400B16B7.298B8105@gv.net>, Michael R. Kesti wrote:
> CBarn24050 wrote:
> 
>>most chip makers do
> 
> Can you provide any examples, especially of such information that is
> freely downloadable via the Internet?

Why?  Are you two dim to click on "support" yourself?  I
downloaded headers and example source for all the projects I've
done in the past 5-7 years.  The last few were Samsung
ARM-based uCs and the Hitachi H8 series.  Here's the link for
the Hitachi part I'm using now:

http://www.renesas.com/eng/products/mpumcu/tool/crosstool/iodef/300.html

-- 
Grant Edwards                   grante             Yow!  It don't mean a
                                  at               THING if you ain't got
                               visi.com            that SWING!!

Grant Edwards wrote:
> In article <400B16B7.298B8105@gv.net>, Michael R. Kesti wrote:
> 
>>CBarn24050 wrote:
>>
>>
>>>most chip makers do
>>
>>Can you provide any examples, especially of such information that is
>>freely downloadable via the Internet?
> 
> 
> Why?  Are you two dim to click on "support" yourself?  I
> downloaded headers and example source for all the projects I've
> done in the past 5-7 years.  The last few were Samsung
> ARM-based uCs and the Hitachi H8 series.  Here's the link for
> the Hitachi part I'm using now:
> 
> http://www.renesas.com/eng/products/mpumcu/tool/crosstool/iodef/300.html

This stipulation I came across when downloading the code to have a look 
at it rather amused me:

"This is notification that you are not allowed to perform any of the 
following:

(1) Sell or retransfer these information to any party intending to 
disturb international peace and security.

(2) Use these information yourself for activities disturbing 
international peace and security.

(3) Allow any other party to use these information for activities 
disturbing international peace and security."

I hardly think that would deter anyone like terrorists from using 
Renesas code.

Leon
-- 
Leon Heller, G1HSM
Email: aqzf13@dsl.pipex.com
My low-cost Philips LPC210x ARM development system:
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller/lpc2104.html

"Leon Heller" <aqzf13@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:400b8112$0$16730$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
> I hardly think that would deter anyone like terrorists from using
> Renesas code.

It's not supposed to.  I imagine it's there so that Renesas can disclaim any
responsibility if some bad guy *does* use the data in a bad way.

Kelly

Kelly Hall wrote:
> 
> "Leon Heller" <aqzf13@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
> news:400b8112$0$16730$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
> > I hardly think that would deter anyone like terrorists from using
> > Renesas code.
> 
> It's not supposed to.  I imagine it's there so that Renesas can disclaim any
> responsibility if some bad guy *does* use the data in a bad way.


Maybe they should imbed the warnings into the flash on all of their
chips just to make sure the bad guys are adequately informed.  Of course
this is something the lawyers thought up.  The point is that it is
*worthless*.  Just because you provide support for your chips does not
make you liable for the illegal use of the information by others.  Even
if you were somehow liable, posting a lame notice on a website will not
relieve your liability.

Grant Edwards wrote:
> 
> In article <400B16B7.298B8105@gv.net>, Michael R. Kesti wrote:
> > CBarn24050 wrote:
> >
> >>most chip makers do
> >
> > Can you provide any examples, especially of such information that is
> > freely downloadable via the Internet?
> 
> Why?  Are you two dim to click on "support" yourself?  

Is there a reason that you feel the need to be rude?  Clearly this guy
has not seen any such info and asked a ligit question.  If you don't
like the question, then don't answer.

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 07:02:41 +0000, Leon Heller <aqzf13@dsl.pipex.com> 
wrote:

> "This is notification that you are not allowed to perform any of the 
> following:
>
> (1) Sell or retransfer these information to any party intending to 
> disturb international peace and security.

[snip]


Here's similar story about Dell: 
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/28/34781.html

   Vadim