When Lattice first released the GAL's ('84-85)and when the databook still contained programming data, they referred to their programmable array as EEPROM and not as FLASH. In fact, the term "Flash" didn't surface until much later.

What interested me at the time wasn't the data retention time, but, rather, how long it took to erase them. I exploited that feature in a tamper detection scheme back then.

I'm having trouble figuring out what your purpose even in mentioning GAL's is. You can't read 'em in-circuit, hence, you can't checksum the things. Their array is small, so you probably wouldn't want to do so.

The PALCE is AMD's version, and the fact that CYPRESS made 'em puzzles me, since AMD had their own FAB. Maybe they were slow in getting their CMOS process FAB going. The damand was so great it really shouldn't surprise me, though. Bipolar (metal fuse) PAL's were notoriously fragile during programming and were often ruined during the verify process. BTW, I've got a dozen or two of CYPRESS' old EPROM-based (windowed ceramic) 22V10's. They always looked interesting in a circuit.

RE