6 ms·

Any other suggestions for common yet generally unknown chips?

by kens 7y ago

KC8ZKF 7y ago
LM358 op-amp?
- troseph 7y ago
  I learned about those while google searching every component on my first Arduino in hopes to better understand how the thing worked.
- buescher 7y ago
  Yeah. That and the LM393/LM339 type comparator-not exactly unknown though. But if I see those used appropriately in a circuit, it's the opposite effect of seeing 741 op-amps and 555 timers and TIP120 transistors. Another one - the 33063/34063 type low-voltage DC/DC switchers. Like the TL431, hobbyists almost never use them but they're all over the place.
  - SAI_Peregrinus 7y ago
    I'm a big fan of the LT3574 switching regulator[1]. Makes it very easy to split an input supply out to dual rails for op-amps, or just for general regulation. It provides an isolated output without needing optoisolators or a sense winding on the transformer. And since they're flyback converters they can output a voltage above or below the input, allowing for wide variation in the input needed. And in typical LT fashion the datasheet is extremely thorough and well-written. Including a step-by-step design example. And plenty of reference designs. I use the +-12V output one quite a bit for powering op-amps, it lets me make use of the fixed 5V output third channel on my bench supply! Not the cheapest though, about $7 each in qt1 on DigiKey, but that's rarely an issue at the hobby scale. And the ability to use a cheaper transformer and not need an optoisolator can make it save BOM cost even at large scale production. [1] https://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/data-sheets/3574f.pdf https://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/data...
option_greek 7y ago
Any of the zillion stm8 variants that surround us every where.
- davidgould 7y ago
  Yay for STM8. Cheap as dirt especially for how capable they are, and pretty sweet architecture for an 8 bit.
  - garaetjjte 7y ago
    No GCC support, only 6 registers.. meh. I think AVR is most friendliest from all 8 bit architectures.
    - segfaultbuserr 7y ago
      Most 8-bit machines are historical and suffered from the technological limitation of its time, they usually have few registers, an accumulator-based architecture, no multiplication/division instructions, limited addressing mode (especially, no efficient base+addr). So in general, they are not suitable for compiled languages, and hand-tuned assembly is required for good performance. But it actually makes sense for mass-produced applications when simplicity and cost are important. On the other hand, I believe the AVR is one of the only major 8-bit architectures designed using a modern approach, specially optimized for modern C-based programming.
      - davidgould 7y ago
        STM8 is a fairly new design although with some similarities to the 6502 and 6800. It does have multiply and divide instructions. It also has a plethora of addressing modes: ld a, #42 ; immediate. C constants ld a, var ; direct. C globals and statics ld a, (sp, 4) ; sp relative. C locals and arguments ld a, (x) ; indirect. C *ptr (ptr in register) ld a, (x, 42) ; indexed indirect. C ptr->foo (ptr in register) ld a, [ptr] ; memory indirect. C *ptr (ptr in memory) ld a, ([ptr],x) ; indexed memory indirect. C ptr->foo (ptr in memory) There are more, but mainly variations in width and PC relative jumps.
jakehop 7y ago
The NE555-timer is quite a cool little thing. More common operational amplifiers are also worth looking into (TL072 is one of my favorites). Lastly, the 7400-series logic chips are SO interesting. If you need the programmer's version of a jigsaw puzzle, try to build somewhat advanced designs using those. It's very fun and a good learning experience (although hard!). This guy is building a computer on a breadboard – very intersting indeed: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0N5baNlQWJCUrhCEo8WlA https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0N5baNlQWJCUrhCEo8WlA
- segfaultbuserr 7y ago
  NE555 is not "unknown" (most popular chip in the entire history of electronic engineering), 74xx and TL072 are not unknown either, anyone who knows a little bit of hardware knows the chip. TL431 is popular yet unknown to most people outside the world of switched-mode power supply. I think the OP wants some popular yet relatively less-known chip to those who is outside of the field.
- kens 7y ago
  Thanks for the suggestions. Take a look at project5474.org if you want to see the internals of many 7400-series chips explained. Also, I've done a 555 timer teardown: http://www.righto.com/2016/02/555-timer-teardown-inside-worlds-most.html http://www.righto.com/2016/02/555-timer-teardown-inside-worl...
CamperBob2 7y ago
8051 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_MCS-51 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_MCS-51 ). Still probably the most common microcontroller in existence, just because it's embedded in so many other ICs. 40 years old this year.
- HeyLaughingBoy 7y ago
  It's amazing how many of those old chips are still out there, but deep inside something else. I came across a 6502 embedded in a sensor SOC about 3 years ago. A 6502 for goodness sake.
yftsui 7y ago
UC2842/3842 (Primary side of a Flyback SMPS), versus TL431 which is on the secondary side. Power supplies shipped in the past 10 years are most likely using an Onsemi variant of TI UC2842/3842.
Tade0 7y ago
Back in the days of tape recorders/players it would be the operational transconductance amplifier like the NE5517.
SomeoneFromCA 7y ago
TL494. Up till very recent times was widely used in all kinds of PSUs, especially in AT ones.
colanderman 7y ago
LM13700 transconductance amplifier; simple chip, decades of history; used in lots of (musical) synthesizers.
squarefoot 7y ago
Maxim's MAX038 (no relation with the 8038), a single chip analog multi waveform generator that goes from 0.1Hz to 20 MHz. Maxim discontinued it in the early 2000s but never replaced it. https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/products/analog/clock-generation-distribution/silicon-crystal-oscillators/MAX038.html/tb_tab0 https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/products/analog/clock-gen...
- segfaultbuserr 7y ago
  This is a good one, endless number of function generator circuits have been built around MAX038, I have a MAX038-based function generator on my desk right now. It's an analog generator and its stability is nowhere near a PLL/DDS-based generator, but it was a robust solution for a low-cost generator.

