At 05:32 PM 8/7/01 +1000, you wrote:

>PS. Based on their max 20mA spec, and your measured
>0.887v, Microchip seem to be speccing the clamp diodes
>at max of 18mW... Death to the infidels. ;o)

Remember that the diodes may work perfectly at 20mA and at
100mA, BUT the current injected due to the diode action
can trigger the BIG PARASITIC SUICIDE SCR (tm) that lives
inside every PIC (connected from Vdd to Vss) just
_waiting_ for a "gate" pulse to cause it to TURN ON AND
KILL THE PIC (sufficient power supply current being
available).

This is the reason not to exceed the data sheet limits
(and de BIG PARASITIC SUICIDE SCR, he like to turn on
even better when it be hot, hot, hot*).

Microchip have done a fine job in guaranteeing the 20mA
minimum current, IMHO, early CMOS circuits would
practically do this if you looked at them sideways too hard.

* Caribana weekend, mon.

Best regards,


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