classic semiconductors

Feb 25, 2015

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator (considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

Michael

Phil Allison · Feb 26, 2015

mrda...@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator
(considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz
switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad,
at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example,
the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

** Most of the 79xx and 79xx voltage regulators from the late 70s are still heavily used.

The most common high performance, low noise op-amp used in audio is the Signetics NE5532 from circa 1976 - SMD versions are used by the million each year.

The Texas Instruments TLxxx series of Bi-FET op-amps is similarly popular, released in 1977.

But all of these pale when compared to the 6L6 valve, released by RCA in 1936 and still in mass production in several factors in China and Russia with almost all sold to the West for use in instrument amplifiers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6L6

.... Phil

Michael Black · Feb 26, 2015

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015, mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator
(considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz
switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61
each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the
555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

If it's still around forty years later, then it has to be "classic". Lots
of ICs have been introduced over the decades, but either they ended up
with little application, or the need changed. A lot of linear ICs have
gone out of production because design has changed. The more specialized
something is, the more likely it has a limited run. The more open an IC
is, the more likely it will continue to exist. There's always need for
audio amplifiers, the 555 can be used for all kinds of things. An IC
useful in the days of analog tv might find secondary uses, but often those
were not so accessible so using them for other things meant limitations,
and now that there's no more analog tv, such ICs will disappear if they
haven't already.

Michael

Feb 26, 2015

On Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 1:52:39 PM UTC-8, Tim Wescott wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:07:35 -0800, mrdarrett wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator
(considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz
switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61
each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the
555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

That depends on how you define "classic". Take any given person, find out
what was available when they started as a hobbyist or a wet-behind-the-
ears engineer, and chances are high that you've found their "classic".

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

That's why I posed the question to this group of diverse engineers, techs and hobbyists

Feb 26, 2015

On Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 3:09:53 PM UTC-8, Phil Allison wrote:

mrda...@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator
(considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz
switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad,
at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example,
the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

** Most of the 79xx and 79xx voltage regulators from the late 70s are still heavily used.

The most common high performance, low noise op-amp used in audio is the Signetics NE5532 from circa 1976 - SMD versions are used by the million each year.

The Texas Instruments TLxxx series of Bi-FET op-amps is similarly popular, released in 1977.

But all of these pale when compared to the 6L6 valve, released by RCA in 1936 and still in mass production in several factors in China and Russia with almost all sold to the West for use in instrument amplifiers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6L6

... Phil

6L6, still sold today!? Wow!

Michael

Pimpom · Feb 26, 2015

Michael Black wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015, mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching
regulator
(considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100
kHz
switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad,
at
$0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for
example, the
555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

If it's still around forty years later, then it has to be
"classic". Lots of ICs have been introduced over the decades,
but either they
ended up with little application, or the need changed. A lot
of
linear ICs have gone out of production because design has
changed. The more specialized something is, the more likely it
has a limited
run. The more open an IC is, the more likely it will continue
to
exist. There's always need for audio amplifiers, the 555 can
be used
for all kinds of things. An IC useful in the days of analog tv
might
find secondary uses, but often those were not so accessible so
using
them for other things meant limitations, and now that there's
no more
analog tv, such ICs will disappear if they haven't already.

Michael

When I was buying some ICs - both TH and SMD - at a shop in New
Delhi last year, the shop owner was so incredibly inept that I
had a hard time hiding my irritation. Another customer chose that
moment to walk in, looked at the items already on the counter,
sniffed disdainfully and said "Do people still use these things?"
I gave him an earful about how the latest microprocessors and
MCUs are not always the best solution for everything. He quickly
backed off, which was fortunate because I might have punched him
if he hadn't.

Tim Wescott · Feb 26, 2015

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:07:35 -0800, mrdarrett wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator
(considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz
switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61
each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the
555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

That depends on how you define "classic". Take any given person, find out
what was available when they started as a hobbyist or a wet-behind-the-
ears engineer, and chances are high that you've found their "classic".

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

John Larkin · Feb 26, 2015

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:07:35 -0800 (PST), mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator (considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

Michael

uA709 opamp.

And of course the CK722.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/Oldies/Ck722-0A.JPG

--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc
picosecond timing precision measurement

jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com
http://www.highlandtechnology.com

Michael Black · Feb 26, 2015

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015, John Larkin wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:07:35 -0800 (PST), mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator (considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

Michael

uA709 opamp.