Any other suggestions for common yet generally unknown chips?

by kens 7y ago

Any other suggestions for common yet generally unknown chips?

KC8ZKF 7y ago

LM358 op-amp?

troseph 7y ago
I learned about those while google searching every component on my first Arduino in hopes to better understand how the thing worked.
buescher 7y ago
Yeah. That and the LM393/LM339 type comparator-not exactly unknown though. But if I see those used appropriately in a circuit, it's the opposite effect of seeing 741 op-amps and 555 timers and TIP120 transistors. Another one - the 33063/34063 type low-voltage DC/DC switchers. Like the TL431, hobbyists almost never use them but they're all over the place.
- SAI_Peregrinus 7y ago
  I'm a big fan of the LT3574 switching regulator[1]. Makes it very easy to split an input supply out to dual rails for op-amps, or just for general regulation. It provides an isolated output without needing optoisolators or a sense winding on the transformer. And since they're flyback converters they can output a voltage above or below the input, allowing for wide variation in the input needed. And in typical LT fashion the datasheet is extremely thorough and well-written. Including a step-by-step design example. And plenty of reference designs. I use the +-12V output one quite a bit for powering op-amps, it lets me make use of the fixed 5V output third channel on my bench supply! Not the cheapest though, about $7 each in qt1 on DigiKey, but that's rarely an issue at the hobby scale. And the ability to use a cheaper transformer and not need an optoisolator can make it save BOM cost even at large scale production. [1] https://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/data-sheets/3574f.pdf https://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/data...

option_greek 7y ago

Any of the zillion stm8 variants that surround us every where.

