|On a regular basis I hear people mentioning a number they get off the
|back of some electronic device that apparently identifies the actual
|maker of that device. Usually this is spoken of as if it is something
|that everyone knows about, but I'm gonna just plead ignorance and ask
|the stupid questions:
|
|What is this number called?
|
|Which number is it?
|
|Where do I find the cross reference that tells me which manufacturer
|goes with which number?
|
|When was this ID system first used?
|
|thanks,
|
|-
|-----------------------------------------------
| Jim Adney
[email protected]
| Madison, WI 53711 USA
|-----------------------------------------------
\
Jim,
There is no magic involved in this process. It is all a matter of
familiarity with components. If you don't have an electronics hobby or
profession as a background the process can be a mystery, however, if
you are keen to learn then that is a start. Unless you have a reason
to learn then you won't find it easy so adopting electronics as a
hobby is recommended.
I would suggest that you read a few different data books from
semiconductor manufacturers (there are quite a few) and some
manufacturers specialise in a particular family of device types and
function. You can also find many data sheets on he manufacturers
websites but in order to do that you first need to know what device to
look for. The device number is written on the top of a device in the
case of an integrated circuit or some ather location depending on the
shape and function. The maker of a device usually has a logo which is
also printed on the device such as Fairchild, Texas Instruments etc.
here is one list of logos
http://www.dialelec.com/semiconductorlogos.html
You would first identify the logo and go to that manfs website and
hopefully find a data section. You then need to know what device
number you are looking for. Say you wanted to get data on a common
74HC04 from say Fairchild (many manufacturers will also make this
device). Using the list click on the Fairchild link and type 74hc04
into the search window at the top. Note that the result will reveal a
single device MM74HC04. You then click on the hypertext link MM74HC04
part number and you will then go to a page where you can download the
data sheet which will usually be in Acrobat .pdf format. The MM
preceding the 74 is simply a preference which that manufacturer uses
to idnetify their particular device family but the actual 74HC04 is
called the generic part number since other manufacturers may use other
family identifiers other than MM. Again, this only comes with
familiarity and experience which most people only learn with many
years of playing with and using these devices.