Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!daver!vector.dallas.tx.us!maniac@vector.dallas.tx.us From: maniac@vector.dallas.tx.us Newsgroups: comp.sys.nsc.32k Subject: Re: How does the Dallas Semiconductor chip retain the time? Message-ID: Date: 31 May 91 20:53:17 GMT References: Sender: @daver.bungi.com Organization: Association for the Prevention of Polar Bears and Kangaroos Lines: 30 > Not having any specs on my chip (I got it from Steve Liggett), I was > wondering.. > > I figure it either has a very small lithium-type battery someplace > (in which case I wonder about its lifetime), or a small nuclear > reactor of the Pons & Fleischman (or Fleischman/Pons, for our english > readers) type. If it's the latter, how often do I need to sprinkle > it with heavy water? > > I suppose it might also be a sliver of plutonium and a miniature > thermocouple, but that's REALLY farfetched! Actually, it's a combination of the two. It does need a drop of water every hundred thousand years, and it has a thermocouple around a mini plasma fusion generator, underneath a bunch of insulation, which just BARELY fits in the case/socket. (Actually it is a small lithium battery, life is rated at 10+ years. The reason I know all this, is a) I have one in my pc532. b) my company makes them [Dallas Semiconductor is an interesting place, and vector is just a name for the network impared 8-(] and c) I just spent a LONG time trying to get one to work with a serial ported sram controller chip (DS1280)) > :-) :-) :-) for the sarcasm impaired. (smilies, SMILIES, we don' need no stinkin' smilies!...) -- Jon Buller jonb@vector.dallas.tx.us ..!texsun!vector!jonb FROM Fortune IMPORT Quote; FROM Lawyers IMPORT Disclaimer;