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Ben Stuyts wrote:<br>
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cite="mid:E7E6479F-9914-4556-8737-9DFBFFF11DCB@stuyts.nl"
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<div class="">On 14 Nov 2019, at 23:04, <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:sleepy_dog@gmx.de"
class="">sleepy_dog@gmx.de</a> wrote:</div>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Ben Stuyts wrote:<br class="">
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cite="mid:B902206D-82A0-4A56-8BE9-CDDAF666543D@stuyts.nl"
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<div class="">How’s $0.03 for a microcontroller? :) <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYhAGnsnO7w"
class="">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYhAGnsnO7w</a></div>
<div class="">Die shot: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jw5D0F008c"
class="">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jw5D0F008c</a></div>
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<div class="">By the way, <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lcsc.com/" class="">lcsc.com</a> where
this mcu came from is a really interesting
distributer, part of the same company als <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://jlcpcb.com/"
class="">jlcpcb.com</a> (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.</div>
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<div class="">Ben</div>
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<p class="">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.<br class="">
Or not?</p>
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<div>I believe <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://lcsc.com"
class="">lcsc.com</a> is a reputable distributor, and the
company behind those cheap MCU’s (Paduak Tech) seems to give
reasonable support. There are some <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://eevblog.com" class="">eevblog.com</a> 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: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://lcsc.com/product-detail/PADAUK_PADAUK-Tech-PMS150C-U06_C168658.html"
class="">https://lcsc.com/product-detail/PADAUK_PADAUK-Tech-PMS150C-U06_C168658.html</a>.
It boggles the mind…</div>
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<div>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…</div>
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<div>Ben</div>
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<p>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?)<br>
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<p>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)</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>- Steve<br>
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