*IF* you have power available at all times you can achieve the same 
result at essentially zero current drain using pairs of inverters - 
preferably Schmitt triggers.

Use eg 74C14 unbuffered gates.
Connect inverter1 output to inverter 2 input.
Connect a resistor (1M OK but much smaller OK) from output 2 to input 
1.

Drive input 1 high or low and output 2 will latch accordingly.
Could be eg capacitively coupled,

Power consumption of the circuit when inactive is extremely low.

The major disadvantages compared to the offered ICs is that voltage 
may remain on outputs when "off" leading to power dissipation, plus of 
course the need for continuous powering (although at zero power).

Addition of an output switch (CD4066, CD4051 etc) would remove the 
power-off output voltage but add complexity. One could still probably 
achieve  results which are as compact, cheaper and more available than 
using the offered ICs. A backup battery (annoying) completes the 
system and would last indefinitely.

Starts to make latching relays look attractive :-).


            Russell


>> An electronic DIPSwitch :-)
>> Too many pins per output bit..
>> And of limited use in modern real world systems as a processor will
>> perform the equivalent task within a very short time after startup.

> If those devices are actually obtainable in small quantities (and 
> have
> DIP packages too) I suspect they would be popular at my school. Lots 
> of
> people have needed to do minor things like that, and I've had to 
> tell
> them buy a basic stamp. These are students that use 555 timers
> everywhere after all.

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