It could be that they bought pre made wafers from ST, and just assembled them firstly for St, and now under licence
Wow...I didn't know that! I mean it was practically a boutique shop with the quite low volumes.
I have loads of old JRC stuff, NJM062 and probably 4558, regulators. Maybe I should keep them
For many reasons, Japanese chip makers did not bother to sell outside Japan, some being in the licenses themselves, as some parts were made under license, original designs were not Japanese.
The second thing is I said 'IF MOQ IS 500K'... that is not a given, but the volume needed would have to amortize the masks and test jigs, which may be specific, and your chip costs would go up if the volume was low.
Third, they were so busy with domestic sales, with large volumes of audio, calculators, cameras, watches...Japan was the biggest source at that time, and they tended to use Japanese made chips.
You will say ship me 5000 to South Africa or wherever, once a year, and the factory down the road will say 50 k daily for the next year.
So they did not bother, most people would not even quote for small value orders.
For example, if Juan Fahey wants 1000 chips amps, those are worth only $100 at 10 cents apiece. Shipping, and order processing will mean the company may not even reply.
The second thing is I said 'IF MOQ IS 500K'... that is not a given, but the volume needed would have to amortize the masks and test jigs, which may be specific, and your chip costs would go up if the volume was low.
Third, they were so busy with domestic sales, with large volumes of audio, calculators, cameras, watches...Japan was the biggest source at that time, and they tended to use Japanese made chips.
You will say ship me 5000 to South Africa or wherever, once a year, and the factory down the road will say 50 k daily for the next year.
So they did not bother, most people would not even quote for small value orders.
For example, if Juan Fahey wants 1000 chips amps, those are worth only $100 at 10 cents apiece. Shipping, and order processing will mean the company may not even reply.
ST stopped making those 2050 about 1998, UTC started much later I think.
To store partly processed silicon, for future needs, is risky.
UTC may have been a foundry for ST, later putting their own mark, that is possible.
To store partly processed silicon, for future needs, is risky.
UTC may have been a foundry for ST, later putting their own mark, that is possible.
Bare die that haven’t been packaged (yet) can sit around for decades - but for a relatively high volume product like TDA2050 it’s unlikely. Those made before 1998 are long gone. There was still demand THEN.
Im pretty sure ST has their own fabS and not need to farm anything out except maybe packaging which is done all the time. I’m pretty sure UTC is making them or having them made somewhere under license. Which may not even be all that expensive. If continued TDA2050 production fit ST’s business model they would still be making them. The hard truth of the matter is that it’s not - and apparently neither is the LM3886 anymore.
Im pretty sure ST has their own fabS and not need to farm anything out except maybe packaging which is done all the time. I’m pretty sure UTC is making them or having them made somewhere under license. Which may not even be all that expensive. If continued TDA2050 production fit ST’s business model they would still be making them. The hard truth of the matter is that it’s not - and apparently neither is the LM3886 anymore.
A second source will be different as every chip fab is unique. The guaranteed parameters must be met, typicals can be way off.
This even happens in a brand when they switch between their own fabs.
Some of the audio standard ICs must have been originally developed on 4" or 6" wafer lines
you distribute than you have more than a life times stock 😛105 post & replies for LM3886 availability? Oh God
What I wanted to say was that the stock may or may not be in demand decades later, no point in keeping it in any form, as it is a changing market.
Who would have predicted iPod in 1970?
And your cell phone is a frequency hopping digital 2 way radio.
I would have simply not been allowed to use it in India in the 1980s.
With this in mind, it is a big risk to store obsolete silicon.
Who would have predicted iPod in 1970?
And your cell phone is a frequency hopping digital 2 way radio.
I would have simply not been allowed to use it in India in the 1980s.
With this in mind, it is a big risk to store obsolete silicon.
The 3886 is all but end of life, as the plants which can process them cannot be used for new types of chips, I think.
So basically the old 4" and 6" wafer plants have been idlled, or sold to people who actually have a use for those old machines.
The practical aspect remains, what to do if a broken 3886 has to be replaced.
1875?
STK type module on LED PCB, the thick one that works as heat spreader?
New thread about this?
Opinions welcome...
So basically the old 4" and 6" wafer plants have been idlled, or sold to people who actually have a use for those old machines.
The practical aspect remains, what to do if a broken 3886 has to be replaced.
1875?
STK type module on LED PCB, the thick one that works as heat spreader?
New thread about this?
Opinions welcome...
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I do not believe that this long thread actually helping anyone. No major distributor has lm3886 in stock, it's a global crisis & we all know that. So are you helping?
That´s nothing.105 post & replies for LM3886 availability? Oh God
105 posts and not a single clickable link on which to order.
Only: "they are available in India" .... or "go ask the Chinese" .
Besides UTC of course, for TDA2050, but they want 0.54 U$ plus tax each in 1k orders ... which is fine.
But the mythical 10 cent per chip mentioned above?
NO WAY.
Unless "somebody" posts a link such as "xxxxxxxxx Electronics.com.in or .cn" or something of the kind which opens the magical "place your order" page.
So far, nothing of the sort.
Reichelt, a big component distributor of Germany is selling them, so logically the whole business is legal. On the other hand i found that there is no sonic difference between ST 2030A & D 2030A. The spec are almost identical(or maybe better sometimes) & the price is also very minimal. So i see no problem with good second source.
@JMF:
I cannot access Ali Express from India, some political or safety issues.
Look for CRC-Micro distributors.
Quantity, put one carton.
Locally, 12-13 Rupees in Delhi, or about 15 US cents.
And I have already offered to help you purchase, provided quantity is adequate.
Finally, Nirupam agrees that D2030A (CRC-Micro), is up to his standard!
Which is what I have been saying all along...
I cannot access Ali Express from India, some political or safety issues.
Look for CRC-Micro distributors.
Quantity, put one carton.
Locally, 12-13 Rupees in Delhi, or about 15 US cents.
And I have already offered to help you purchase, provided quantity is adequate.
Finally, Nirupam agrees that D2030A (CRC-Micro), is up to his standard!
Which is what I have been saying all along...
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https://www.alibaba.com/countrysearch/CN/audio-amplifier-ic.html
India Mart has Triangle (CRC-Micro) at 20 cents or so:
https://dir.indiamart.com/impcat/audio-ic.html
India Mart has Triangle (CRC-Micro) at 20 cents or so:
https://dir.indiamart.com/impcat/audio-ic.html
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@JMF:
If you do, try and get a shipment that saves money on transport and Customs fees...but you must have done this earlier.
You can add other parts, and so on.
Ask for price breaks, Radio Shack would have a different price for 1000+ and <1000, so I said ask for a carton. That is less labor for the trader, sp big break on price.
You might find a buyer for the extra quantity there.
If you do, try and get a shipment that saves money on transport and Customs fees...but you must have done this earlier.
You can add other parts, and so on.
Ask for price breaks, Radio Shack would have a different price for 1000+ and <1000, so I said ask for a carton. That is less labor for the trader, sp big break on price.
You might find a buyer for the extra quantity there.
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https://www.lcsc.com/brand-detail/1266.html
These are not small time people changing marks, big setup, and unknown to most Westerners.
These are not small time people changing marks, big setup, and unknown to most Westerners.