4-bit MCU Availability...

[Ricky]

I remember some folks who discussed very low cost designs that included 4-bit MCUs. At the time, the 4-bit chips were mostly made by companies in the orient with fully depreciated foundries.

I haven\'t been able to find anyone selling these devices currently. I think it was always a business that isn\'t advertised much, since the customers all know the sellers. You have to be building a million of something to make it worthwhile designing with a 4-bit MCU. I seem to recall if you had an existing design, they would even do the software port to the 4-bit chip, since they were all custom CPU designs by the vendor.

Anyone know who is still selling these lowest end MCUs?

--

Rick C.

- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209

 

[bitrex]

On 6/11/2022 10:28 AM, Ricky wrote:

I remember some folks who discussed very low cost designs that included 4-bit MCUs. At the time, the 4-bit chips were mostly made by companies in the orient with fully depreciated foundries.

I haven\'t been able to find anyone selling these devices currently. I think it was always a business that isn\'t advertised much, since the customers all know the sellers. You have to be building a million of something to make it worthwhile designing with a 4-bit MCU. I seem to recall if you had an existing design, they would even do the software port to the 4-bit chip, since they were all custom CPU designs by the vendor.

Anyone know who is still selling these lowest end MCUs?

Is this an academic question or do you have a particular function and
per-device budget in mind

 

[Ed Lee]

On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 8:21:50 AM UTC-7, bitrex wrote:

On 6/11/2022 10:28 AM, Ricky wrote:
I remember some folks who discussed very low cost designs that included 4-bit MCUs. At the time, the 4-bit chips were mostly made by companies in the orient with fully depreciated foundries.

I haven\'t been able to find anyone selling these devices currently. I think it was always a business that isn\'t advertised much, since the customers all know the sellers. You have to be building a million of something to make it worthwhile designing with a 4-bit MCU. I seem to recall if you had an existing design, they would even do the software port to the 4-bit chip, since they were all custom CPU designs by the vendor.

Anyone know who is still selling these lowest end MCUs?

Is this an academic question or do you have a particular function and
per-device budget in mind

If it costs less than a dime and run at 12V, i might be interested.

 

[Martin Brown]

On 11/06/2022 16:28, Ed Lee wrote:

On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 8:21:50 AM UTC-7, bitrex wrote:
On 6/11/2022 10:28 AM, Ricky wrote:
I remember some folks who discussed very low cost designs that included 4-bit MCUs. At the time, the 4-bit chips were mostly made by companies in the orient with fully depreciated foundries.

I haven\'t been able to find anyone selling these devices currently. I think it was always a business that isn\'t advertised much, since the customers all know the sellers. You have to be building a million of something to make it worthwhile designing with a 4-bit MCU. I seem to recall if you had an existing design, they would even do the software port to the 4-bit chip, since they were all custom CPU designs by the vendor.

Anyone know who is still selling these lowest end MCUs?

Is this an academic question or do you have a particular function and
per-device budget in mind

If it costs less than a dime and run at 12V, i might be interested.

They tend to be lower voltage 1.2-3v and very low power ~2uA. eg

https://www.emmicroelectronic.com/sites/default/files/products/datasheets/em6607_ds.pdf

Designed for high volume near throw away consumer kit.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

 

[Ed Lee]

On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 8:54:25 AM UTC-7, Martin Brown wrote:

On 11/06/2022 16:28, Ed Lee wrote:
On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 8:21:50 AM UTC-7, bitrex wrote:
On 6/11/2022 10:28 AM, Ricky wrote:
I remember some folks who discussed very low cost designs that included 4-bit MCUs. At the time, the 4-bit chips were mostly made by companies in the orient with fully depreciated foundries.

I haven\'t been able to find anyone selling these devices currently. I think it was always a business that isn\'t advertised much, since the customers all know the sellers. You have to be building a million of something to make it worthwhile designing with a 4-bit MCU. I seem to recall if you had an existing design, they would even do the software port to the 4-bit chip, since they were all custom CPU designs by the vendor.

