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Very strange monolith
http://forum.hddguru.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=32174		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Ronald111 [ October 25th, 2015, 2:07 ]
Post subject:  Very strange monolith
Hi, guys!
Got really startled with this monolith when I open Silicon Motion SD case. There are no any markings on the monolith itself, and it seems like some kind of a glue on it. So I would like to ask you:
1. Has anyone encountered such a pretty mystery?
2. What kind of a chemical should I use to get to pinout layer?
3. Can anyone share the layout if you are so kind?

Attachments:
IMG_7148.JPG
IMG_7148.JPG [ 1.13 MiB | Viewed 7298 times ]
IMG_7147.JPG
IMG_7147.JPG [ 1.08 MiB | Viewed 7298 times ]
IMG_7146.JPG
IMG_7146.JPG [ 1.07 MiB | Viewed 7298 times ]
Author:  HaQue [ October 25th, 2015, 3:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Very strange monolith
If that bottom picture is all the same device, then I am not sure, but it looks like the device itself is split in half - when it shouldn't be. I think, if true, this is broken beyond recovery, with NANDs and discretes ripped from PCB and attached to the top layer, plastic or whatever it is usually coated/filled with.

It is a little hard to see from the photos. a high res of the bottom photo would be great. a flatbed scanner will work. I will try and find a pic of a similar thing to show you what I mean
Author:  Ronald111 [ October 25th, 2015, 4:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Very strange monolith
Really sorry for the quality of the pics, but at the moment neither a highrez camera nor a scanner is available.
So posting the pics as is.

Attachments:
File comment: the chip itself
DSCN3817.JPG
DSCN3817.JPG [ 77.06 KiB | Viewed 7270 times ]
File comment: The chip itself
DSCN3816.JPG
DSCN3816.JPG [ 107.92 KiB | Viewed 7270 times ]
File comment: The PCB the chip was attached to
DSCN3815.JPG
DSCN3815.JPG [ 97.52 KiB | Viewed 7270 times ]
File comment: The PCB the chip was attached to
DSCN3812.JPG
DSCN3812.JPG [ 168.2 KiB | Viewed 7270 times ]
Author:  HaQue [ October 25th, 2015, 5:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Very strange monolith
here is annotated pic of what I think is happening

Attachments:
IMG_7146.JPG
IMG_7146.JPG [ 196.69 KiB | Viewed 7264 times ]
Author:  Ronald111 [ October 25th, 2015, 5:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Very strange monolith
Got it!!!
I should not have unsoldered it. My bad!!! :(
Thanks for help in understanding the problem!!!
Author:  HaQue [ October 25th, 2015, 5:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Very strange monolith
normally with cases like this, 2 pieces are intact. you would sand off the side in this attached pic exposing the traces, vias and other contacts like in the circled area, find the pinout and read like any other monolith.

your case is totally unrecoverable I think. :-(

they build the device by adding the controller and nands with thin bonding wires to the PCB, then discreets onto the PCB, then pouring the plastic or whatever on top encasing it all.

Attachments:
2.JPG
2.JPG [ 214.02 KiB | Viewed 7261 times ]
Author:  Ronald111 [ October 25th, 2015, 5:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Very strange monolith
I fully and completely agree. Normally, there are any jutting edges on monoliths, that is why I thought...
Author:  arvika [ October 25th, 2015, 5:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Very strange monolith
Device is damaged. No chance to recover :(
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