An EPROM memory has a small clear-glass window on top of the chip where the data can be erased under strong ultraviolet light. Once the memory is programmed, the window can be covered with dark tape to prevent accidental erasure of the data. An EPROM memory must be erased before it can be reprogrammed. Many developmental versions of microcontrollers are manufactured with EPROM memories where the user program can be stored. These memories are erased and reprogrammed until the user is satisfied with the program. Some versions of EPROMs, known as OTP (one time programmable), can be programmed using a suitable programmer device but cannot be erased. OTP memories cost much less than EPROMs. OTP is useful after a project has been developed completely and many copies of the program memory must be made.

1.2.5 EEPROM

EEPROM, electrically erasable programmable read only memory, is a nonvolatile memory that can be erased and reprogrammed using a suitable programming device. EEPROMs are used to save configuration information, maximum and minimum values, identification data, etc. Some microcontrollers have built-in EEPROM memories. For instance, the PIC18F452 contains a 256-byte EEPROM memory where each byte can be programmed and erased directly by applications software. EEPROM memories are usually very slow. An EEPROM chip is much costlier than an EPROM chip.

1.2.6 Flash EEPROM

Flash EEPROM, a version of EEPROM memory, has become popular in microcontroller applications and is used to store the user program. Flash EEPROM is nonvolatile and usually very fast. The data can be erased and then reprogrammed using a suitable programming device. Some microcontrollers have only 1K flash EEPROM while others have 32K or more. The PIC18F452 microcontroller has 32K bytes of flash memory.



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