23 Sep
2010
23 Sep
'10
11:51 a.m.
Ethan Dicks wrote:
On 9/23/10, Dave McGuire <mcguire at
neurotica.com> wrote:
They are still quite popular as they are common and cheap.
Its only recently that other more specialized devices have
edged them out. However it was a mainstay in power
supplies and are still see there and many other places.
They're just not much used in computers or
"computery" things. (like
everything you mentioned above)
Lately, I'm sure that's true, but IIRC seeing them in the late 1970s
and early 1980s as timed one-shots on reset circuits on
microprocessors.
I only ever used them for audio noisemakers and LED
blinkers until the
past year or two when I started dabbling in PWM. I read all I can
find about them and learn something every time I do - the on-chip
design may be simple, but the the applications are myriad and complex.
I've used them as system reset timers and sequencers, Power sequencers,
tone generators and sequential timing logic. Another use was
tone/frequency dividers. I've used them to pump up or invert power
bus voltages for low power analog use or drive transistors
and MOSFETs for high power voltage conversion. My favorite use is
window detector for saturation tape playback circuit.
It's one of those what can't you do with it parts.
Allison
-ethan