Coding Horror

programming and human factors

Microchip Easter Eggs

Software engineers aren't the only ones planting secret easter eggs in their products.

Here's a fun article on the hidden art etched into microchips. There are a handful of images in the article, but many more at the Silicon Zoo website. Here's one I found of Mr. T on, appropriately enough, a T1 transceiver integrated circuit:

Microchip Mr. T

Notice the medallion says "T1". Who said hardware engineers didn't have a sense of humor?

If you want to see more of these hardware in-jokes, visit the Molecular Expressions: Silicon Zoo page and scroll down past the interactive Java tutorial image in the middle of the page. Direct links to the rest of the chip images start just below there.

Written by Jeff Atwood
