EPROM Full Form Name
Full Form of EPROM:
Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
EPROM Full Form is Erasable
Programmable Read Only Memory. A kind of memory chip that has
the capability of data retention even when the supply of power is stopped is
called an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory or EPROM. That memory of a
computer that can retain data when the supply of power is stopped and then
turned back on is referred to as the non-volatile memory. An electronic device
is used for individually programming the floating gate transistors that form
this memory. The voltage supplied by this electronic device is higher as
compared to the voltage provided by the digital circuits. The top-most portion
of the EPROM’s package usually has a transparent window of fused quartz, using
which it can be recognized easily.
A silicon chip can be seen easily
through this window, and the ultraviolet light can be exposed to the chip
through it for erasing the memory. The production cost of a thousand pieces of
ROMs that are masked programmed is minuscule. The time required for their
manufacture is quite significant since the mask layer of an IC needs to be
altered for storing data on ROMs. In the early years of the development of the
EPROM, there was a belief that the mass production of these memories is highly
expensive.
Hence, only the development of
this memory took place, and not its mass production. Later, it was proved that
for the parts of EPROM, production of small volumes was highly economical,
especially when the benefits of speedy up-gradation of the firmware were taken
into consideration. The on-chip EPROM are used with some microcontrollers for
storing their program, The examples of such microcontrollers include the PIC
microcontroller’s C versions, the Free scale 68HC11 and Intel 8048.