Oliver:
The TPU on certain Freescale parts just has one pin per timer channel. Do it does not match my requirements too well. Part of the design I am looking at needs 20 to 24 timers and I am also reluctant to put down two whole Freescale MCUs just for timers even if the TPU could do the trick.

I am familiar with the TPU and have used it in the past. One project from back 11 years ago I custom programmed the TPU code on an MC68332 to be a decoder for an infrared remote control input to a product.

I have begun looking at putting timers into CPLDs. Research so far seems to indicate I could get 7 timers into a CPLD in the US$ 5-6 price range. This is not too bad as the cost for three Intersil 82C54s (9 channels) looks to be in the same price range at similar quantities. The CPLDs may be smaller from a PC board layout perspective if I use the more modern packaging than the PLCC-28 that the 82C54s come in. The CPLD could also get me 3.3V operation.

Michael Karas