Reverse-engineering the TL431: the most common chip you’ve never heard of (2014)
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Re: Reverse-engineering the TL431: the most common chip you’ve never heard of (2014)
#2Looks like (2014).
Nice explanation. Always fun to see the actual intersection where physical properties create a functional circuit.
Re: Reverse-engineering the TL431: the most common chip you’ve never heard of (2014)
#3Any other suggestions for common yet generally unknown chips?
Re: Reverse-engineering the TL431: the most common chip you’ve never heard of (2014)
#4there is something reassuringly "analogue" about how these artifacts get over the technology limits of diffusion/mask/layer systems, to make building blocks:
"I need a resistor? fine: lay out a huge amount of stuff"
"No, I need it more accurate! fine: lay out tracks, now burn fuses to select from unit-scale tracks the 'right' number, and if you want better use a laser to do it"
Re: Reverse-engineering the TL431: the most common chip you’ve never heard of (2014)
#5Any other suggestions for common yet generally unknown chips?
LM358 op-amp?
Re: Reverse-engineering the TL431: the most common chip you’ve never heard of (2014)
#6Re: Reverse-engineering the TL431: the most common chip you’ve never heard of (2014)
#7Any other suggestions for common yet generally unknown chips?
Any of the zillion stm8 variants that surround us every where.
Re: Reverse-engineering the TL431: the most common chip you’ve never heard of (2014)
#8The link on forming capacitors leads to a rather interesting old book on IC fabrication, which is still relevant for fundamentals (you can scroll up for other devices):
http://books.google.com/books?id=aByz--9D63wC&lpg=PA31&ots=Z...
Re: Reverse-engineering the TL431: the most common chip you’ve never heard of (2014)
#9This was really interesting, but also it just as a byproduct of the explanation actually explains how the core circuit elements are actually implemented (resistors, NPN vs. PNP transistors) which I found really interesting. I had a general idea of transistor implementation, but always just assumed resistors were varying dopants or some such, rather than the now obvious "make it longer/thinner".
Re: Reverse-engineering the TL431: the most common chip you’ve never heard of (2014)
#10Any other suggestions for common yet generally unknown chips?
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