NatSemi will today announce it has succeeded in integrating around 20 scanner functions on a single chip. The LM9830, claimed NatSemi, includes all the functions of a colour scanner, including an analogue front end, sensor clock generation, microstepping motor control, data buffering and parallel port on one IC. NatSemi's CEO, Brian Halla, said earlier this year that his company would concentrate on creating so-called PC-on-a-chip systems. The chip also includes digital pixel processing and will give resolutions from 50 to 600dpi (dots per inch). It will scan images in 36-bit colour and will also allow vertical resolutions of 50-600dpi in 1dpi increments. The 5V part also has a low power standby mode, and includes TWAIN driver and support, said NatSemi. ®