Availability OF CMD made 65xx microprocessor replacements by WDC/DEMA

California Micro Devices, Inc. (CMD) and Rockwell/Conexant both formerly manufactured 65xx products (8-bit processors) under license from The Western Design Center, Inc. (WDC) for customers worldwide, and Dema Electronic GmbH distributed their products.

Although CMD and Rockwell/Conexant will no longer manufacture these devices, WDC will continue to support their customers by providing its family of standard 65xx products. WDC has entered into an agreement with Dema to distribute WDC products. Customers of both CMD and Rockwell/Conexant can now purchase WDC replacements from Dema.

Since licensing both CMD and Rockwell, WDC and its foundry partners have made process technology improvements while maintaining full software compatibility. Customers may wish to use the WDC improvements to enhance their current or future 65xx based products. For instance, the W65C02S MPU (microprocessor) and W65C22S Versatile Interface Adapter (VIA) chips can run up to 14MHz, compared to the older 4MHz maximum of the CMD (G65SC02) and Rockwell/Conexant (R65C02) parts.

The WDC W65C02S processor and W65C22S VIA chips are replacements for the CMD G65SC02 processor and G65SC22 VIA devices. WDC also offers an 8/16-bit microprocessor (W65C816S), as well as 8-bit (W65C134S) and 16-bit (W65C265S) microcomputers with on-board ROM and RAM for your microcontroller needs. Information on all these devices is available on the WDC website (www.westerndesigncenter.com). (The W65C51 Asynchronous Communications Interface Adapter (ACIA) will be available September 2004.)

Most WDC W65C02 replacement parts are fully compatible while others may require small PC board changes. The WDC website lists all the product differences in the Cross Reference section. Usually the differences provide improvements in lower power, higher speed or ease of use.

The Western Design Center, Inc. Mesa, Arizona, is the original source and Intellectual Property (IP) owner of the widely used and patented CMOS 65C02 technology. WDC sells 8-bit (W65C02) and 16-bit (W65C816) microprocessors and microcontrollers based on its proprietary technology. WDC also licenses its microprocessor IP to the electronics industry.

For more information visit www.westerndesigncenter.com