Dreams involving electronics.

[BrianHG]

Well, I'm sure something like this has happened to a lot of us engineers.
This morning, I has a dream where I was looking to identify a really early, like one of the first, precision voltage reference silicon device for an ADC.  I could not figure out who made the thing.

Ok, what's a good first time manufacturer of a precision integrated voltage reference above the basic level of a zener diode?

Maybe my dream will be answered here...

[David Hess]

National Semiconductor did but I do not think Fairchild or Signetics made any integrated voltage references.  The highest precision parts were and still are based on integrated zener diodes and National made made those as well.  The companies which specialized in precision like PMI (Precision Monolithic Incorporated) and Burr-Brown made integrated references as well.  Analog Devices bought PMI and TI bought Burr-Brown.

I think early Intersil had to have had something but I don't remember any integrated references from GE or RCA.

If you have the time, searching old databooks would be definitive.

[schmitt trigger]

You mean like, bandgap references?

I once read a web article where -if my memory serves me well, were discovered by National Semi.

The semiconductor museum has many, many historical documents related to all these types of inventions. Sadly, it is not really searchable from inside its own page, but with the help of good old Google, you may find what you want.

http://semiconductormuseum.com/Museum_Index.htm

[Cyberdragon]

You mean the LM109?

Here's a Fairchild one (age unknown):

[T3sl4co1l]

I had a dream this morning, something about turning up a CK5702 for more and more power; the filament popped and that was it.  Very vague, not sure what it was doing, maybe an oscillator or something.  Visual was sort of a roughly conical lighthouse with it on top.

Happens from time to time.  Also video games.  Coworkers.  Random neural noise; enjoy the absurdity I say.

Tim

[BrianHG]

specialized in precision like PMI (Precision Monolithic Incorporated) and

OMG, I used to buy PMI back in the 70s I believe.  I totally forgot about them.  Thanks....

[BrianHG]

I had a dream this morning, something about turning up a CK5702 for more and more power; the filament popped and that was it.  Very vague, not sure what it was doing, maybe an oscillator or something.  Visual was sort of a roughly conical lighthouse with it on top.

Happens from time to time.  Also video games.  Coworkers.  Random neural noise; enjoy the absurdity I say.

Tim

I know vacuum tube voltage references kick ass over zeners, as demonstrated here by Mr. Carlson:

https://youtu.be/xXG3VmUBF_o?t=1612

[David Hess]

You mean the LM109?

Here's a Fairchild one (age unknown):

The 109/309 is a 5 volt regulator which itself does not even use a bandgap reference.  The date code on your example is October of 1981.

Bob Pease says the first one was Widlar's LM113.

[Cyberdragon]

No, the LM109 has a bandgap reference.

http://lens.unifi.it/ew/dwl.php?dwl=bm90ZXMvVm9sdGFnZV9SZWZlcmVuY2VzLnBkZg==&mtyp=application/pdf