And of course the CK722.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/Oldies/Ck722-0A.JPG

I think those classify as "antique" rather than "classic".

The 709 was kind of dated by the time many of us learned about it. Though
in the later half of the seventies, one magazine article used some 709s,
they needed some voltage limiting on audio signals, and the 709 offered up
suitable diodes at the input (or something like that). The 709 wasn't
used as an opamp, just those diodes, the rest of the device wasn't
connected.

Michael

John Larkin · Feb 26, 2015

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 23:09:37 -0500, Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca>
wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015, John Larkin wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:07:35 -0800 (PST), mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator (considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

Michael

uA709 opamp.

And of course the CK722.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/Oldies/Ck722-0A.JPG

I think those classify as "antique" rather than "classic".

The 709 was kind of dated by the time many of us learned about it. Though
in the later half of the seventies, one magazine article used some 709s,
they needed some voltage limiting on audio signals, and the 709 offered up
suitable diodes at the input (or something like that). The 709 wasn't
used as an opamp, just those diodes, the rest of the device wasn't
connected.

Michael

The 709 was introduced in 1965. The 741, the true classic opamp, was
in 1968, and is still in production.

These opamps are the real antiques:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/Tubes/Philbricks.jpg

--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc
picosecond timing laser drivers and controllers

jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com
http://www.highlandtechnology.com

Jeff Layman · Feb 26, 2015

On 25/02/15 18:07, mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator (considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

Michael

The TIC106D SCR/thyristor has been around a few years.

--

Jeff

Jasen Betts · Feb 26, 2015

On 2015-02-25, mrdarrett@gmail.com <mrdarrett@gmail.com> wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator (considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

LM324
1N914

--
umop apisdn

Pimpom · Feb 26, 2015

Phil Allison wrote:

mrda...@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching
regulator
(considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100
kHz
switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad,
at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for
example,
the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

** Most of the 79xx and 79xx voltage regulators from the late
70s are
still heavily used.

The most common high performance, low noise op-amp used in
audio is
the Signetics NE5532 from circa 1976 - SMD versions are used by
the
million each year.

The Texas Instruments TLxxx series of Bi-FET op-amps is
similarly
popular, released in 1977.

But all of these pale when compared to the 6L6 valve, released
by RCA
in 1936 and still in mass production in several factors in
China and
Russia with almost all sold to the West for use in instrument
amplifiers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6L6

... Phil

I still use the 78xx, 79xx, NE5532 & TL7x myself. Regarding
valves, the 12AX7/ECC83 is still very much the rage among
guitarists, perhaps more so than the 6L6 because many talented
guitarists cannot afford an all-tube amp and have to be content
with a 12AX7 in the preamp.

Jim Thompson · Feb 27, 2015

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 21:00:05 -0800, John Larkin
<jlarkin@highlandtechnology.com> wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 23:09:37 -0500, Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca
wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015, John Larkin wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:07:35 -0800 (PST), mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator (considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

Michael

uA709 opamp.

And of course the CK722.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/Oldies/Ck722-0A.JPG

I think those classify as "antique" rather than "classic".

The 709 was kind of dated by the time many of us learned about it. Though
in the later half of the seventies, one magazine article used some 709s,
they needed some voltage limiting on audio signals, and the 709 offered up
suitable diodes at the input (or something like that). The 709 wasn't
used as an opamp, just those diodes, the rest of the device wasn't
connected.

Michael

The 709 was introduced in 1965. The 741, the true classic opamp, was
in 1968, and is still in production.

These opamps are the real antiques:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/Tubes/Philbricks.jpg

Michael Black · Feb 27, 2015

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015, John Larkin wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 23:09:37 -0500, Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca
wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015, John Larkin wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:07:35 -0800 (PST), mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator (considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

Michael

uA709 opamp.

And of course the CK722.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/Oldies/Ck722-0A.JPG

I think those classify as "antique" rather than "classic".

The 709 was kind of dated by the time many of us learned about it. Though
in the later half of the seventies, one magazine article used some 709s,
they needed some voltage limiting on audio signals, and the 709 offered up
suitable diodes at the input (or something like that). The 709 wasn't
used as an opamp, just those diodes, the rest of the device wasn't
connected.

Michael

The 709 was introduced in 1965. The 741, the true classic opamp, was
in 1968, and is still in production.

