TransProcessor moves data, files at 2.5 Mbytes/s

Moving data between subsystems, PCs, and peripherals has become a bottleneck. To overcome this, NEC has developed TransProcessor, an Application-specific semiconductor product (AASP). The single chip-ASIC can securely move data on copper wires at sustained rates of 2.5 Mbytes/s for distances up to 328 ft. NEC and Trans Digital also have developed a PCMCIA transfer card (Trans PC Card) that integrtes the TransProcessor with File-transfer nd data- management software.
The TransProcessor can be used for a number of data-transfer tasks, including moving data between a host PC and high-speed peripherals like printers, external CD-ROM, and multimedia subsystems. It uses 10-bit parallel path to move data. The TransProcessor delivers secure data transfers = each transferred byte is received and returned to the transmitter to verify transmission accuracy. The data must match the original transmitted data for the transaction to continue.
The transfer card is a Type I PC card (PCMCIA) with Hirose 25-pin, universal parallel port connector. On board, it has a TransProcessor and 64k x 16 ROM/flash memory. To the host PC, the card appears to be a disk drive. File-transfer and data-management software is in the card memory, and designers can use this to move and manipulate data via the transfer card.
The TransProcessor has a low signaling rate, under 1MHz, which minimizes emissions. It comes in a 100-pin TQFP and is priced at $10 (10,000). The TransCard is priced at $149, with $49 for the universal cable with two adapters (PC parallel port, printer connection). TransCards also can link together using the cable.

Embedded Systems & Software - January 1996.