Unusual IC

[tech58761]

Can't recall where I'd picked this up, but I've had it a while.

 

[modem7]

Wow.

( Maybe the later version has flashing LED's on the top. )

 

[GianDO76]

never seen!
Maybe it's for women

 

[tradde]

I have to admit I've never seen an IC that looks like that. Wow indeed.

 

[hmb]

Can't recall where I'd picked this up, but I've had it a while.

It seems this was the ROM used in a particular model of Japanese "Pachislot" machine.

 

[Chuck(G)]

Other than for visual effect, I see no advantage to the shape or color.

 

[Hak Foo]

If it was used for a gambling device, maybe it was some sort of anti-counterfeiting/official-licensing evidence. The guys selling a knock-off PCB, or making a modified firmware that wasn't legally certified, aren't going to bother sourcing an expensive, exotic package that probably has limited supply, and maybe is only available under specific contract. So if an inspector opened the chassis and saw a regular black rectangular millipede, it was clearly not an official unit.

 

[Robbbert]

I saw that aliexpress has them for sale (although who knows what you'd receive). The chip is on a few other sites as well, but I couldn't find anywhere that says what the chip does.

Search for NDK 5764Z-20. Going by the number alone, I'd guess it's some kind of ROM or RAM, perhaps 8kbyte size.

 

[modem7]

Going by the number alone, I'd guess it's some kind of ROM or RAM, perhaps 8kbyte size.

I've figured it out. The ROM is shaped that way so that technicians know that it goes into the bow tie making machine, not the coffee making machine.

 

[Chuck(G)]

Wonder what one in the smoothie machine looks like?

 

[tech58761]

Well, sure enough. I dropped it into my EPROM reader and it read out like a 2764. The opcodes don't make sense for 65xx or 68xx... maybe something like Z80 assembly?

Couldn't upload the .bin directly... a hex dump is attached, though.

 

[Chuck(G)]

Looks like Z80 code to me. If you zip the .bin file first, you'll find that you can upload it.k

 

[NeXT]

If it was used for a gambling device, maybe it was some sort of anti-counterfeiting/official-licensing evidence. The guys selling a knock-off PCB, or making a modified firmware that wasn't legally certified, aren't going to bother sourcing an expensive, exotic package that probably has limited supply, and maybe is only available under specific contract. So if an inspector opened the chassis and saw a regular black rectangular millipede, it was clearly not an official unit.

I can't think of a Japanese vendor for something like Pachinko/Pachislo that would have a custom-shaped lockout chip. Most of those era machines didn't even HAVE a lockout chip. Same for the domestics like Bally, IGT or Williams. Everyone just used conventional EPROMS with a "DO NOT COPY" sticker and that was par for the course until USB dongles became popular.

NDK also only comes back with the japanese crystal manufacturer.

 

[hmb]

I can't think of a Japanese vendor for something like Pachinko/Pachislo that would have a custom-shaped lockout chip. Most of those era machines didn't even HAVE a lockout chip. Same for the domestics like Bally, IGT or Williams. Everyone just used conventional EPROMS with a "DO NOT COPY" sticker and that was par for the course until USB dongles became popular.

NDK also only comes back with the japanese crystal manufacturer.

I did an extensive Google image search to find this out - see the photos posted on this Japanese auction site: https://aucview.aucfan.com/yahoo/188233141/ which also shows the serialized sticker placed over it as a way to detect tampering.
I doubt this is a "lockout chip" is- it is merely the machine's ROM in (for reasons unknown) an unusual package.
I think the "NDK Semiconductor" that manufactured these (no relation to the NDK company which manufactures crystals) is no longer in existence - they were at https://www.ndksemi.co.jp/

 

[NeXT]

Frick'n heck. There it is! @_@