Camenzind's "new 555", the ZSCT1555

[Tim Shoppa]

The recent discussion and reference to

http://www.eet.com/special/special_issues/millennium/milestones/camenzind.html

got me to read Camenzind's article about his "new 555" at

http://www.arraydesign.com/spectrum.pdf

(I put "new" in quotes because really this part is 5 or 6 years old now...)

I've looked at the Zetex data sheet for the ZSCT1555 and it does do a couple
things that the CMOS 555's don't. It works well under 1V Vcc, for example.

Other than single-cell battery operated uses, though, does the ZSCT1555 see
a lot of use today?

Tim.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

The recent discussion and reference to

http://www.eet.com/special/special_issues/millennium/milestones/camenzind.html

got me to read Camenzind's article about his "new 555" at

http://www.arraydesign.com/spectrum.pdf

(I put "new" in quotes because really this part is 5 or 6 years old now...)

I've looked at the Zetex data sheet for the ZSCT1555 and it does do a couple
things that the CMOS 555's don't. It works well under 1V Vcc, for example.

http://focus.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tlc551.pdf

Fully specified (though you might not much like the specs) at Vdd=1V.
Not sure what you'd *do* with it at 1V.

Other than single-cell battery operated uses, though, does the ZSCT1555 see
a lot of use today?

No idea, Digikey has a few thousand of them in stock, but at close to
$1 US in 1K quantity compared to less than 1/5 of that for National's
basic CMOS part, I think I'll pass. The CMOS 555 versions in general
still see good production numbers, I'm sure. There are still plenty of
little applications for such a part.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany