I am trying to identify a source for a multi channel programmable timer chip for a possible new project. In the past I've joined CPLDs up with three channel timer chips like the ubiquitous 82C54 to provide for programmable timing on a controller board. This new application requires a large number of timers and thus I'd like to identify an alternate chip that would support say 8 timers. All could clock from a common clock but each would require a separate trigger/gate input and a timer output pin. 16-bit timers would be ideal but there is a possibility that I could make narrower timers down to 12-bit work for this application.

I need standalone timers due to the need for hardware gated control signals. Trying to use timers inside an MCU is most likely out of the question because most MCU timers so not support separate HW gate and output pins. And if they do have this feature it is limited to just one or two, maybe three, timer channels. This application cannot use a MCU FW type solution to trigger the timers.

Michael Karas