Reading a 16L8 PAL / question on early SRAM card

[metertech58761]

So I got my hands on a storage device for a piece of chip foundry equipment...

I took off the front panel to get at the EPROM and dumped it, but I'm sure I had quite the look on my face when I realized it also has a PAL.

PAL16L8A-2CN... circa 1989.

I have a TL-866 programmer... but there is no listing in its PLD database for the 16L8 (I assume the PAL16LV8C is NOT the same thing).

How would you suggest I dump the equations out of the device? I may end up getting my hands on a second unit, just so I can also get my hands on the SRAM cartridge this used.
(it probably predates the PCMCIA standard by a few years, as this storage device was developed in 1988).

As for the SRAM card slot, I counted the pins twice... there are only 40 pins. Does this ring a bell? The only clue I have is that the connector has the duPont logo on it.

[Bud]

Did you see this topic

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/fpga/reading-the-programming-of-pal-chips/msg5298922

[metertech58761]

No I hadn't seen that thread... will keep it in mind, but I have 2 other assemblies to reverse engineer first.

Thank you!

[metertech58761]

A picture of the card slot... anyone recognize it?

[metertech58761]

Incidentally, I have access to a BPMicro programmer, and may well be the same unit that was used to program this PAL.

The BPMicro software even has a definition for an AMD 16L8 (I assume AMD bought MMI at some point), but I cannot for the life of me see how I can 'read' the PAL?

[Kleinstein]

AFAIK there is no way to read a PAL. In most cases they are used for combinatorial logic (no flip flop). In this case one could measure the truth table and than synthesize the logic from there. So not reading the chip but mesure the function and regnerate the required logic.