what device has a reprogrammable microchip in it and why it needs to be reprogrammable ?
2006-09-20 03:17:56 · 4 answers · asked by gm 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Remote controls for TVs. They accept your input as to which brand and model of TV, VCR, DVD, cable box, etc you have and select the option needed to make the keys put out the right codes to control what you have in your house. That is how they can deal with all the brands customers might have without needing to stock hundreds of alternative controls.
2006-09-20 03:22:35 · answer #1 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
PCs use reprogrammable chips (often flash memory, like the chips used for digital camera storage) to store the BIOS (basic input/output system) - essentially, the basic information about how the machine is configured (how much memory it's got, how many hard drives and optical media drives there are and which interface they're connected to etc), which is loaded every time it boots up. This information can change when the system is reconfigured (eg when a new drive is added) so the chip needs to be updated.
Mobile phones use reprogrammable chips to store the phone's firmware (its operating system). These can be reprogrammed by "service update" messages sometimes sent by the network, for example when a new network service becomes available.
The cards that provide storage for digital cameras (SD, CompactFlash, xD, Memory Stick etc) are simply removable, reprogrammable flash memory chips. iPod nanos used the same kind of chip for storing music files.
2006-09-20 12:02:03 · answer #2 · answered by longdancingboy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reprogramable microchips are used in PLCs (programable logic controller). The most famous PLCs are the SIMANTIC from Siemens. They are used for industrial applications such as cotrolling production lines, motor drives, etc
2006-09-20 10:22:36 · answer #3 · answered by Λиδѓεy™ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A computer... a cellphone.
On either, you often want to change the information that is present, or alter the way it behaves.
Aloha
2006-09-20 10:19:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