Each month we spotlight one integrated circuit that we think deserves special recognition. Maybe it is unique or has special versatility. Maybe we just think it's neat or serves a really interesting purpose. It could be a chip you use every day but never think about!

We hands-on review all chips that we spotlight so we can confirm they are as great as their datasheets say. Sometimes if the chip is interesting enough it could evolve into a workbench project like the ASA16 did.

Here we keep track of the previous integrated circuit of the month winners.

2024

• November, 2024: LM604 4-Channel Mux Op Amp - How cool is this forgotten and now hard-to-find-in-DIP-package IC? Perfect for when you want to feed multiple voltages with a common gain into a single ADC. Reduces component count and designed for easy interface with a CPU. It's a very unique deign and can still be purchased in SOIC form. We were able to get a limited supply in DIP form and look forward to experimenting!
• October, 2024: 74xx390 Dual Decade Ripple Counter - Yeah, it's just a counter, but it's a very versitile one once you get your head around it's counter-intuitive design (counter B is the primary counter when doing decade counting). This chip is like two 7490's in one package and can divide by 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, and 100.

2023

2022

2021

• March, 2021: 74ALS996 8-bit D-Type Latch with Readback - This chip is like a 74LS373 ot LS573 on steroids! Not only does it act as an 8-bit latch, it also includes READ-BACK capability which means your CPU doesn't have to remember the current state of the latches. That, plus an optional complimentary output and a reset/clear line, makes this chip a real all-in-one wonder! I highly recommend picking one up if you can find one.
• February, 2021: 74155 Dual 2-to-4 Line Decoder - An easily ignored general purpose IC that most people would pass over in favor of a 74138, the 74155 is more versitile than you think! With separate dual enable lines it can be used to divide decoded signals between two different systems without extra circuitry. For example, it could be used to break out read and write enable lines for I/O ports. In fact, we're utiliting this chip in a I/O expansion project we're developing to do just that!
• January, 2021: CD4543B CMOS BCD-to-7-Segment Latch/Decoder/Driver - This is a dandy little chip! It can drive LED, LCD and even VF displays, and supports either common-anode OR common-cathode LED displays. A very versitile chip!

2020

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