List of obscure Chinese IC manufacturers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 03:39:03 pm
content: I often come across obscure Chinese /Taiwanese chips in equipment I take apart, and in many cases they have English datasheets available. Chips are sometimes available via Aliexpress, and I'm sure also direct in reel quantities.So let's start a list for anything you've come across - manufacturer, website link, product areas, examples of interesting parts, and any experience you have of dealing with them, example pricing etc.General criteria - anything not findable via Digikey or other mainstream distributors. This list is aimed at finding interesting parts for new designs, not repair etc.To kick off :Powtechhttp://www.crpowtech.com/en/Default.aspxLED drivers, voltage regulatorsMacroblockhttp://www.mblock.com.tw/LED drivers (Available via Plus Opto in UK)MY-Semihttp://www.my-semi.com.tw/LED drivers e.g. MY9941 4ch power LED driver with native DMX512 interface

author: Brutte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 03:56:52 pm
content: StarChipsfrom Taiwan (SCT). ICs, constant current LED drivers. Their products are available fromTME.

author: GreggD
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 04:01:44 pm
content: www.ic-fortune.com/eng/DW01-P lithium-ion/polymer battery protection ic. Very low cost.FS8205A dual mosfet for above.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 05:19:41 pm
content: Taiwanese company -> Global Mixed Mode Technology ->http://www.gmt.com.twDC-DC converters (many-many selections) , Op-Amp, Switch, LDO, PMIC, Thermal management ..etc ....

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 05:29:01 pm
content: http://www.gigadevice.com/index.html- Flash memory. And recently copies of STM32 MCUs that actually started to appear in real products.

author: MartinX
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 09:41:10 pm
content: SamHop microelectronics from Taiwan.http://www.samhop.com.tw/home_en.phpHave a mix of components, I have used some remote control IC from them, can be found on eBay and I think the risk of getting fake components is low, who would copy a totally unknown company?

author: arclight
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2016, 02:03:16 am
content: Holtek - low-cost micros often used in toys, based in Taiwan. A guy form Mattel said they have stuff down to $0.05/ea for a microcontroller:http://www.holtek.com.tw/en/company_profileJRC - Japan Radio Company Ltd. Interesting specialty chips, like FM broadcast stereo encoders:http://www.jrc.co.jp/eng/I use eBay for small quantities needed to repair things, and Aliexpress, Ocotpart, and small distributors I find from Google searches when I need these for repairs/etc. I never knowingly use anything in a new design that can't be found on Digikey et all without a really good reason.Arclight

author: KhronX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2016, 02:08:17 am
content: Neither Holtek nor JRC are technically obscure, or ChineseJRC opamps (among a couple other things) are frequently seen in audio gear (from consumer-level all the way to half-decent pro-level), and Holtek do indeed make loads of microcontrollers, often custom / really specific jobs.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 05:32:25 pm
content: Explore microelectronicsHDMI, MIPI, LVDS interfaces