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@kenshirriff@oldbytes.space

2025-08-02 15:44 UTC

In 1983, Philips produced the first FM radio receiver on a chip, leading to products such as the FM radio wristwatch. Let's look at the tiny silicon die inside this chip and see how it works. 1/N

Replies (8)

  • @kenshirriff@oldbytes.space 2025-08-02 15:45

    Here's a die photo of the FM radio chip, the TDA7000. You can see the greenish silicon, with white metal wiring on top. The 18 white squares around the edges are the bond pads that connect the die to the chip's pins, with gold wires attached. I've labeled the main functional blocks of the chip. 2/N

    Open ##1442729

  • @kenshirriff I built a project from Radio Elelectronics magazine that used this chip. I never got it to work at all, even though I painstakingly copied the board design and everything.

    Open ##1442752

  • @tchauhan@mastodon.mit.edu 2025-08-02 17:41

    @kenshirriff Such a pleasure to read these threads!

    Open ##1442756

  • @pancake@infosec.exchange 2025-08-02 17:55

    @kenshirriff beautiful <3 i didn't knew about that watch! love it!

    Open ##1442757

  • @10tothe22@mastodon.social 2025-08-02 18:12

    @kenshirriff Absolutely magnificent! Thank you for taking the time to write this up. So awesome!

    Open ##1442758

  • @manickam_me@mastodon.social 2025-08-02 18:25

    @kenshirriff i had seen that kind of product once i think 2007 or something

    Open ##1442759

  • @McD1979@mastodon.social 2025-08-02 18:37

    @kenshirriff Why do we not have FM radio on smartphones? I know most FM stations have streaming services, but sometimes you can’t get cell service or you don’t want a delay (when listening to sports or listening to music accompanying a live event).

    Open ##1442760

  • @murtaugh@mastodon.social 2025-08-03 16:24

    @kenshirriff @futurebird I got this watch for Christmas as a kid! Then I promptly took a bath with it 😭

    Open ##1442766