Difference between revisions of "FLIP CHIP"

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{{DEC-HW-stub}}
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'''FLIP CHIP''' was [[DEC]]'s trade name for a lengthy series of small cards used to build computers, and devices for them. (It should not be confused with the generic technology term [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip_chip 'flip chip']; the DEC version, properly spelled with all capital letters, as in the trademark filing, got its name from the fact that some early FLIP CHIPs used flip chips.)
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[[Image:B Series Flip Chip.jpg|thumb|300px|A B series Flip-Chip]]
 
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'''Flip-Chip''' was a [[DEC]] registered trademark, named after the "flipchip" component mounting technique which quite rapidly faded from fame. The name was retained although the majority of Flip-Chips never really were flipchip-mounted as it became apparent that the flipchip mounting technique was highly unreliable. Flip-chips were used in the DEC [[PDP-7]] (Referred to in documentation as the "FLIP CHIP"), [[PDP-8]], [[PDP-9]] and [[PDP-10]], beginning on August 24, 1964.
 
  
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In practice, they performed generic, simple functions, similar to an integrated circuit.  They were approximately 4 inches long and 2.5 inches wide.  Each had 36 connectors, 18 on each side.
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They were introduced as a cost-reduction measure; a FLIP CHIP plugged directly into a 144-pin connector block with wire-wrap pins on the back side; automatic Gardner-Denver [[wire-wrapping]] equipment could wire the connector blocks to produce larger functional modules.
  
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== Naming ==
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Early FLIP CHIP modules were [[DEC card form factor|single-height]], normal-length modules with contact fingers on one side of the [[PCB]] only (the so-called 'solder' side); the contact pads were 'numbered' from the [[DEC Alphabet]].
  
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There appeared to be some confusion inside DEC at the time, as various manuals refer to it as "FLIP CHIP", "Flip Chip", "FLIP-CHIP", "Flip-Chip" and "Flip Chip", with trademark and registered trademark symbols.
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The earliest FLIP CHIPs, introduced in 1964, used discrete transistors. FLIP CHIPs incorporating [[IC]] technology soon followed, and the limited number of contact pins eventually became a problem, so that eventually contact fingers were added on the other ('component') side as well.
  
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==Flip-Chip families==
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The following FLIP CHIP families ('series', in DEC terminology) were
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introduced over the years:
  
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[[Image:FlipChips.jpeg|thumb|250px|Flip-chips in different forms and a rainbow of colours, in a [[PDP-8]].]]
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* R-Series (red handles); intended to be easy to use, and used diode gates and diode-capacitor-diode circuits
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The various families were colour-coded, and the first letter denoted a colour, which was also visible on the handle.
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* S-Series (also red handles); initially developed for the first [[PDP-8]]; same basic technology as the R-Series, with component variant for greater speed
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* B-Series (blue handles); first used on the [[PDP-7]], and later in the famous KA10 [[PDP-10]] CPU, they used silicon transistors
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* A-Series (amber handles); analog cards
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* G-Series (green handles); specialized modules that are part of a specific larger system
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* W-Series (white handles); input/output to external circuitry
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* K-Series (blacK handles); industrial control applications
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* M-Series (magenta handles); carried the then-new [[TTL]] chips, first used in the [[PDP-8/I]]
  
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===A series===
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==External links==
  
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''See the list of [[List of DEC part numbers#A series|DEC parts]].''
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* [http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/gbell/Computer_Engineering/00000134.htm In the Beginning] and linked subsequent pages
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* [http://www.soemtron.org/pdp7flipchips.html Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-7]
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The A stands for Amber. The A series were used for analog functions - ADCs, DACs, amplifiers etc.
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* [http://so-much-stuff.com/pdp8/flipchip/flipchip.php FlipChip Modules]
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===B series===
 
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The B stands for Blue. The B series were used as core logic in the higher-end CPUs.
 
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===G series===
 
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The G stands for Green. The G series were used for "anything with non-standard voltages", I think.
 
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===M series===
 
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''See the list of [[List of DEC part numbers#M series|DEC parts]].
 
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The M stands for magenta.  Part of this line is simple TTL-level logic, while later on, it became quite complex, see [[list of DEC part numbers]].  They replaced the R series which used discrete transistors with integrated circuits.
 
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* Power supply: 5 V
 
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* Operate at up to 6 MHz
 
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===R series===
 
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The R stands for Red. Slower logic than the B series, but cheaper. Used extensively in the I/O circuitry of computers. 
 
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* Slower logic than B series, cheaper
 
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* Used in a variety of systems, e.g. [[PDP-8]]
 
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* Power supply 10 and -15 volts
 
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* Operational to 2 megahertz
 
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* Signal level 0 volts, logic 0 and -3 volts, logic 1
 
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* Typical price $20 to $30
 
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=== S series ===
 
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The S series is identical to the R seriese except that its transistors switch faster and lower resistance resistors, allowing more cards to be wired in series and operate somewhat faster.
 
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===W series===
 
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The W stands for White. These are components that plug into Flip-Chip sockets, but have no logic of their own.
 

Revision as of 14:37, 25 February 2016

FLIP CHIP was DEC's trade name for a lengthy series of small cards used to build computers, and devices for them. (It should not be confused with the generic technology term 'flip chip'; the DEC version, properly spelled with all capital letters, as in the trademark filing, got its name from the fact that some early FLIP CHIPs used flip chips.)

They were introduced as a cost-reduction measure; a FLIP CHIP plugged directly into a 144-pin connector block with wire-wrap pins on the back side; automatic Gardner-Denver wire-wrapping equipment could wire the connector blocks to produce larger functional modules.

Early FLIP CHIP modules were single-height, normal-length modules with contact fingers on one side of the PCB only (the so-called 'solder' side); the contact pads were 'numbered' from the DEC Alphabet.

The earliest FLIP CHIPs, introduced in 1964, used discrete transistors. FLIP CHIPs incorporating IC technology soon followed, and the limited number of contact pins eventually became a problem, so that eventually contact fingers were added on the other ('component') side as well.

The following FLIP CHIP families ('series', in DEC terminology) were introduced over the years:

  • R-Series (red handles); intended to be easy to use, and used diode gates and diode-capacitor-diode circuits
  • S-Series (also red handles); initially developed for the first PDP-8; same basic technology as the R-Series, with component variant for greater speed
  • B-Series (blue handles); first used on the PDP-7, and later in the famous KA10 PDP-10 CPU, they used silicon transistors
  • A-Series (amber handles); analog cards
  • G-Series (green handles); specialized modules that are part of a specific larger system
  • W-Series (white handles); input/output to external circuitry
  • K-Series (blacK handles); industrial control applications
  • M-Series (magenta handles); carried the then-new TTL chips, first used in the PDP-8/I

External links

Retrieved from "https://gunkies.org/w/index.php?title=FLIP_CHIP&oldid=11555"