[sdiy] 8 bit MCUs, why bother? (branch off "LFSR digital noise source")

[sleepy_dog at gmx.de]

Ben Stuyts wrote:
>
>
>> On 14 Nov 2019, at 23:04, sleepy_dog at gmx.de
>> <mailto:sleepy_dog at gmx.de> wrote:
>>
>> Ben Stuyts wrote:
>>> How’s $0.03 for a microcontroller? :)
>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYhAGnsnO7w
>>> Die shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jw5D0F008c
>>>
>>> By the way, lcsc.com <http://lcsc.com/> where this mcu came from is
>>> a really interesting distributer, part of the same company als
>>> jlcpcb.com <http://jlcpcb.com/> (pcb manufacturer). Lots of cheap
>>> Chinese parts, but also e.g. ST microcontrollers for better prices
>>> than e.g. Farnell or Digikey. I’ve used some of them in production,
>>> no complaints yet.
>>>
>>> Ben
>>>
>> Ha! :D That's slightly cheating, though, isn't it? Unrealiably
>> obtainable "seasonal produce" fresh from Shenzen market... usually
>> made for one-off rubbish products.
>> Or not?
>>
>
> I believe lcsc.com <http://lcsc.com> is a reputable distributor, and
> the company behind those cheap MCU’s (Paduak Tech) seems to give
> reasonable support. There are some eevblog.com
> <http://eevblog.com> forum threads where people discuss their
> experience with these chips. I just checked that particular MCU and it
> is still in stock, over 18k pcs:
> https://lcsc.com/product-detail/PADAUK_PADAUK-Tech-PMS150C-U06_C168658.html.
> It boggles the mind…
>
> For a more well known example: For a recent production run I needed
> 100 pcs of the STM32F103RBT6, a 64 pin Arm Cortex-M3 controller. It
> is US$1.5348 at lcsc, and USD 4.83 at Digikey. There is some sort of
> supply chain advantage there…
>
> Ben
>
Ok, this is interesting. In general, not for me personally (wrt
applicability). Those seem more primitive than I was aware still exist,
if I read that right you need to chose whether it comes with an arm OR a
leg ;) Which would be just right for what Richie B. mentioned, e.g.
electric toothbrush, I get it. Wasn't even aware those had MCUs now...
But I guess one step to be "ahead" (marketing wise anyway) of the
competition at some point in their evolution was to give toothbrushes
more than one function, and as soon as it has that, some simple MCU like
that comes in handy. (or if the charging logic can also ditch some
"traditional" components if a MCU is present, then it's benefitial even
earlier?)

So, I guess my perception of 8 bit MCUs fading away comes from seeing a
lot of areas where there once were king, and anything better
prohibitively expensive, and nowadays those fields that I am more aware
of tend not to be so focused anymore on "lowest end MCU possible"
(again, from industrie examples I stumble upon, which is biased by my
particular, if not peculiar, set of interests, I guess)

So to summarize, my perception is still that they are becoming less used
in some areas (and IF my perceived trend continues, the end point there
is "phased out"), but now through this thread I have become aware of
areas that weren't on my radar at all before, so thanks for that, to all
involved.

- Steve


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