Anyone know who is still selling these lowest end MCUs?

Is this an academic question or do you have a particular function and
per-device budget in mind

If it costs less than a dime and run at 12V, i might be interested.
They tend to be lower voltage 1.2-3v and very low power ~2uA. eg

https://www.emmicroelectronic.com/sites/default/files/products/datasheets/em6607_ds.pdf

Designed for high volume near throw away consumer kit.

I know. I need very old semi production machine that can handle 12V. Power is not a problem.

 

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

lørdag den 11. juni 2022 kl. 17.59.18 UTC+2 skrev Ed Lee:

On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 8:54:25 AM UTC-7, Martin Brown wrote:
On 11/06/2022 16:28, Ed Lee wrote:
On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 8:21:50 AM UTC-7, bitrex wrote:
On 6/11/2022 10:28 AM, Ricky wrote:
I remember some folks who discussed very low cost designs that included 4-bit MCUs. At the time, the 4-bit chips were mostly made by companies in the orient with fully depreciated foundries.

I haven\'t been able to find anyone selling these devices currently. I think it was always a business that isn\'t advertised much, since the customers all know the sellers. You have to be building a million of something to make it worthwhile designing with a 4-bit MCU. I seem to recall if you had an existing design, they would even do the software port to the 4-bit chip, since they were all custom CPU designs by the vendor.

Anyone know who is still selling these lowest end MCUs?

Is this an academic question or do you have a particular function and
per-device budget in mind

If it costs less than a dime and run at 12V, i might be interested.
They tend to be lower voltage 1.2-3v and very low power ~2uA. eg

https://www.emmicroelectronic.com/sites/default/files/products/datasheets/em6607_ds.pdf

Designed for high volume near throw away consumer kit.
I know. I need very old semi production machine that can handle 12V. Power is not a problem.

just needs to be powered from 12V or does it need 12V io?

 

[Ed Lee]

On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 9:03:41 AM UTC-7, lang...@fonz.dk wrote:

lørdag den 11. juni 2022 kl. 17.59.18 UTC+2 skrev Ed Lee:
On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 8:54:25 AM UTC-7, Martin Brown wrote:
On 11/06/2022 16:28, Ed Lee wrote:
On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 8:21:50 AM UTC-7, bitrex wrote:
On 6/11/2022 10:28 AM, Ricky wrote:
I remember some folks who discussed very low cost designs that included 4-bit MCUs. At the time, the 4-bit chips were mostly made by companies in the orient with fully depreciated foundries.

I haven\'t been able to find anyone selling these devices currently. I think it was always a business that isn\'t advertised much, since the customers all know the sellers. You have to be building a million of something to make it worthwhile designing with a 4-bit MCU. I seem to recall if you had an existing design, they would even do the software port to the 4-bit chip, since they were all custom CPU designs by the vendor.

Anyone know who is still selling these lowest end MCUs?

Is this an academic question or do you have a particular function and
per-device budget in mind

If it costs less than a dime and run at 12V, i might be interested.
They tend to be lower voltage 1.2-3v and very low power ~2uA. eg

https://www.emmicroelectronic.com/sites/default/files/products/datasheets/em6607_ds.pdf

Designed for high volume near throw away consumer kit.
I know. I need very old semi production machine that can handle 12V. Power is not a problem.
just needs to be powered from 12V or does it need 12V io?

12V I/O

 

[bitrex]

On 6/11/2022 12:08 PM, Ed Lee wrote:

On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 9:03:41 AM UTC-7, lang...@fonz.dk wrote:
lørdag den 11. juni 2022 kl. 17.59.18 UTC+2 skrev Ed Lee:
On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 8:54:25 AM UTC-7, Martin Brown wrote:
On 11/06/2022 16:28, Ed Lee wrote:
On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 8:21:50 AM UTC-7, bitrex wrote:
On 6/11/2022 10:28 AM, Ricky wrote:
I remember some folks who discussed very low cost designs that included 4-bit MCUs. At the time, the 4-bit chips were mostly made by companies in the orient with fully depreciated foundries.

