Mystery IC! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: stefandz
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2013, 10:22:42 am
content: Hello all!I have a chip I'm trying to get info on (ideally datasheet, at least manufacturer would be a start). Tried all the normal methods (Google, repos of obscure semiconductor manufacturer logos) - nada.Can anyone help?All help gratefully received!Stefan

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2013, 10:31:41 am
content: What's it from?

author: Niklas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2013, 12:20:01 pm
content: Not exactly the same but perhaps close enough:http://www.generalplus.com/product.php?prot_no=14&func=shDatasheet:http://www.generalplus.com/product.php?prot_no=14&func=sh"The GPT1000A, a general purpose touch sensor controller, equips an 8-bit CMOS microprocessor, 8K-byte embedded flash, and 256-byte working SRAM."

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2013, 09:09:00 am
content: Darn I came with the name of the company and someone beat me to it.I watched a video on hacking Tomigotchis and they said they had a General Plus 6502 MCU in them.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2013, 10:38:55 am
content: Obviously you haven't been Googling effectively... found the part offered up for sale and its manufacturer listed as Generalplus, then from there it's an easy visit to their site to search and find the "GPT100x series".Generalplus is related to Sunplus in some way, and they seem to have a 6502 obsession...

author: stefandz
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2013, 02:02:40 pm
content: Hey everyone - it's been busy over here! Thanks for all the replies. It's from a touch sense controller - I was pretty sure it was a cap sense IC of some form. I think my major Google fail was assuming the chip was a GPI1001A or a GP | 1001A - guess I need new glasses!The datasheet for this sucks. Seems they offer program design as a major part of the offering so they encourage you to have them develop a program for your application. Can't quite work out why the people designing the product I am looking at didn't go for one of the Freescale touch ICs - the overall cost can't be that much different can it? Going to get a quote on the part just for completeness, but it seems an obtuse IC to choose unless one of their engineers had used it in another project.Has anyone ever used Generalplus parts before?

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2013, 10:52:40 am
content: Look at the other parts on their site; they doveryhigh volume low-cost stuff like those used in toys, etc. The Tamagotchi uses one of their MCUs. I'm guessing it costs a lot less than comparable solutions from other manufacturers. The GPT100x is also available in COB form bare die, which is another indication that it's a low-cost product.

author: stefandz
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2013, 03:57:17 pm
content: I'm just totally in the dark about truly low cost product dev! I have worked on precision low noise, low drift, high voltage stuff commercially, but never low cost!It looks interesting, but the time required to establish relationships with suppliers and get your head around strange datasheets probably outweighs any cost savings I am likely to make. Still, might keep investigating this particular IC as a learning exercise. Can't harm (apart from probably opening up my inbox to a deluge of marketing emails if my limited experience of Alibaba is anything to go by...)