EEPROM X-Ray Question
Erik Olsen
EEPROM stands for Electrical Erasable Programming Read Only Memory. Today
you may just translated it to a device in wish only writing to the device is
possible via some sudden spec. voltage over the IC. So the answer is NO,
erasing the device via X-ray or other radiation.
Of course if the device isn't contracted to be erased by x-ray it don't say
that you never can say that this won't happen.
At the end all devices may be damage by destructive radiations.
Friendly Regards
Erik Olsen, Copenhagen - Denmark. June-12-2000.
bcm <b...@c157890-a.crvlls1.or.home.com> wrote in message
news:3943CD72...@c157890-a.crvlls1.or.home.com...
> I was wondering if EEPROMs can be erased by exposure to x-rays or
> gamma rays? What is the effect, if any, of these rays on the
> average micro controller?
>
> Regards to all.
Mike Mccarty Sr
energy source is different. I'd think that Xray would not be a problem,
but UV might, if it could penetrate the chip encapsulant.
In article <W8615.388$%X4....@news.get2net.dk>,
Erik Olsen <eri...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
)Dear Mr. Bcm
)EEPROM stands for Electrical Erasable Programming Read Only Memory. Today
)you may just translated it to a device in wish only writing to the device is
)possible via some sudden spec. voltage over the IC. So the answer is NO,
)erasing the device via X-ray or other radiation.
)Of course if the device isn't contracted to be erased by x-ray it don't say
)that you never can say that this won't happen.
)At the end all devices may be damage by destructive radiations.
)
)Friendly Regards
)
)Erik Olsen, Copenhagen - Denmark. June-12-2000.
)
)bcm <b...@c157890-a.crvlls1.or.home.com> wrote in message
)news:3943CD72...@c157890-a.crvlls1.or.home.com...
)> I was wondering if EEPROMs can be erased by exposure to x-rays or
)> gamma rays? What is the effect, if any, of these rays on the
)> average micro controller?
)>
)> Regards to all.
)
)
--
----
char *p="char *p=%c%s%c;main(){printf(p,34,p,34);}";main(){printf(p,34,p,34);}
This message made from 100% recycled bits.
I don't speak for Alcatel <- They make me say that.
Andrew Steven Dixon
increased trouble with some CPU-in-monitor designs: X rays from the
CRT tended to erase the EPROMS in the long run!
On Sun, 11 Jun 2000 14:02:48 -0400, "Jerry G." <jerr...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
>Heavy amounts of X-Ray or any type of electromagnetic radiation can
>have an effect on EPROMS. They are especialy sensitive to UV
>radiation. Infact they are designed to be erased under UV radiation.
>
>To shield them from X-Ray, you can simply put a metal shield over
>them. Infact even aluminum, brass, or copper foil should work very
>well. Even UV rays will not pass through the foil.
>
>--
>
>Jerry Greenberg
>
>===========================================
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>============ Message Separator ===============
>
>"bcm" <b...@c157890-a.crvlls1.or.home.com> wrote in message
>news:3943CD72...@c157890-a.crvlls1.or.home.com...
>I was wondering if EEPROMs can be erased by exposure to x-rays or
>gamma rays? What is the effect, if any, of these rays on the
>average micro controller?
>
>Regards to all.
>
If you reply via email, please include "ngreply" in the subject because of mail filter.
Nigel Kendrick
NK
bcm wrote:
>
> Actually, I don't want to shield, I want to do the opposite. I
> have some memories that are like an EPROM but made without the UV
> window so I can't get UV into them. I thought maybe if I had an
> x-ray tube I could erase them that way, in a safe shielded box of
> course. So I need an xray source and then I'll do a little
> experiment. What about microwaves? I have a microwave oven here.
>
> Sam Goldwasser wrote:
> >
> > It depends also on the energy of the X-rays or gamma rays - sheetmetal
> > will shield for any slight low energy X-rays emitted from a CRT but won't do
> > squat for 120 kV X-rays from a medical X-ray unit or CT scanner.
> >
> > However, what range of X-ray energy and dosage will actually affect an
> > EPROM is also another matter. There have been discussion of this on various
> > sci.electronic... newsgroups - possibly a deja.com search would turn up
> > something, though I don't recall any authoritative answers.
--
Remove null. for valid e-mail address.
craig osborn
electronic equipment
Nigel Kendrick <nigel.k...@null.skillmarque.com> wrote in message
news:39464CC6...@null.skillmarque.com...
Charles W. Shults III
energetic neutrons that cause EMP. They strike atoms in their paths and knock
them (ballistically) out of the way, snapping electrons into high energy
orbits. When the electrons snap back, they release bursts of energy that make
up the EMP itself.
Neutrons striking atoms always produce tiny bursts of electromagnetic energy,
but this is usually similar to white noise. In EMP, it happens in a
synchronized fashion, and the tiny bursts add up tremendously.
Cheers!