davidgould 7y ago
Yay for STM8. Cheap as dirt especially for how capable they are, and pretty sweet architecture for an 8 bit.
- garaetjjte 7y ago
  No GCC support, only 6 registers.. meh. I think AVR is most friendliest from all 8 bit architectures.
  - segfaultbuserr 7y ago
    Most 8-bit machines are historical and suffered from the technological limitation of its time, they usually have few registers, an accumulator-based architecture, no multiplication/division instructions, limited addressing mode (especially, no efficient base+addr). So in general, they are not suitable for compiled languages, and hand-tuned assembly is required for good performance. But it actually makes sense for mass-produced applications when simplicity and cost are important. On the other hand, I believe the AVR is one of the only major 8-bit architectures designed using a modern approach, specially optimized for modern C-based programming.
    - davidgould 7y ago
      STM8 is a fairly new design although with some similarities to the 6502 and 6800. It does have multiply and divide instructions. It also has a plethora of addressing modes: ld a, #42 ; immediate. C constants ld a, var ; direct. C globals and statics ld a, (sp, 4) ; sp relative. C locals and arguments ld a, (x) ; indirect. C *ptr (ptr in register) ld a, (x, 42) ; indexed indirect. C ptr->foo (ptr in register) ld a, [ptr] ; memory indirect. C *ptr (ptr in memory) ld a, ([ptr],x) ; indexed memory indirect. C ptr->foo (ptr in memory) There are more, but mainly variations in width and PC relative jumps.

jakehop 7y ago

The NE555-timer is quite a cool little thing. More common operational amplifiers are also worth looking into (TL072 is one of my favorites). Lastly, the 7400-series logic chips are SO interesting. If you need the programmer's version of a jigsaw puzzle, try to build somewhat advanced designs using those. It's very fun and a good learning experience (although hard!). This guy is building a computer on a breadboard – very intersting indeed: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0N5baNlQWJCUrhCEo8WlA https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0N5baNlQWJCUrhCEo8WlA

segfaultbuserr 7y ago
NE555 is not "unknown" (most popular chip in the entire history of electronic engineering), 74xx and TL072 are not unknown either, anyone who knows a little bit of hardware knows the chip. TL431 is popular yet unknown to most people outside the world of switched-mode power supply. I think the OP wants some popular yet relatively less-known chip to those who is outside of the field.
kens 7y ago
Thanks for the suggestions. Take a look at project5474.org if you want to see the internals of many 7400-series chips explained. Also, I've done a 555 timer teardown: http://www.righto.com/2016/02/555-timer-teardown-inside-worlds-most.html http://www.righto.com/2016/02/555-timer-teardown-inside-worl...

CamperBob2 7y ago

8051 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_MCS-51 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_MCS-51 ). Still probably the most common microcontroller in existence, just because it's embedded in so many other ICs. 40 years old this year.

HeyLaughingBoy 7y ago
It's amazing how many of those old chips are still out there, but deep inside something else. I came across a 6502 embedded in a sensor SOC about 3 years ago. A 6502 for goodness sake.

yftsui 7y ago

UC2842/3842 (Primary side of a Flyback SMPS), versus TL431 which is on the secondary side. Power supplies shipped in the past 10 years are most likely using an Onsemi variant of TI UC2842/3842.

Tade0 7y ago

Back in the days of tape recorders/players it would be the operational transconductance amplifier like the NE5517.

SomeoneFromCA 7y ago

TL494. Up till very recent times was widely used in all kinds of PSUs, especially in AT ones.

colanderman 7y ago

LM13700 transconductance amplifier; simple chip, decades of history; used in lots of (musical) synthesizers.

squarefoot 7y ago

Maxim's MAX038 (no relation with the 8038), a single chip analog multi waveform generator that goes from 0.1Hz to 20 MHz. Maxim discontinued it in the early 2000s but never replaced it. https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/products/analog/clock-generation-distribution/silicon-crystal-oscillators/MAX038.html/tb_tab0 https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/products/analog/clock-gen...

segfaultbuserr 7y ago
This is a good one, endless number of function generator circuits have been built around MAX038, I have a MAX038-based function generator on my desk right now. It's an analog generator and its stability is nowhere near a PLL/DDS-based generator, but it was a robust solution for a low-cost generator.