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RIP Hans Camenzind, 555 timer inventor — Parallax Forums

RIP Hans Camenzind, 555 timer inventor

jim N8RHQjim N8RHQ Posts: 85
edited 2012-08-20 10:29 in General Discussion
http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4394166/Hans-Camenzind-dies

What a sad day.

Rest in Peace Hans.

Comments

  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2012-08-17 08:33
    @78?!?!

    That ain't old!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-08-17 08:43
    I'm using 556s in IR beacons at home right now. RIP Hans, and thank you.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-08-17 09:02
    Wow, I wonder if he had any idea when he invented it what it would turn into?

    Guess you never really know the value of your t = ln(2)R2C1, so live each day like it's your last!

    RIP and thanks!
  • ctwardellctwardell Posts: 1,716
    edited 2012-08-17 09:25
    I wonder if he ever imagined the 555 would find so many uses over the years.

    C.W.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2012-08-17 10:57
    Most of my heroes are gone, but not forgotten.

    At least, being older than Chip, I will not have to read his obituary, and wonder would could have been...
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2012-08-17 14:09
    How many have found the 555 so easy to use and inspired so many circuits that now end up on one chip, A great loss but will go down in history, The only shame is will future generations even know of the 555?
  • TorTor Posts: 2,010
    edited 2012-08-17 14:38
    According to the eetimes article, he also
    introduced the concept of phase-locked loop to IC design
    ,
    something I didn't know. That's quite profound.

    -Tor
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2012-08-17 19:13
    A long time ago I was paranoid they would stop making the 555 lol...
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-08-17 20:11
    555 timer brings up 720,000 hits on Google. How many can claim an influence so profound? Hans, we hardly knew ye, but thanks for the 555, and all the best to your family! Your legacy lives on, embodied in silicon!

    -Phil
  • sylvie369sylvie369 Posts: 1,622
    edited 2012-08-18 06:46
    Oh, how sad. My respects - like many others, the 555 was one of my first forays into building things with ICs.
  • Tracy AllenTracy Allen Posts: 6,664
    edited 2012-08-18 15:50
    His book, Designing Analog Chips 2005 edition is a free download, a very accessible exposition of integrated circuit technology.

    Understanding how the 555 works is in and of itself a great starting point for a well rounded EE education.

    I'd been using the 555 for years but it was a while before I was confused by hearing it referred to as the "triple nickel". I used it in the conductivity measurement circuit for "Earth Measurements" in Stamps in Class.

    RIP
  • RickInTexasRickInTexas Posts: 124
    edited 2012-08-20 09:14
    Tracy Allen wrote: »
    His book, Designing Analog Chips 2005 edition is a free download, a very accessible exposition of integrated circuit technology.

    Understanding how the 555 works is in and of itself a great starting point for a well rounded EE education.

    I'd been using the 555 for years but it was a while before I was confused by hearing it referred to as the "triple nickel". I used it in the conductivity measurement circuit for "Earth Measurements" in Stamps in Class.

    RIP

    Too bad, another loss of another great analog designer. The free book is a GREAT read, bridging the gap between between the Forest Mims style cookbook type books (childhood favorites) and EE books that begin page 1 full of equations.

    It is an analog world when you get down to it after all.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2012-08-20 09:19
    Yeah. And then when you get really down to it, it gets all discrete again. Think elementary particles, quantum states etc.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-08-20 10:29
    RickInTexas wrote: »
    The free book is a GREAT read, bridging the gap between between the Forest Mims style cookbook type books (childhood favorites) and EE books that begin page 1 full of equations.

    +1, and the early history of semiconductors and the Shockley/Bell/Fairchild drama adds some liveliness to the very useful but comparatively dry tech info that follows!

    Thank you Tracy for sharing that link.
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