Description
The Discrete 4017
We have taken the internal structure of the CD4017 and implemented it with 208 surface mount transistors. The circuit is a close approximation of what would be inside a real CD4017, but all of the transistor logic is created with the CD4017’s datasheet logic diagram and matches as closely as possible the original timing. These transistors have been arranged in their logic blocks and placed onto a large IC shaped PCB to create the discrete 4017
Why?
The kit aims to show the massive amount of work that early chip designers went through (The CD4017 was created in 1968! by RCA. ). This Giant version is for hobbyists, schools, and universities to show what is inside even simple IC’s, and to give some understanding of the creation of the logic blocks that are still used today at massive scales.
The Discrete 4017 kit
Don’t worry, we are not asking you to place and solder 208 MOSFETs in this kit, they all come pre-soldered*.
The Pins are connected with 4mm “banana” sockets that can connect the discrete 4017 to an external circuit. Each pin (excepting power pins) have an LED to show the state of that pin.
On the reverse is an area to put an NE555 to drive the chip clock with a USB C connector, and a handful of capacitors and resistors. This is so you can power your discrete 4017kit for demonstrations with no external circuitry. These components are included in the kit.
The Kit comes with a black and white acrylic stand simulating the DIP 16 package that the original would have.
On the reverse of the PCB is a recreation of the original logic and timing diagrams, and datasheet description of the 4017’s operation.
The fully constructed “IC” is 160mm long, 110mm wide and stands 30 mm tall.
*(if you really, really want to, contact me and if I have any unpopulated PCB’s available I’ll make a kit up for you.)
More
More detail on this replica discrete 4017 kit can be found here: The Discrete CD4017 the detail
