Components you wish existed

[Psi]

Have a look at XMOS

Will have a look at that, thanks

Why would you want them as big as 0805?
Plenty of cheap smaller arrays.

Just because its quick/easy to hand assemble 0805.
The 0604 arrays are still quite expensive and usually use a custom footprint which doesnt match the individual components in a row.

Don't see why it would need to be single chip - I suspect the main issue is power due to the processing needed.
Broadcast formats are targetted at low cost decode and good compression without worrying about latency.
For FPV you could probably design a different encoding scheme that would be a much better fit - e.g. low latency, optimised for low encode effort and a graceful degrade in resolution as error level increases

Yeah, i wasn't being too serious.
In practice yeah, it probably needs separate  HDMI decode chip, video encoder, transport encoder, and RF amp chip

Yeah, a encoding scheme with feedback would be best. So as you fly out of range it automatically dials back the bitrate to keep an image.

However the data encoding format should really be OFDM to avoid multipath, like dvb.

[SeanB]

How about a power switch, capable of 60V, 30A and with a power dissipation of 3W max, logic level input with a current monitor output and able to operate to say 10kHz. High side switch, and in a simple pentawatt or similar TO220 like package. Oh, and priced at under $5 each in single quantities.

[mikeselectricstuff]

The 0604 arrays are still quite expensive

couple of cents @ 100x
http://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/741X083330JP/741X083330JPCT-ND/1124601

[free_electron]

So what parts have you wanted to use, but nobody makes them.... 
Here's a start..

8 Mosfets in a single SO /TSSOP18 package, common source, similar spec to SOT23-6 duals  ->

ULN2803 style ? i believe toshiba has that ...

A 74HC138 or HC595 with 1A P-channel source drivers on the output 

shift register with high side outputs : TI TISP series.

SMD DIP switches that operate from the underside through a slot in the PCB

cut an opening for the body in the board and sink the part in the board so that the gull wing pins are soldered top side. the smd body is about the same thickness as standard pcb.

A mid-range microcontroller with a buttload of RAM (>64K) but without the cost of a ton of expensive flash & high-end peripherals, in a 48 or lower pin count QFP/QFN (Microchip PIC32MZ looks very interesting, when it appears)

STM32F411CE : 128K ram in 49 pin QFN ( 48 pins + central slug ground )

And of course a component with exactly the same characteristics as a scope probe , for those times when probing fixes  a problem

i like a component that replace a wet finger .. to indicate overheating regulators...

[free_electron]

Real-world equivalent of SPICE E-primitive, ideal 4-terminal differential amplifier with infinite bandwidth, zero delay, user configurable gain without any external components and perfect isolation 

Regards,
Janne

just use a spice engine that behaves exactly like real components 

[free_electron]

telepatically configurable chips. so i can just think what i want the damn thing to do and it reconfigures itself.

[David Hess]

Tunnel diodes, step recovery diodes, and both undedicated and dedicated monolithic transistor arrays.  I miss the LM389.

[tautech]

SMD DIP switches that operate from the underside through a slot in the PCB

cut an opening for the body in the board and sink the part in the board so that the gull wing pins are soldered top side. the smd body is about the same thickness as standard pcb.

Nice. 

[mikeselectricstuff]

So what parts have you wanted to use, but nobody makes them.... 
Here's a start..

8 Mosfets in a single SO /TSSOP18 package, common source, similar spec to SOT23-6 duals  ->

ULN2803 style ? i believe toshiba has that ...

Can't see anything on Digikey, by anyone

A 74HC138 or HC595 with 1A P-channel source drivers on the output 

shift register with high side outputs : TI TISP series.

TISP? I've seen the TPIC series but they're all open drain

A mid-range microcontroller with a buttload of RAM (>64K) but without the cost of a ton of expensive flash & high-end peripherals, in a 48 or lower pin count QFP/QFN (Microchip PIC32MZ looks very interesting, when it appears)

STM32F411CE : 128K ram in 49 pin QFN ( 48 pins + central slug ground )

No stock showing anywhere at findchips.com

[c4757p]

both undedicated and dedicated monolithic transistor arrays.  I miss the LM389.

At least you can still get matched pairs cheaply. DMMT3904W, DMMT3906W, PMP4201/PMP5201, etc.

LM389 looks awesome though.

[free_electron]

Can't see anything on Digikey, by anyone

that would indeed be a no. but i am almost certain toshiba has em

TISP? I've seen the TPIC series but they're all open drain

even top side drivers will be open drain.. that is the funny thing with mosfets. a Pmos drives out of its drain. an nmos sinks into its drain...
it is always gate-source voltage that controls the mos , irrespective if it is p or n.

explain a bit more why you need open source pmos ? that doesnt make sense to me..

A mid-range microcontroller with a buttload of RAM (>64K) but without the cost of a ton of expensive flash & high-end peripherals, in a 48 or lower pin count QFP/QFN (Microchip PIC32MZ looks very interesting, when it appears)

STM32F411CE : 128K ram in 49 pin QFN ( 48 pins + central slug ground )

No stock showing anywhere at findchips.com
[/quote]
possible. the damn thing is barely a few months old... it is in mass production though. i got boards in the lab with these on em.

