_[sdiy]_ICL8038 worst ic off all time!

[harrybissell]

It was Bjorn Julin... now many years late of S-DIY...

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
> >
>
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> -- Scott Gravenhorst | LegoManiac / Lego Trains / RIS 1.5
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