A memory test for the Electronics Wizards

This device has three leads connected to it, and I presume it to be a photocell of some sort; or perhaps a photo-switch. ... but it's potted in a block of black resin, so the markings are obscured.

Does anyone recognise it, please ?

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 07/01/2018 16:11:17

Black resin might mean an ultraviolet detector - ?

Tim

PIR sensor IC ?

One similar to this ??

https://learn.adafruit.com/pir-passive-infrared-proximity-motion-sensor/how-pirs-work

D.

Edited By Dave Daniels on 07/01/2018 16:52:01

Looks like a phototransistor in a TO-18 case. The lower rim of the case is visible, markings would normally be on the side of the can so it is probably an unmarked device.

Michael

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Tim,

Sorry if I did not make myself clear ... The can is potted in resin for structural purposes only; the window is not covered, it is 'looking at' a small tungsten filament bulb which provides incident illumination on a microscope.

MichaelG.

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P.S.

I don't have proof but I think this [Optem Zoom 65] microscope tube was originally part of a "Hughes-Palomar Bonder" and the resin block is part of their customisation.

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I'm not doing well today ... I have a streaming cold and shouldn't really be posting questions.

The can is considerably bigger than TO-18, so is probably TO-5

Yes, the markings would normally be on the side of the can ... but it's potted in a block of black resin.

MichaelG.

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For my pennance, I will measure the diameter [hopefully tomorrow]

Well I'm disappointed - I was hoping for the much-loved ORP-12.

Worst come to the worst, just fill the top off a low-power, high gain transistor in the same size can. Carefully shake out the swarf and make an epoxy or similar window.

Phototransistors are/were generally very poorly characterised (i.e. the circuits should be very tolerant of different sensitivities and have ample latitude for adjustment if required).

It worked for me in the 80s so it should still work now.

Get well soon!

Neil

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To be honest, Neil, it was just idle curiosity ... It probably works fine; if only I knew what it was there for !

MichaelG.

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Here is a Hughes-Palomar Wedge Bonder 

http://www.tarasemi.com/product/hughes-palomar-2470-v-wedge-bonder/

... all I have is the litle black tubular unit that their video-camera uses.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 07/01/2018 18:16:08

I was going to make a tongue in cheek comment about a 1 pixel CCD. Then looked up the machine details to find

Optical system: Solid state (CCD) camera with Optem zoom lens

**LINK**

More to the point what is a wedge bonder used for?

Pete

To answer my own question it appears to be for I/C manufacture wiring the chip to the package pins

Pete

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For info. **LINK**

http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/60069/file-20561336-pdf/Documents/guide_modern-wedge-bonding_ebook.pdf?t=1421176334789

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r1D9N04Gqoo

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 08/01/2018 05:58:14

Micheal

Thanks for the info?

The youtube video took me back to the days when a system startup took an age. I once worked on a system that you'd have to wait 3 mins for the TWT's to warm up before you could do anything. When we were testing software you'd be switching the the thing on and off quite frequently. The 3mins always seemed like a lifetime.

So do you know what the item in your first post is and are you just testing us?

Pete

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At the risk of further complicating what I mistakenly thought was a very simple opening question:

The CCD camera is at the top of the black tube, and the device I want to identify is at the bottom; appended to the incident illuminator.

I haven't found a brochure for the original 'Zoom 65' but this is the updated version:

**LINK** http://opspe.com/IS/pdf/RZ65%20brochure.pdf

... which uses fibre optic illumination, via the cylindrical connector, instead of the tungsten bulb of the original version.

There's a beamsplitter/combiner in the lower end of the main tube which makes the light path co-axial with the image path, and thus provides shadowless illumination.

MichaelG.

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P.S. The little resin block is, I am almost sure, a custom component added by Hughes.

The photocell in question may do nothing more than tell the system that the light-bulb is on or off.

....and how bright it is to control the light level for the camera. Back to Neils ORP12 but that only had 2 wires so its probably photo transitor.

Pete

Edited By Doubletop on 08/01/2018 06:46:53

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Pete,

As per my immediately previous post: I do have a reasonable assumption that the thing is just a status-detector, or a light-meter.

... All I wanted to know was did anyone recognise the actual device; so that I can find a datasheet.

I can't currently think of anything I want to use that feature for; but it's always nice to know what you've got.

... My cameras meter internally, so I'm unlikey to need metering of the bulb output.

MichaelG.

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I will post some photos of the illuminator [hopefully later today]

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Edited to include reference to light metering.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 08/01/2018 06:52:36

As Michael B suggested. By way of an example

**LINK**

Pete

... My cameras meter internally, so I'm unlikey to need metering of the bulb output.

So do mine, Michael, but I still find it useful to have a light meter handy. Comparing light levels on solar panels, LEDs, etc., only a few quid on Doncaster market photography stall.

Geoff

Although the camera meters internally surely the subject needs to be illuminated?

I'd guess the sensor measures the ambient light level and augments it with the illuminator to achieve the optimal level for the camera. It would be too much to be left to chance that the installation of the system would be in ideal lighting conditions.

Pete

I hate to say it but you can clearly see that there is only one bond wire going to the die. So it must be a component with just 2 connections ie not a transistor. It's possible that the package has 3 wires but one of the them may just be to the can, or simply that package only came with 3 leads, one of which is entirely redundant.

Perhaps I'm missing something?

Murray

Sorry, Geoff & Pete ... I don't wish to appear ungrateful, but there's too much guessing going on.

I'm still feeling very rough with this 'flu bug, but I will try to get some general photos of the device later today.

MichaelG.