Chip Shults
SPAM free Email - aic...@gdi.udu.net but remove the .baryon
PGP \\ 8B27 CFD5 AAD5 67EA BF00
Key // 7529 9CF6 C3D7 233C D4D9
stapler
amount of tray charge on EEPROM cell.
"Charles W. Shults III" 寫道：
Andrew Steven Dixon
<ee...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>Is it not the x-ray pulse from atomic explosion that disrupts and can damage
>electronic equipment
>
>Nigel Kendrick <nigel.k...@null.skillmarque.com> wrote in message
>news:39464CC6...@null.skillmarque.com...
>> Some low-cost development parts behave like EPROMS for programming purpose
>but they're not made the same way and cannot be erased - hence no window.
>It's not just a case of taking a regular EPROM die and putting it in a
>windowless package.
Are you sure? Then why aren't they called PROMS (which are really
different) but OTP-EPROMS?
AFAIK, the main cost factor of erasable EPROMS *is* the ceramic
package with the quartz window.
>>
>> NK
>>
>> bcm wrote:
>> >
>> > Actually, I don't want to shield, I want to do the opposite. I
>> > have some memories that are like an EPROM but made without the UV
>> > window so I can't get UV into them. I thought maybe if I had an
>> > x-ray tube I could erase them that way, in a safe shielded box of
>> > course. So I need an xray source and then I'll do a little
>> > experiment. What about microwaves? I have a microwave oven here.
You wouldn't want to try. There are obviously conductive metal parts
in an EPROM, you would not only erase the content, you'd erase the
component itself! (Ever seen what happens to tin foil in a microwave
oven?)
>> >
>> > Sam Goldwasser wrote:
>> > >
>> > > It depends also on the energy of the X-rays or gamma rays - sheetmetal
>> > > will shield for any slight low energy X-rays emitted from a CRT but
>won't do
>> > > squat for 120 kV X-rays from a medical X-ray unit or CT scanner.
>> > >
>> > > However, what range of X-ray energy and dosage will actually affect an
>> > > EPROM is also another matter. There have been discussion of this on
>various
>> > > sci.electronic... newsgroups - possibly a deja.com search would turn
>up
>> > > something, though I don't recall any authoritative answers.
>>
>> --
>> Remove null. for valid e-mail address.
>
>
If you reply via email, please include "ngreply" in the subject because of mail filter.
roger hunt
<chor...@gmx.de> writes
(snip)
>AFAIK, the main cost factor of erasable EPROMS *is* the ceramic
>package with the quartz window.
>
I have in front of me a M27C256B - 12F1 ..etc, that slipped though QC
despite the top not having been properly attached. The quartz window is
lens shaped. Intentional?
I would like to know though, out of interest, what the transparent
material is that glues the thing together.
Anyone know?
-- Roger Hunt
roger hunt
<ro...@carewg.demon.co.uk> writes
-- Roger Hunt
Col H
windowed devices is the window. They are identical in all other aspects.
read it somewhere when playing with 68hc705's..
I think its mentioned in the application handbook.
"craig osborn" <ee...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:X3X15.2109$Xx5.1...@bgtnsc06-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Is it not the x-ray pulse from atomic explosion that disrupts and can
damage
> electronic equipment
>
> Nigel Kendrick <nigel.k...@null.skillmarque.com> wrote in message
> news:39464CC6...@null.skillmarque.com...
> > Some low-cost development parts behave like EPROMS for programming
purpose
> but they're not made the same way and cannot be erased - hence no window.
> It's not just a case of taking a regular EPROM die and putting it in a
> windowless package.
> >
> > NK
> >
> > bcm wrote:
> > >
> > > Actually, I don't want to shield, I want to do the opposite. I
> > > have some memories that are like an EPROM but made without the UV
> > > window so I can't get UV into them. I thought maybe if I had an
> > > x-ray tube I could erase them that way, in a safe shielded box of
> > > course. So I need an xray source and then I'll do a little
> > > experiment. What about microwaves? I have a microwave oven here.
> > >
Matthew Suffidy
You have to clarify between EEPROM and EPROM, and then there might be differences
between the units. The answer would have to be to gather a complete history of
known problems, test the units with radiation, and ensure the other components
nearby were not effected. Not to mention the range between them and the source.
Probably a lot of stuff doesn't last forever, because it worked for a week....
--
********************************************************
Matthew Suffidy
e-mail: two...@mondenet.com
http: http://www.mondenet.com/~twobad
********************************************************
Charles W. Shults III
It's called "frit" and it is glass particles that melt at a fairly low
temperature, allowing the two ceramic pieces to bond together without
destroying the die.
roger hunt
<aic...@gdi.net> writes
> Hi, Roger.
>
> It's called "frit" and it is glass particles that melt at a fairly low
>temperature, allowing the two ceramic pieces to bond together without
>destroying the die.
Thank you very much - I feel an encapsulation project coming on.... :-)
-- Roger Hunt