#314 AT28C16 EEPROM Programmer

Programming an AT28C16 EEPROM with an Arduino and MCP23S17 16-bit port expander.

Build

Notes

The AT28C16 is an old-school 2k x 8-bit parallel EEPROM. Since it has parallel addressing and data lines, it opens a whole range of possibilities with discrete logic circuits (i.e. no SPI or I²C in sight). I was inspired to explore more by Ben Eater’s use of EEPROMs for his 8-bit computer build.

This project is a first attempt at an Arduino-driven programmer (for read and write).

Now parallel means many lines to control - 22 in total (11 address, 8 data, 3 control signals). That’s more than a humble Arduino Uno provides. Possibilities for handling that many signals:

use a Mega or other variant with many more GPIOs
use shift registers to expand the bus. This is the technique that Ben Eater used.
use a port expander

In this case, I’m going to use a single MCP23S17 16-bit port expander. That still means I’m short 6 pins, but I’ll drive those directly from the Arduino. I could have used two port expanders to handle all the I/O - perhaps I’ll try that variation later. See LEAP#313 for more on the MCP23S17.

About the AT28C16

AT28C16_block_diagram

AT28C16_pin_configuration

Addressing

Memory is addressed with pins A0-A10 (11 bits), representing a range of 0 to 0x7FF (2047). Hence the 16k capacity (2048 x 8 bits)

Read Operation

The AT28C16 is accessed like static RAM. When CE and OE are low and WE is high, the data stored at the memory location determined by the address pins is asserted on the outputs.

Pin	State
CE	low
OE	low
WE	high
A0-10	memory address input
IO0-7	data output

The outputs are put in a high impedance state whenever CE or OE is high.

Write Operation

Writing data is triggered when OE is high and either WE or CE pulse low (with the other set low). I’ll be using WE, so that means CE does not need to change state between read and write.

Pin	State
CE	low
OE	high
WE	pulse high->low->high
A0-10	memory address input latched on the last falling edge of WE
IO0-7	data input latched on the first rising edge of WE

Internally, the device performs a self-clear before write. Once a byte write has been started, it will automatically time itself to completion.

Device Identification

The chip provides 32 bytes of device identification memory between addresses 0x7E0 to 0x7FF (2016 to 2047).

I haven’t tried reading or writing the device info yet, but this is how I believe it works:

To read or write these addresses, A9 needs to be raised to 12 ± 0.5V. Note that only the OE and A9 pins are tolerant of voltages to 13.5V. All other pins have maximum ratings of -0.6V to +6.25V with respect to ground.

If A9 is raised to normal voltages (to +6.25V), then the normal memory between 0x7E0 to 0x7FF is accessed for read and write.

PEProgrammer Sketch

The PEProgrammer.ino sketch is controlled via the serial port. It can:

read and echo selected memory ranges
write data to a specified address
fill a memory range with a specified value

Here’s an example session reading and writing selected data:

console_read_write_fill_example

Construction

Breadboard

Schematic