Re: Weird component (?) - WTF is it?

From: Paul E. Bennett (peb_at_amleth.demon.co.uk)
Date: 09/05/04 

Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 21:20:37 +0100

Lewin A.R.W. Edwards wrote:

> The other day at work, I found a very odd electronic component in the
> parking lot (to be exact, it stuck in the treads of one of my tires).
> At least, I think it's a component, or perhaps a partially-completed
> component... It consists of a complicated copper sprue ~2.25" x 7"
> divided into a matrix of 3 x 12 identical subcomponents. The center of
> each of these subcomponents is a blob of black epoxy. The reason I
> think that these things are separate subcomponents is because each of
> these black blobs has a unique mold position code molded into one side
> of it (e.g. "M8", "M9", "N1" etc). Here are hires scans of the
> assembly, both sides:
>
> <http://www.larwe.com/comp-1.jpg>
> <http://www.larwe.com/comp-2.jpg>
>
> The second link above shows the side with the mold-number markings in
> it.
>
> After scanning the above pictures, I cracked open one of the plastic
> blobs and I find that there are three separate metal tongues
> protruding inside it, leading me to believe it's likely a transistor
> of some sort. I think the external copper piece was meant to be
> machine-separated in some way, that it ties the parts all together for
> ESD hardening reasons during manufacture.
>
> If there was a semiconductor in there, my crude breaking didn't reveal
> it.
>
> Any conjectures as to what these parts might be?

Lewin, you could have put some recognisable scale alongside this before
taking a photo of this device. It would have helped us be more certain.

I am guessing that this may be a Power MOSFET probably in the RF region as
this seems most logical to my thinking and knowledge about how such things
are produced. The lead frame is broken away before they devices are tested
and shipped. Maybe the other side still needs some potting. I don't think
that these particular ones would be working though.

With a scale, as I sdaid, we could be much more certain about this. 

-- 
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Paul E. Bennett ....................<email://peb@a...>
Forth based HIDECS Consultancy .....<http://www.amleth.demon.co.uk/>
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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Weird component (?) - WTF is it?
    ... > these black blobs has a unique mold position code molded into one side ... > blobs and I find that there are three separate metal tongues ... Lewin, you could have put some recognisable scale alongside this before ...
    (sci.electronics.components)
  • Re: Weird component (?) - WTF is it?
    ... Lewin A.R.W. Edwards wrote: ... you could have put some recognisable scale alongside this before ... >> taking a photo of this device. ... The short dimension is ~2.25", ...
    (comp.arch.embedded)
  • Re: Weird component (?) - WTF is it?
    ... > Lewin, you could have put some recognisable scale alongside this before ... > taking a photo of this device. ... The short dimension is ~2.25", ...
    (comp.arch.embedded)