[sdiy] Wishing for Interdesign.....

[Steve Lenham]

Further to my own previous message, Zetex inherited a lot of the Ferranti 
semiconductors - yet another link between Interdesign and the 700 Series.

Steve L.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "phillip m gallo" <philgallo at attglobal.net>
To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2005 6:06 PM
Subject: RE: [sdiy] Wishing for Interdesign.....


> Back in the early '80's i was on a team that developed 4 chips using
> Ferranti's Interdesign Gate Arrays.  It was my job to "lay in the metal".
> We had good luck with result as there development support was very good. 
> I
> also found there implementation of "pinch resistors" very enlightening.
>
> The process had it's limitations but was very hands on.
>
> regards,
> p
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of Paul Schreiber
> Sent: Friday, May 27, 2005 8:38 AM
> To: karl dalen; Colin f; synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> Subject: [sdiy] Wishing for Interdesign.....
>
>
> Interdesign was exactly what we need now: a generic "500-in-1" (Radio 
> Shack
> reference) array of generic analog "building blocks" on 1 die. You used a
> 2-color pencil (really!) and drew out the "schematic" on a giant 36" x 48"
> master template. Then, they added 2 metal layers and you had a custom IC.
>
> The down-side was you had to test them yourself ("No Time to Test
> These!"...obscure reference no one under 47yrs old will get)
>
> The cost was low: $750 and that got you like 40 packaged parts! Of which 
> 30
> worked :)
>
> In fact, the early CEM chips (3310/20/30/40) are actually Interdesign 
> parts!
> The reason: Doug Curtis, the designer, won a magazine contest with them 
> and
> as
> 1st place got 100pcs free. The rest is history.
>
> The later parts (3396, etc) are done on a Doug Curtis designed array (4X
> larger
> than Interdesign), the fab was AMI. In Doug's office his winning entry is
> framed
> on the wall.
>
> BTW: Interdesign had GREAT app notes in a 5" ring binder. They may turn up
> on
> eBay/flea markets. About 8 are by Doug on the OTA gain cell (patent has
> expired....hmmmmm.......)
>
> Paul S.
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.16 - Release Date: 5/24/2005
>
> --
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.16 - Release Date: 5/24/2005
>
>
>
>