Texas Instruments TMS38010JDL Decapped Token Ring Communications Processor Ceramic Gold Lead IC Collectible

Texas Instruments TMS38010JDL vintage communications processor in a 48-pin ceramic DIP package with gold-colored leads. The ceramic lid has been opened, exposing the original silicon die, bond wires, and internal package construction.

The device is marked TMS38010JDL, WU8748, M-0070838, Philippines. The WU8748 marking is consistent with late-1980s production and a 1987 week-48 date code.

Originally designed as the communications processor for Texas Instruments TMS380 Token Ring LAN adapter architecture.

Lifecycle: OBSOLETE

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The TMS38010 was part of Texas Instruments’ first-generation TMS380 Token Ring chipset developed during the 1980s for IEEE 802.5 local area networking.

The TMS38010 served as the chipset’s Communications Processor and incorporated a high-performance 16-bit CPU, internal communications RAM, timer functions, interrupt handling, and bus-arbitration capability. It worked with devices including the TMS38020 Protocol Handler, TMS38030 System Interface, and TMS38051/TMS38052 Ring Interface components to create a complete Token Ring LAN adapter.

Texas Instruments documentation from the period identifies the TMS38010JDL as a 48-pin ceramic dual-in-line device. These early Token Ring chipsets represent an important period of computer networking history before Ethernet became dominant.

This opened example provides a direct view of the silicon die and internal bonding structure, making it especially suitable for semiconductor collecting, historical display, microscopy, and educational study.