Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 23 minutes ago
I opened another TO-39 packaged transistor. This time, it was the 2N1711 NPN transistor. It is a silicon planar epitaxial transistor. It is used in high-performance amplifier circuits as well as in oscillator and switching circuits.
I improved a few things in my decapping process. I got myself a small but reliable vise. So, from now on, I clamp the transistors in a vise, and then saw off their package. It is slower, dirtier (metal dust) and more tedious work, but there's a better chance to keep the silicon die inside the package. This is advantageous because I can measure the properties of the transistor after decapping it which is nice if I want to identify the parts of the transistor.
This transistor has its base and emitter wire-bonded to the pins, whereas its collector is directly connected to the casing. Therefore, the collector pin is not wire-bonded. It seems that the silicon die is coated with something because at lower magnifications it seems to have a bumpy surface.
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https://curiousscientist.tech/silicon-dies
I opened another TO-39 packaged transistor. This time, it was the 2N1711 NPN transistor. It is a silicon planar epitaxial transistor. It is used in high-performance amplifier circuits as well as in oscillator and switching circuits.
I improved a few things in my decapping process. I got myself a small but reliable vise. So, from now on, I clamp the transistors in a vise, and then saw off their package. It is slower, dirtier (metal dust) and more tedious work, but there's a better chance to keep the silicon die inside the package. This is advantageous because I can measure the properties of the transistor after decapping it which is nice if I want to identify the parts of the transistor.
This transistor has its base and emitter wire-bonded to the pins, whereas its collector is directly connected to the casing. Therefore, the collector pin is not wire-bonded. It seems that the silicon die is coated with something because at lower magnifications it seems to have a bumpy surface.
Join my YouTube membership: youtube.com/channel/UCKp1MzuAceJnDqAvsZl_46g/join
For more pictures, visit my website:
https://curiousscientist.tech/silicon-dies
