[sdiy] Re-spin the classic ICs?

[Scott Gravenhorst]

This is an exercise, a textbook case no less, of how real economics is applied. 
"Real" as in what really happens as opposed to a pollyanna socially responsible
nirvana economy that hasn't existed, doesn't exist and won't ever exist.  I'm not
saying I like this particular effect, but it's real and it's here.  We can piss
and moan about it all we want, but it is what it is.  It represents the desires of
the majority, that is, we all "vote" with our money.  The more "votes" a product
receives, the better it's chances of longevity.  People buy digital synths, not
analog anymore.  For better or for worse, (Beta vs. VHS) That's where the votes
went and LSI digital won the election.

That said, I've looked at my options _and_ what I plan to do with music over the
rest of my life.  I started out with digital sound modules and added 2 FatMan
synths to it for an analog sound.  I will be making my lifetime buys of certain
useful things.  

I find the recent posts referring to the AVRSYNTH as the "Poor man's chameleon"
very interesting.  Now I need to look at the past posts of that device and learn a
bit more because I think that's next for me.



"Paul Schreiber" <synth1 at airmail.net> wrote:
>
>> Or would Intersil consider introducing an improved 21st century
>> version of the the CA3280, made in a modern fab?
>
>Never going to happen.
>
>Modern analog fabs, even on smaller 4" wafers (but these would run on 6" 
>probably), you would get around 20,000 KGD (known good die per wafer). AND just 
>like there a minimums for running pc boards in production, a typical minimum run 
>(which is in turn, a function of reprogramming the diffusion ovens, reload mask 
>reticules, setting up the test machines, sending the die out for packaging, blah 
>blah blah) is 20 wafers. So we get 400K parts. Lord, on a 6" process over 1 
>*million!*
>
>BUT.....in order to 'respin' on modern fabs (and I've done this whole exercise 
>regarding CEM/SSM), you need new mask sets. Well, in the "good old days" you 
>could literally make IC masks *by hand* like a double-sided pc board. But now, 
>you have to CAD them. BUT...then there is the new circuit design/HSPICE 
>simulations/and internal lot testing (BTW: did I mention this process is at a 
>*minimum* 26 weeks?).
>
>How much money do you think all of that effort costs? Well, about $250K is a 
>good point. And now our 400,000 ICs are in the $15/$18ea range *assuming* you 
>can *sell* 400,00 at $15/$18ea. The "good" news is on a 6" fab we could hit 
>probably $5.
>
>I'll bet the WORLD TOTAL of CA3280E/AE (same die, this is a 'binning' for 
>offset-vs-Iabc....oh CRAP that's another set of $$$) sales for the last *5 years 
>total* is <100,000 parts. Ever semi company I've work for has a maximum 14-month 
>ROI target (you have to show a profit after 14 months of sales). HAHAHAHAHA!
>
>Paul S.
>dasher of IC hopes 
>

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