Michael Elliot used to write some funny things on his Counterpoint PCBs.
This is from an SA-1000 preamp. Made me laugh the first time I saw it.
This is from an SA-1000 preamp. Made me laugh the first time I saw it.
Years ago, one of our designers got disciplinary action for putting a chapter:verse Bible reference on one of his IC layouts. It was the END of being able to do custom logos of any kind.
You should see some of the funny shaped capacitors I put in some after that. Yes, I EM simulated it that way…… so it stays.
You should see some of the funny shaped capacitors I put in some after that. Yes, I EM simulated it that way…… so it stays.
Funny. We were quite stunned when back in the late 70s, we did the flipping the AC plug around (only 2 prong plugs) and heard s asignificant difference with some components.. Soi expect that comment is quite serious.
dave
Yep. Chip graffiti is a thing. When I started at National Semiconductor we'd put our initials on the chip. Later that was banned because some dummy created graffiti that didn't meet the design rules. I'm guessing the graffiti lifted and floated somewhere where it shouldn't be.
Some examples are pretty elaborate: https://hackaday.io/page/11717-chip-graffiti-hilarious-arts-of-integrated-circuits
Tom
Marginalia in illuminated manuscripts -- kept the monks in the scriptorium busy -- some not subtle humor: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/medieval-marginalia-books-doodles
In a past job I had a DVD replication line that once produced the error message “Error #5623 has occurred. Please turn off the power and fix the problem”.
The mfg later told me it was a joke, and that programmer was let go.
The mfg later told me it was a joke, and that programmer was let go.
There were lots of easter eggs in silicon back in the 80s. I even saw Japan produced memories with them, so not just US products.
I wrote a technical spec on a test procedure many years ago. There was a point where it took 10 minutes for a cal scan to run. At that pint I wrote "Go get a cup of coffee, go to the bathroom to talk to someone else and come back in 10 min." or something to that effect. Last time I ran the test it was still there.
I wrote a technical spec on a test procedure many years ago. There was a point where it took 10 minutes for a cal scan to run. At that pint I wrote "Go get a cup of coffee, go to the bathroom to talk to someone else and come back in 10 min." or something to that effect. Last time I ran the test it was still there.
This reminds me to the guy who desperately wants back his $176 million Bitcoins:
https://gizmodo.com/bitcoin-landfill-crypto-boston-dynamics-1849327709