[time-nuts] 4046 variations (was EPE GPS....)

[Magnus Danielson]

Javier Herrero wrote:
> Yes, I'm also familiarized with space qualified EEE components, and 
> lately I hear the word "heritage" more frequently that I would like ;) 
> The only design I've made for aircraft electronics was for a commercial 
> aircraft application, and the components selection was a lot less 
> restringent than for space (I think also that the system for which I 
> worked was also not classified as very critical), so perhaps the 
> decision to use a 4046 at its limit was driven by that heritage reasons, 
> and that really there was not too much better things around :) The 
> venerable 4046 has been around for quite a long time...

Surely would other alternatives to the 4046 be possible even within the 
scope of heritage components? DBM and active mixers should be available 
and useable. The CCO (it's actually current controlled with a V/I 
conversion) could also be replaced. Logical gates can also be used to 
replace the phase-detector. Not as handy, but the aspect of the 4046 
causing trouble could be circumvented if needed. Another aspect is to 
improve its performance by design.

But maybe I misinterprent the heritage aspect her in that it is designs 
rather than components that is inherited?

Cheers,
Magnus