Lpc2000

--- In lpc2100@yahoogroups.com, Ben Dooks <ben@f...> wrote:

> one has to wonder in the days of high density packing why giving
> 4-5 pins a special function is so abhorent to these manufacturers.
> 
> -- 
> Ben
> 
> Q:      What's a light-year?
> A:      One-third less calories than a regular year.

Hi Ben,

what about looking at it like this. JTAG pins are dedicated pins, no
secondary function. You need more than the available I/O pins? Well
that's probably exactly what other customers told Philips as well. Now
assuming the same number of I/O pins but 5 dedicated JTAG pins leaves
us with a 53-pin package;-)
Seriously, every pins is money and increases the size of the package.
I consider the dual functionality a compromise for those of us who
actually need the small package, more I/O AND JTAG. You or anybody
else should feel free to use (probably the secondary) JTAG as
dedicated pins.
Btw. the 64-pin device LPC2114... has more I/O pins and you can use
the JTAG pins dedicated.

Cheers, Bob