Why would a die look like this?

[CTho9305]

Why would a chip's die look like this? The system it came from (~1999 low-end laptop) had no wireless capabilities that I know of, so RF seems unlikely. I think the chip was made by Maxim.

 

[blahblah99]

Wild guess... If it's a Maxim chip, it might be for power management and those huge diamond sections are the integrated mosfets.

 

[firewolfsm]

Are you sure it's a die? What component was it?

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: firewolfsm
Are you sure it's a die? What component was it?

There was a chip on a laptop motherboard which I desoldered. I ripped apart the package and took this thing out. So, yes, I'm sure it's a die . I didn't record the markings or the location on the motherboard. If I do this again, I'll keep track of everything so I know what each piece is.

 

[PottedMeat]

Heh doing more home etching I see?

Originally posted by: blahblah99
Wild guess... If it's a Maxim chip, it might be for power management and those huge diamond sections are the integrated mosfets.

That would be my guess if it's power management. Maybe those are two PMOS and two NMOS fets for a full bridge + control logic? Got a microscope to see any markings?

 

[MoMeanMugs]

I wonder if it had some sort of wireless capability. Those look like microstrip antennas with inset feeds.

 

[BladeVenom]

Feng Shui?