Designs (was Re: OT: how big would it be?)

From: CLASSICCMP_at_trailing-edge.com <(CLASSICCMP_at_trailing-edge.com)>
Date: Wed Oct 20 13:13:27 1999

>Ok, so who would be interested in creating a repository of "generic" gate
>designs?
>
>Are the flip chip cards copyrighted? (Somehow I doubt Compaq would come
>after us if we started building them :-)

The PC artwork might be copyrighted, but the protection on the circuit
design would be a patent. And the patents have (in the case of
the "classic" technology being discussed) almost certainly expired
by now.

>Are they the correct technology? I like 'em because you can get to parts of
>the circuit easily, but it is more compact to put everything on just a few
>boards.
>
>Have we ruled out using SMT technology? We could easily build a 16 bit
>register on a single flip chip sized card with SMT stuff.

I, personally, don't think that surface mount is the way to go. I'd prefer
to see all the transistors in TO-3 cans, though of course real transistors
on flip chips often were TO-92's, and these offer a definite cost and
density advantage (as does SMT, but I think that's a bit too far!)

Tim.
Received on Wed Oct 20 1999 - 13:13:27 BST