Whats a Neuron Chip?
Neuron Chips provide the logic for Lonworks networks. A Neuron Chip is an integrated circuit with several components. It consists of the LonTalk communications protocol, three 8-bit microprocessors, and a Real Time Operating System firmware, among other things. Echelon designed the original Neuron Chip, but later versions have been developed by express licensees. Those licensees had been Motorola and Toshiba, until Motorola suddenly announced it was leaving the party. Motorola was replaced by Cypress Semiconductor. The agreement with Cypress extends until April, 2009 and Echelon recently extended its agreement with Toshiba, which now expires in January, 2010. Tens of millions of neuron chips have shipped since 1992, though as explained below (but bears repeating) Echelon does not make money off of sales or licenses of Neuron Chips.
Related Questions
- Are there any pin-out differences between the Neuron 3120 Chip/ Neuron 3150 Chip and the FTT-10A in comparison with the FT 3120 and FT 3150 Free Topology Smart Transceivers?
- Can I migrate from my current FTT-10A Free Topology Transceiver and Neuron Chip application to the new FT 5000 Smart Transceiver?
- When a Neuron Chip is used at 20MHz, what influence does it have on I/O function or a timer?
