Re. Blankety blank blank.

[Wen Yen Chan]

I have found that only the shorter wavelength UV lamps erase EPROMS. The
longer wavelength lamps just don't have enough energy per photon to kick
the electrons out of the floating gate. Generally the lamps stamped
"GERMICIDAL" work well (they have unfiltered quartz bulbs). Most EPROMS
I've played with erase within 3 min. when stuck against the bulb. Some of
my friends erase devices in seconds with UV curing lamps. 

l8tr

Wen

On Fri, 14 Aug 1998, Rich Mauruschat wrote:

> >Yes, I know this is crude.  Yes, I know an eraser is the
> >proper way.  Yes I'm going to buy one.  In the mean time,
> >why won't these chips erase?
> 
> >Shannen
> 
> 
> Shannen,
> >From my own experience, I think your right - it's a wavelength thing; not
> any old UV will do to erase eproms. I once had a load of eproms to erase
> (150!) and tried using a UV exposure box for PCB artwork to do them all at
> once..... no amount of time in there seemed to have any effect. Ended up
> doing them 6 at a time in a proper eraser, 10 minutes no problem. I'm not
> sure of the details of the required wavelengths, anyone got anything to
> offer on this one??
> 
> Rich.
> 
>