I haven\'t been able to find anyone selling these devices currently. I think it was always a business that isn\'t advertised much, since the customers all know the sellers. You have to be building a million of something to make it worthwhile designing with a 4-bit MCU. I seem to recall if you had an existing design, they would even do the software port to the 4-bit chip, since they were all custom CPU designs by the vendor.

Anyone know who is still selling these lowest end MCUs?

Is this an academic question or do you have a particular function and
per-device budget in mind

If it costs less than a dime and run at 12V, i might be interested.
They tend to be lower voltage 1.2-3v and very low power ~2uA. eg

https://www.emmicroelectronic.com/sites/default/files/products/datasheets/em6607_ds.pdf

Designed for high volume near throw away consumer kit.
I know. I need very old semi production machine that can handle 12V. Power is not a problem.
just needs to be powered from 12V or does it need 12V io?

12V I/O

It\'s not a CPU but Dialog (now Renesas I guess) makes a SPLC with 12
volt I/O, you might be able to get it down around 10 cent in quantities
of 100s of thousands, they\'re 0.45 from 9-50k:

<https://www.dialog-semiconductor.com/products/greenpak/slg47105>

 

[Don Y]

On 6/11/2022 9:08 AM, Ed Lee wrote:

On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 9:03:41 AM UTC-7, lang...@fonz.dk wrote:

I know. I need very old semi production machine that can handle 12V. Power is not a problem.
just needs to be powered from 12V or does it need 12V io?

12V I/O

You should look carefully at the actual field requirements.
If, for example, you need to add protection networks on the I/Os,
you may find you can do that and address the lower i/f levels
for no additional cost.

[Unless you\'re actually interested in interfacing directly to HiNIL
or somesuch]

 

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

lørdag den 11. juni 2022 kl. 16.28.48 UTC+2 skrev Ricky:

I remember some folks who discussed very low cost designs that included 4-bit MCUs. At the time, the 4-bit chips were mostly made by companies in the orient with fully depreciated foundries.

I haven\'t been able to find anyone selling these devices currently. I think it was always a business that isn\'t advertised much, since the customers all know the sellers. You have to be building a million of something to make it worthwhile designing with a 4-bit MCU. I seem to recall if you had an existing design, they would even do the software port to the 4-bit chip, since they were all custom CPU designs by the vendor.

Anyone know who is still selling these lowest end MCUs?

lcsc has a few difference padauk 8 bitters that used to be $0.03, now maybe double if you a few 100

 

[Ed Lee]

On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 10:44:09 AM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:

On 6/11/2022 9:08 AM, Ed Lee wrote:
On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 9:03:41 AM UTC-7, lang...@fonz.dk wrote:

I know. I need very old semi production machine that can handle 12V. Power is not a problem.
just needs to be powered from 12V or does it need 12V io?

12V I/O
You should look carefully at the actual field requirements.
If, for example, you need to add protection networks on the I/Os,
you may find you can do that and address the lower i/f levels
for no additional cost.

Modern MCU designs often require level-shiftings and/or regulators to deal with 12V. I wish there is a simple MCU just run straight with high voltage. Can they build very big (large geometry) chips with modern semi processes?

 

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

lørdag den 11. juni 2022 kl. 20.05.22 UTC+2 skrev Ed Lee:

On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 10:44:09 AM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:
On 6/11/2022 9:08 AM, Ed Lee wrote:
On Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 9:03:41 AM UTC-7, lang...@fonz.dk wrote:

I know. I need very old semi production machine that can handle 12V.. Power is not a problem.
just needs to be powered from 12V or does it need 12V io?

12V I/O
You should look carefully at the actual field requirements.
If, for example, you need to add protection networks on the I/Os,
you may find you can do that and address the lower i/f levels
for no additional cost.
Modern MCU designs often require level-shiftings and/or regulators to deal with 12V. I wish there is a simple MCU just run straight with high voltage. Can they build very big (large geometry) chips with modern semi processes?

maybe, but what would be the point? it would be like building a tractor out of carbon fiber and titanium, a waste of money