( ESNUG 311 Item 10 ) --------------------------------------------- [2/18/99]
From: cmatsumo@cmp.com ( Craig Matsumoto )
Subject: Do You Know Anything About Engineers Doing 'Chip Doodling' ?
Hi John - It's Craig Matsumoto from EE Times. I've got a wacky story
assignment and figured you might be the guy to turn to (uh, nothing
personal....)
I'm writing about microdrawings found on silicon chips. Whereas designers
used to put their initials in the blank spaces of a design (so i'm told),
some have now graduated to doing some elaborate pictures. Cartoon
characters are popular -- Dilbert, Mickey, Waldo -- but some look like
actual drawings. You know, drawings done by someone with real artistic
talent.
One thing I'm trying to find out is how common this is. Does everybody
do it, sort of an EEs' graffiti? I'm also curious whether companies
condone it.
Finally, I've come across two nice urban myths that might amuse you: 1)
Chip designers communicate with one another through hidden micromessages on
the silicon ; 2) Companies will put their own logo on a chip, within the
active circuitry, as copy protection -- so if you try to copy the design
but remove the logo circuitry, the chip fails.
Like I said, wacky stuff. Your readers have any thoughts or suggestions?
- Craig Matsumoto
Associate Editor, EE Times
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