Electronic News - Comdex

NEC Electronics, addressing the faster multimedia file transfers over longer parallel distances, will this week show its new TransProcessor chip for paralllel data comunications.
The TransProcessor allows sustained data transfers at 2.5 megabytes per second about the same speed as a DOS transfer between two directories o the same hard disk - over unshielded cable up to a distance of 100 meters.
Other copper wire connections are much more limited by distance and speed, according to Roy DaSilva, NEC senior manager for ASSP marketing. Even a 100 meter, 10Base-T Ethernet transfer achieves only 25 percent of TransProcessor speed he claimed.
"Only ATM networks on fiber optics can exceed the TransProcessor's data transfer rate" Mr. DaSilva said. But while ATM networks require expensive hardware to implement. "The distance provided the TransProcessor positions you to be in the network area with few infrastructure changes" he said.
According to NEC, the chip has built-in PC Card interface logic, flash memory interface logic, data buffers and data verification logic, and operates at 5 volts.
The first generation of TransProcessor is primarily targeted for PC Cards, and NEC will demo a PC Card implementation here, which the company developed with Trans Digital Corp.
The Trans PC Card is a Type 1 PC card which combines the NEC chip, a 64-kilobyte 16 bit TransROM memory chip containing embedded file transfer and data management software and a 25-pin parallel cable.
NEC's TransProcessor chip is also said to be suitable for applications in printer parallel ports, network switches, digital cameras, CD-ROMs and tape back-ups. The company said it will develop future TransProcessors for such applications with other companies. Additionally, Mr. DaSilva said NEC has an ISA interface version of the chip scheduled for early 1996 rollout.
Meanwhile, engineering samples of the TransProcessor for PC card applications are available now, with volume orders beeing accepted immediately. The chip is housed in a 100-pin TQFP and is priced at $10 per unit. in quantities of 10,000.
The Trans PC Card is also available now from Trans Digital in a Type I format priced at $149.00 for the PC card and $49 for a universal cable with two adapters: one for PC parallel port and the other for a printer connection. Manufacturing kits are also sold by Trans Digital for $750.00.

Electronic News, November 13,1995.