Zilog teams with Japan's Yokogawa for third-party programming

Zilog Inc. has entered into a strategic relationship with Japanese device programmer Yokogawa Digital Computer Corp. The relationship means that Zilog's Z8Encore! and eZ80Acclaim! 8bit microcontroller (MCU) families now receive programming support for customers using Yokogawa's NetImpress on-board flash device programmer.

The relationship expands the reach of Zilog 's product portfolio to include Yokogawa customers. In addition, Zilog customers can now use the NetImpress device programmer knowing that Zilog devices are fully supported.

The NetImpress device programmer is commonly used by electronic manufacturing companies in volume development sites whose end products include cell phones, intelligent home appliances, automotive and industrial equipment. Using NetImpress enables the programming of flash microcontrollers of various types, allowing customers to completely assemble the electronic portion of a product before loading software into the internal flash memory of the microcontroller.

Ramesh Ramchandani, Zilog's EVP of sales and marketing, said, "As one of the leaders in its field, Yokogawa's support for the eZ80Acclaim! and Z8Encore! families provides NetImpress users with a turnkey solution to program ZiLOG devices once a product reaches the manufacturing phase. This development also opens up a whole range of programming choices due to the full-feature set offered by ZiLOG microcontrollers and increases our product and brand visibility still further internationally, especially in the Japanese market."