March 29, 2013
Simplest possible microchip - Ti SN74AHC1G00 : Weekend die-shot
Remember we said that the simplest possible microchip is 74AHC00? We were wrong.Simplest possible microchip is it's 1-gate version, SN74AHC1G00 made by Texas Instruments. Die size 520x420 µm.
After etching 2(!) metal layers, we can see that chip area occupied mostly by pads, input protection, and output transistors. Funny rainbow things below pads - partially etched insulating dielectric masked by what's left from gold bond wires.
March 28, 2013
NXP 7555 : Weekend die-shot
7555 is a CMOS version of 555 timer.There are number of interesting things on the chip: see "unused" via's on the folded resistors at the top and at the center of the chip? They are here to trim resistance by modifying only 1 metal layer mask. Also, note large multifingered "power" transistors.
March 24, 2013
GLONASS module Geos-3 : Weekend die-shot
Geos-3 - GLONASS module, designed by R&D Center "GeoStar navigation" Ltd..PCB has 3 chips: K1905VM1JA designed by Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Microelectronic Research Institute "Progress", SiGe RF-frontend GEOS2RF designed by Saphyrion and 4-mbit serial flash memory MX25U4035Z.
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February 21, 2013
Part II: How to «open» microchip and what's inside? Z80, Multiclet, MSP430, PIC and more
In this article we'll continue cracking microchips open. If you've missed first article - it's here.«Canonical» way of opening microchips:
Cut a small hole in the center of the chip with a dremel:
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February 21, 2013
February 21, 2013
PIC12C508 : Weekend die-shot
PIC12C508 - one of the "old" PIC's. Manufacturing technology - 1200nm, the oldest we've seen in microcontrollers being sold at the moment.
February 21, 2013
MSP430F122 : Weekend die-shot
MSP430F122 - 16-bit microcontroller made by Texas Instruments. What's interesting is that die is marked as MSP430F123, with larger flash size.