Strange ICs on eBay

[Ali]

> > Just wondering if anyone knows what these chips are for/from/etc.
> > http://www.ebay.com/itm/152124208945
> > Interesting look to them. I would say EPROM but the magnifying window
> is weird...
> 
> Those look like "starburst" displays:
> 
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixteen-segment_display
> 
> The window is indeed a magnifying lens. I ass-u-me that LED technology
> was still a bit naff back in the 1970s and it was more practical to
> optically enlarge the segments than make a chip with physically larger
> segments. This compromise produced an odd visual effect, which is
> likely why it's not done any more.


Thanks to everyone who replied. I had never seen those before. There seems
to be a bid on them already so hopefully it is someone who want the display
and not the "gold".

-Ali