_[sdiy]_ICL8038 worst ic off all time!

[Scott Gravenhorst]

harrybissell <harrybissell at prodigy.net> wrote:
>It was Bjorn Julin... now many years late of S-DIY...

Yeah, I noticed that when I looked at the schematic.

>
>too bad, a very interesting... if controversial gentleman
>
>H^) harry
>
>Scott Gravenhorst wrote:
>
>> =?iso-8859-1?q?Karl=20Dalen?= <karldalen at yahoo.se> wrote:
>> > --- Scott Gravenhorst <music.maker at gte.net> skrev: >
>> >=?iso-8859-1?q?Karl=20Dalen?= <karldalen at yahoo.se> wrote:
>> >> >I cant understand why such a crap design are still made?
>> >> >Even a simple neatly done discreete design would out perform
>> >> >the 8038!
>> >>
>> >> Well, I think the datasheet contains examples of the worst ways
>> >> to _use_ the 8038.  Check http://www.midwest-analog.com/diylvco.html
>> >> for what I would call the right way to use it.  The circuit has
>> >> a wider linear sweep range than the datasheet circuit and it also runs
>> >> cool.
>> >
>> >The worst way is to use it at all! :-)
>> >
>> >> >There should be a list of "worst-IC-designs-of-all-time" it would
>> >> >also be nice with a list of the most "neat" IC design of all time to!
>> >> >In the first list i would definitively put the 8038 and a bunch of
>> >> >early FM chips! In the second list i would put the 555, the 4046.
>> >>
>> >> 555, I agree, in fact, I'd put that on the "worst IC of all time" list.
>> >> The 7555, however is fine.  I like the 4046 used as a PLL, I built a
>> >> frequency multiplying module with one.  The VCO basically sucks by
>> >> itself.
>> >
>> >Hmm, i dont think the VCO sucks,as i remember, BJ showed once many years
>> >ago that you could build a remakable advanced VCO out of a 4046 IC! Well,
>> >at least a "very high frequency LFO" with sync and 4 quadrant modulation
>> >on the square, if im not remebering completely wrong, thats not bad for
>> >such a cheap and simple IC. Or one could use the HC version and do a
>> >nice DC to 30Mhz function generator. I say forget about the 8038!
>>
>> Looking at the spec, a 4046 is rated at 1.3 MHz, the 74HC4046 version runs
>> at max 17 MHz.  The VCO is fine, it's the current source that isn't very
>> good.  Check the TI docs, it has a whole section on the technicals of
>> the VCO.
>>
>> I built up that circuit by Bjorn Nilsson(?) and couldn't
>> get it to track a linear CV.
>>
>> >Speaking of function generators, you can use a PNP expo on the I set
>> >pin on the MAX038 to convert it to a expensive VCO!
>> >
>> >KD
>> >
>> >
>> >Höstrusk och grå moln - köp en resa till solen på Yahoo! Resor på
>> >adressen http://se.docs.yahoo.com/travel/index.html
>> >
>>
>> =========================================================
>> - Where merit is not rewarded, excellence fades.
>> - Hydrogen is pointless without solar.
>> - What good are laws that only lawyers understand?
>> - The media's credibility should always be questioned.
>> - The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist.
>> - Governments do nothing well, save collect taxes.
>>
>> -- Scott Gravenhorst | LegoManiac / Lego Trains / RIS 1.5
>> -- Linux Rex         | RedWebMail by RedStarWare
>> -- FatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/FatMan/
>> -- NonFatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/electronics/
>> -- Autodidactic Master of Arcane and Hidden Knowledge.
>

=========================================================  
- Where merit is not rewarded, excellence fades.
- Hydrogen is pointless without solar.
- What good are laws that only lawyers understand?
- The media's credibility should always be questioned.
- The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist.
- Governments do nothing well, save collect taxes.

-- Scott Gravenhorst | LegoManiac / Lego Trains / RIS 1.5
-- Linux Rex         | RedWebMail by RedStarWare
-- FatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/FatMan/
-- NonFatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/electronics/
-- Autodidactic Master of Arcane and Hidden Knowledge.