These opamps are the real antiques:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/Tubes/Philbricks.jpg

I had one of that generation. SOmeone gave it to me, but I cant' remember
if I filed it away somewhere, or I actually discarded it.

Yes, the 741 still has some value, while the 709 didnt' generally offer as
much, yet needed the compensation.

I have some 702s around, got in a box of junk decades ago, and those were
odd (assuming I am remembering the number right). Less the universal
device that opamps became.

I think the case can be made that there were some very important devices
that were bold when released, and are worthy of remembering, but they
weren't so great that they continued to be used. A 555 keeps on being
used, the 709 was important but superceded by other devices (which in turn
were superceded by others).

One great thing about op-amps is that they have generally kept the same
pinout (well within package type).

Michael

Bob Masta · Feb 27, 2015

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 23:09:37 -0500, Michael Black
<et472@ncf.ca> wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015, John Larkin wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:07:35 -0800 (PST), mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator (considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61 each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the 555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

Michael

uA709 opamp.

And of course the CK722.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/Oldies/Ck722-0A.JPG

I think those classify as "antique" rather than "classic".

The 709 was kind of dated by the time many of us learned about it. Though
in the later half of the seventies, one magazine article used some 709s,
they needed some voltage limiting on audio signals, and the 709 offered up
suitable diodes at the input (or something like that). The 709 wasn't
used as an opamp, just those diodes, the rest of the device wasn't
connected.

The 709s (and other uncompensated op-amps) were good for
comparators, where you needed a +/- swing such as in a
function generator. Without compensation caps they had fast
slew rates.

Best regards,

Bob Masta

DAQARTA v7.60
Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis
www.daqarta.com
Scope, Spectrum, Spectrogram, Sound Level Meter
Frequency Counter, Pitch Track, Pitch-to-MIDI
FREE Signal Generator, DaqMusiq generator
Science with your sound card!

Phil Hobbs · Feb 28, 2015

On 2/25/2015 4:52 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:07:35 -0800, mrdarrett wrote:

What are the "Classic Semiconductors" out there?

I stumbled across the MC34063 as a "classic" switching regulator
(considered somewhat obsolete today because of the low, 100 kHz
switching frequency). It was news to me. But still not bad, at $0.61
each at Mouser.

Now I'm wondering what else is considered a classic, for example, the
555, 2N2222, LM317, LM386, etc.

That depends on how you define "classic". Take any given person, find out
what was available when they started as a hobbyist or a wet-behind-the-
ears engineer, and chances are high that you've found their "classic".

Some genuinely ground-breaking chips are still sold, such as the LM309,
which introduced the band-gap reference. It was also a classic Bob
Widlar prank.

(Of course they're ridiculously expensive, and used only for repairs,
but they're still being made.)

Another example is the LM306 comparator.

The uA709 isn't made any more, of course, but you can get LM301s for cheap.

Some of my faves were discontinued over the years, including the MAX900
comparator, the TL011 series current mirrors, the AD639 trigonometric
converter, and the VTC VA713 75 MHz operational transconductance
amplifier. (Sort of an LM13700 on steroids.)

Cheers

Phil Hobbs
--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics

160 North State Road #203
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

hobbs at electrooptical dot net
http://electrooptical.net

David Eather · Mar 1, 2015

On Sun, 01 Mar 2015 02:27:29 +1000, Phil Hobbs <hobbs@electrooptical.net>
wrote:

> Bob Widlar prank

can you explain?

Phil Hobbs · Mar 1, 2015

On 2/28/2015 6:16 PM, David Eather wrote:

On Sun, 01 Mar 2015 02:27:29 +1000, Phil Hobbs
hobbs@electrooptical.net> wrote:

Bob Widlar prank

can you explain?

<http://readingjimwilliams.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-favorite-widlar-story.html>

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics

160 North State Road #203
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

hobbs at electrooptical dot net
http://electrooptical.net

David Eather · Mar 1, 2015

On Sun, 01 Mar 2015 09:20:07 +1000, Phil Hobbs
<pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:

On 2/28/2015 6:16 PM, David Eather wrote:
On Sun, 01 Mar 2015 02:27:29 +1000, Phil Hobbs
hobbs@electrooptical.net> wrote:

Bob Widlar prank

can you explain?

http://readingjimwilliams.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-favorite-widlar-story.html

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

(with genuine appreciation) Thanks!

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