[sdiy] IC Prototyping was: SSM2040

[Dave Manley]

Another option is a semi-custom approach such as the one offered by 
Array Design.  This is a company run by Hans Camenzind, who is probably 
better known as the designer of the 555 timer.  His idea is to predefine 
a family of die with varying numbers of transistors, resistors, etc. 
The design is then customized with metalization (similar to a Gate 
Array).  This should greatly reduce the cost and time to manufacture a 
part (assuming the family is at all active).  It wouldn't give you a 
exact clone, but it could enable making some interesting devices.

http://www.arraydesign.com/

The reference manual for the family is here:

http://www.arraydesign.com/700series.html


Hans is in his mid-70's at this point, so I wonder if this company is 
still an option.  I don't know if there are any other companies offering 
similar services.

If you've never seen a book on designing analog ICs there is a free 
download by Hans here:

http://www.designinganalogchips.com/

Lots of good reference material on IC current mirrors, voltage 
references, diff amps, opamps, OTAs, etc.  Also some interesting 
historical information.

-Dave


>>
>> Barry Klein wrote:
>>> take a read of this discussion:
>>> http://www.edn.com/blog/1700000170/post/1850011785.html
>>> Read the last two paragraphs.  How is it going to be inexpensive
>>> to make
>>> your own IC?  How would any of us, even if we had 10K$ even proceed?
>>> I suppose there is some university teaching this stuff but it is
>>> not common
>>> knowledge otherwise.  Are they hinting it will be?
>>>> From discussion:
>>>> AFAIK, nobody has produced a pin compatible 2040 or 3320 clone.
>>> I believe that's correct, but there's nothing stopping anyone from
>>> doing so if they felt it was worth the effort.