Reverse engineering a vintage diode-transistor logic chip

· Ken Shirriff · Nov. 8, 2026, 4:36 p.m.
chips electronics fairchild reverse engineering reverse engineering vintage technology Integrated Circuits electronics history
Summary
In this blog post, Ken Shirriff details his journey of reverse engineering the vintage Signetics ST680A diode-transistor logic chip, exploring how DTL works, the chip's circuitry, and the history behind its development. Shirriff discusses techniques used, including microscopy and acid decapping, and uncovers insights into DTL NAND gate functionality, providing valuable historical context about integrated circuits.
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