2716 Datasheet

The 2716 Datasheet might seem like an obscure document from a bygone era, but it holds the key to understanding the fundamental principles of early memory technology. This document details the specifications and operation of the Intel 2716, a 16,384-bit (2KB) erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) chip that played a pivotal role in the development of microcomputer systems. Understanding the 2716 Datasheet allows enthusiasts and engineers to appreciate the constraints and ingenuity of early computer design.

Delving into the 2716 Datasheet Significance and Applications

The 2716 Datasheet provides a comprehensive overview of the chip’s characteristics, including its pinout, electrical specifications, timing diagrams, and programming procedures. The pinout diagram is crucial for understanding how to physically connect the 2716 to a circuit, identifying the address lines, data lines, power supply pins, and control signals. Without this information, interfacing with the chip would be impossible. Electrical specifications define the voltage and current requirements for proper operation, while timing diagrams illustrate the sequence of events necessary for reading and writing data. Ultimately, this document ensures reliable integration into any electronic system that utilizes it. The applications of the 2716 were varied and impactful. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was commonly used to store firmware in microcomputers, arcade games, and industrial control systems. Firmware, the software that controls the basic operation of a device, needed to be stored in a non-volatile memory that retained its contents even when power was removed. The 2716 EPROM provided this functionality, and its erasable nature allowed developers to update the firmware as needed. Here are some examples:

• Storing the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) in early IBM PCs and compatibles.
• Holding the game code in classic arcade machines like Pac-Man and Space Invaders.
• Implementing control algorithms in programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

The 2716 Datasheet also details the programming procedure, which involved exposing the chip to ultraviolet (UV) light to erase the existing data and then applying specific voltage pulses to the pins to write new data. While later EPROMs used electrical signals for erasure, the 2716 relied on UV light, requiring a special eraser device. Because of its architecture, the 2716 would generally be part of a bigger circuit on a PCB, with different components.