[SeanB]

I still have some MPQ6502 quad core drivers around. Thought they were 6502 processors, but in a 14 pin DIP I was wrong.

[VK3DRB]

The holy grail: A safe low cost button cell battery that held 1000Ah of capacity.

Battery technology is the biggest issue. Electric cars would be standard if battery technology could improve by a couple of orders of magnitude.

[Rigby]

It's getting there.  Just yesterday I heard of a new battery technology that sounded very promising.

[tautech]

It's getting there.  Just yesterday I heard of a new battery technology that sounded very promising.

Would you care to share that?

[SirNick]

A few things spring immediately to mind:

1) A good 3.3 + 5v linear reg in single package that can do 250mA or more on each channel.  Infineon made the TLC4476, which was exactly what I wanted.  I placed an order for a few just as stock dried up and the manufacturer discontinued the part.

2) Anything from E-Switch that isn't immediately discontinued by the time I order a few as samples.

3) A decent 4- / 8-gang pot that doesn't cost >$10, if it can be had in single quantities at all.  (Think: Linkwitz-Riley filters with adjustable corner frequency, like a variable crossover.)

4) To ante-up on Mike's request, I would love to see a modest microcontroller (Cortex-M would be fine) with 1MB of RAM.  C'mmmoooonnnnnn.....  I know you wanna.

[NiHaoMike]

A chip that takes DVI/HDMI or DisplayPort in at one end and outputs a HD stream (H.264 or similar) over Gigabit Ethernet (maybe 100Mbps actually used) at the other end with very low latency, plus a matching one to do the reverse. Price ideally under $50 for the set in small quantities. Bonus if there's an Android app for accessing the stream, albeit at reduced quality. More bonus if it also streams USB.

[mikeselectricstuff]

explain a bit more why you need open source pmos ? that doesnt make sense to me..

Ok strictly speaking, high-side outputs. 

[magetoo]

Small FPGAs in 48 and 64 pin QFP or QFN

MachXO2 comes in small QFP and QFN packages IIRC, but only the smaller (in logic) parts of course.

I'd very much like to see some hobbyist-friendly FPGAs with open source tools.  Older product lines perhaps could have documentation released, but I guess that's something that might have to be planned from the start.

telepatically configurable chips. so i can just think what i want the damn thing to do and it reconfigures itself.

One-time programmable generic chips would be nice.  If there was a way to connect up uncommitted transistors on a die in some way, 3D printing style perhaps, things could get pretty interesting.

Probably not very realistic either..

[Stonent]

More cool stuff in 40 pin pdip. I'm talking Arm, cpld/fpga, you name it.

Transistor arrays that aren't significantly more expensive than the individual parts.

More stuff that can drive loads directly with out additional components.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Small FPGAs in 48 and 64 pin QFP or QFN

MachXO2 comes in small QFP and QFN packages IIRC, but only the smaller (in logic) parts of course.

There's a 32QFN (with 4 bank power pins FFS!) , but the next up from that is 100QFP.

I'd very much like to see some hobbyist-friendly FPGAs with open source tools. 

Why does OS matter for tools like this?
The only barrier to hobbyist FPGAs is whne you get to the bigger ones that aren't supported by the free tools, and these devices are typically way above the price and complexity of even ambitious hobbyist projects.

One-time programmable generic chips would be nice.  If there was a way to connect up uncommitted transistors on a die in some way, 3D printing style perhaps, things could get pretty interesting.

Silego is a bit of a step in this direction, but like FPGAs, software tools will be a limitation as soon as things get more complex.

[electrophiliate]

I thought of 100-in-one ICs, but others have already suggested better versions (cannot beat a telepathically programmable IC!).

It would be nice to be able to have a generic resistor which can be easily set before placement. Then we would only need to keep a bunch of resistors for each power rating (and sometimes voltage rating) rather than for every value as well as power rating.

I guess something similar could be said for zeners, TVS diodes, and varistors. Would be pointless for capacitors of larger value, there would be wasted space if for example sacrificing a potential 1000uF electrolytic capacitor for 100uF in the same size package.

Might as well go the whole hog and demand a tissue sized box that will print out just about any component on demand.

Here is a simpler but unimportant request: a Sziklai transistor arrangement in one cheap jellybean package.

[nowlan]

i like a component that replace a wet finger .. to indicate overheating regulators...

There are thermochromatic paints and ink (hypercolor). Although painting IC would obscure the part number etc. I wonder if they could include the ink in the silk screen. This would indicate (radiant) hot areas of the board. dunno if its conductive.

[Dajgoro]

HV opamp in a single package, where HV is 1~2KV.

[Rigby]

It's getting there.  Just yesterday I heard of a new battery technology that sounded very promising.

Would you care to share that?

http://www.gizmag.com/dual-carbon-fast-charging-battery/32121/

Not sure if that's the one I read yesterday... I do so much reading that I simply lose track of when and where I read things.  This article is about a month old.  I know I read something a couple days back, but I don't remember if this is it or not...

[edit] also:
http://www.gizmag.com/structural-supercapacitors-batteries-obsolete/32246/
http://www.gizmag.com/silly-putty-battery/32089/
http://www.gizmag.com/flexible-high-performance-battery/31830/

this site is full of "could" and "might" but lots of people are clearly working on battery tech right now.