Why don't they make this IC?

[Harry Dellamano]

I am using LEDs on PCBs as visual test points more and more as I'm sure
most of you do. Wouldn't it be nice if an low cost (<$2/10) IC was available
in let say a SOT-23-5 package that contained a 8 bit ADC, VCO and LED
driver. With a analog input range of 0 to 3.0VDC to pulse the output LED
from 0.20HZ to 20HZ full scale ( from off to full on). The output PPS and
duty cycle would have to be optimized so the human eye could resolve at
lease 5% analog input changes. Maybe a two color LED could get us to 1%. The
extra pin on the package is for the timing cap.
What say you smart guys?
Harry

 

[Winfield Hill]

Harry Dellamano wrote...

I am using LEDs on PCBs as visual test points more and more as I'm sure
most of you do. Wouldn't it be nice if an low cost (<$2/10) IC was available
in let say a SOT-23-5 package that contained a 8 bit ADC, VCO and LED
driver. With a analog input range of 0 to 3.0VDC to pulse the output LED
from 0.20HZ to 20HZ full scale ( from off to full on). The output PPS and
duty cycle would have to be optimized so the human eye could resolve at
lease 5% analog input changes. Maybe a two color LED could get us to 1%.
The extra pin on the package is for the timing cap.
What say you smart guys?

I think you can easily do most of that with Microchip's smallest uP
driving an LED.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

I am using LEDs on PCBs as visual test points more and more as I'm sure
most of you do. Wouldn't it be nice if an low cost (<$2/10) IC was available
in let say a SOT-23-5 package that contained a 8 bit ADC, VCO and LED
driver. With a analog input range of 0 to 3.0VDC to pulse the output LED
from 0.20HZ to 20HZ full scale ( from off to full on). The output PPS and
duty cycle would have to be optimized so the human eye could resolve at
lease 5% analog input changes. Maybe a two color LED could get us to 1%. The
extra pin on the package is for the timing cap.
What say you smart guys?
Harry

It wouldn't be very hard to program a PIC10F220 micro to do that (no
cap required). SOT23-6 package. I believe it would meet your price
point as well.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Rene Tschaggelar]

I am using LEDs on PCBs as visual test points more and more as I'm sure
most of you do. Wouldn't it be nice if an low cost (<$2/10) IC was available
in let say a SOT-23-5 package that contained a 8 bit ADC, VCO and LED
driver. With a analog input range of 0 to 3.0VDC to pulse the output LED
from 0.20HZ to 20HZ full scale ( from off to full on). The output PPS and
duty cycle would have to be optimized so the human eye could resolve at
lease 5% analog input changes. Maybe a two color LED could get us to 1%. The
extra pin on the package is for the timing cap.
What say you smart guys?

I'm using LEDs as visual testpoints less and less.
I'd rather use something else. Be that a single pin,
where I clock bytes and words out serially, be that
the UART, or the SPI.

Rene

 

[Phil Hobbs]

I am using LEDs on PCBs as visual test points more and more as I'm sure
most of you do. Wouldn't it be nice if an low cost (<$2/10) IC was available
in let say a SOT-23-5 package that contained a 8 bit ADC, VCO and LED
driver. With a analog input range of 0 to 3.0VDC to pulse the output LED
from 0.20HZ to 20HZ full scale ( from off to full on). The output PPS and
duty cycle would have to be optimized so the human eye could resolve at
lease 5% analog input changes. Maybe a two color LED could get us to 1%. The
extra pin on the package is for the timing cap.
What say you smart guys?
Harry

It's called an LMC555, one cap, and 3 resistors.

Cheers,

Phil Hobbs

 

[Harry Dellamano]

It wouldn't be very hard to program a PIC10F220 micro to do that (no
cap required). SOT23-6 package. I believe it would meet your price
point as well.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

How interesting Win and Sephro.
I thought a MPU was for control and data crunching but now you say it is a
simple LED VVM (Visual Volt Meter). I guess I fell in an analog hole and
lost sight of Digital's vast capabilities.
Thanks,
Harry

 

[Ken Smith]

It's called an LMC555, one cap, and 3 resistors.

3 Resistors + 1 cap + 1 SO-8 is a lot more space than a PIC.

Someone could go into business selling pre-programmed PICs for this job.

 

[Phil Hobbs]

3 Resistors + 1 cap + 1 SO-8 is a lot more space than a PIC.

Someone could go into business selling pre-programmed PICs for this job.

Wouldn't want to discourage you, but don't start clipping your coupons
too early.

Cheers,

Phil Hobbs

 

[[email protected]]

I thought a MPU was for control and data crunching but now you say it is a
simple LED VVM (Visual Volt Meter). I guess I fell in an analog hole and
lost sight of Digital's vast capabilities.
Thanks,
Harry

The recent idea, that analog is dead and that digital is the only way to
go, is popular. However, digital's reportedly vast capabilities are in reality
only half-vast.

Jim