[sdiy] Re: LM3900

[Ian Fritz]

At 08:03 AM 12/3/2003, Steven Downhill wrote:
> >Once again, this part is *not* obsolete.  National no longer makes it, but
> >TI does:
>
>Sorry, my bad.
>I've read on a number of websites that the LM prefix was specifically for
>National parts and of course on the National website they're listed as
>obsolete.


Yes, that can be confusing. I think several of us panicked a couple of 
years ago when National discontinued the part.  I found a supplier and 
bought a lot more than I needed to at that time.  But then some kind soul 
pointed out that TI still had them on "active".


>Also, it would seem that none of the major component suppliers in the UK
>sell them with the exception of Maplins (who I've not bothered with for a
>couple of months) so you can see why I came to the conclusion that I did.
>
>Anyway, I've got some on order from Maplins so that's sorted!.


Glad you found them.  They aren't all that easy to find retail in the US 
either.  And who knows, TI could drop the chip at any time.

Do you have an interesting application for them?  I use them in a 
capacitive force sensor.  There are lots of cute simple applications for 
this rather underappreciated IC.

   Ian