Whats the deal with chips that have the same data sheet and different postfixes?
rwgast_logicdesign
Posts: 1,464
Ok so I was looking around and stumbled across the TLC5940 which is a chip TI markets twords LED applications it can generate 16 PWM lines, I thought wow this is cool maybe I can run this into an h-bridge and use it for motor control, and had looked up some people doing this with an arduino. Im thinking a few different H-bridges with these chips, current sensors, and an arduino chip would be an awesome way to make a motor controller board that could handel DC motors with feed back, servos and steppers, that way you can offload all the motor control from your propeller or even bs2!! Sure theres alraeady awesome systems like the HB-25 but those cost money.
Anyways to the point im looking at the TI sample page and this happens alot there are two different versions of this chip the TLC5940NT and tlc5940NTG4.
http://www.ti.com/product/tlc5940
Anyways as far as I can tell most of the time these chips are the excact same, they usually have the same data sheet etc, so whats the difference when you see chips like this with different part numbers in the same package with the same data sheet?
Anyways to the point im looking at the TI sample page and this happens alot there are two different versions of this chip the TLC5940NT and tlc5940NTG4.
http://www.ti.com/product/tlc5940
Anyways as far as I can tell most of the time these chips are the excact same, they usually have the same data sheet etc, so whats the difference when you see chips like this with different part numbers in the same package with the same data sheet?
Comments
I think the main point is that when there is a close family relation there is no sense to having separate datasheets - for instance single v. dual v. quad opamp (though for opamps the difference is usually in the part number as it happens) When the relationship is close enough there is no point having separate part numbers because the part number really serves as a name for the basic function (for instance Z80-A, Z80-B microprocessors, various 555's) - so its partly marketing (the part number as brand?)
My guess is the part was always RoHS compatible. Just wasn't certified that way.
The new part is the same as the old part just labeled properly now with the proper paperwork.
I've seen this before.
Duane J
-Phil
Duane J
BTW, DigiKey lists both parts as being RoHS-compliant. So, it's clear that they have nothing but fresh stock in their inventory.
-Phil
Looking at http://www.ti.com/product/tlc5940#topsidemarking tells me that there is no diference at the top side marking of the devices.
Digikey's http://www.digikey.com/scripts/dksearch/dksus.dll?AlternatePackaging&name=TLC5940NTG4-ND adds a bit to the team riot too (no connection with USSR punk women band, please .
Looking at that page made me think that it's only a matter of minimum order quantity to get them sent directly from TI's factory. A lovely discount by agreeing to buy 195 moq but, even there, no diference at all.
The doubt persists.
Yanomani
Thanks for the clarification.
Yanomani