[sdiy] 4059 "divide by n" chip

[Roy J. Tellason]

On Sunday 08 March 2009 08:51:45 pm rdrake wrote:
> anybody ever use the  the 4059 "divide by n" chip in an SDIY/emusic
> context? appears to be capable of any division between 3 to 15999, which
> would be immensely great for both suboctive divisors or fancy
> clocking/polyrhythms.  

Maybe,  maybe not.  I've not seen these parts used much,  but it's my 
understanding that the spacing of the output pulses are _not_ even,  that it 
can be pretty darn irregular.  Which can work for some things,  but maybe not 
so well for what you're talking about.

> i've looked at the datasheet but feel a little lost... 

Whose datasheet?  I just looked on my parts pages,  realized that part wasn't 
represented there,  and snagged a TI one for the CD4059 and a different one 
(Philips?) for the 74HC4059 variant.  One of those also mentions an 
application note that might be worth pursuing.

> how do you select the division?... what are "jam inputs"?? 

I think  you just answered your own question there.

> if anyone has a schematic of this being used in any kind of selectable
> divisor, i'd appreciate.

Those chips,  along with "rate multiplier" chips,  are ones that struck me as 
being rather useful parts at first glance,  but you never seem to see them 
used anywhere.  That I know of.  Are they even currently available?

I'll be interested in seeing what other responses your query generates.



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