| slovo | definícia |
magic smoke
(foldoc) | magic smoke
A substance trapped inside {integrated
circuit} packages that enables them to function (also called
"blue smoke"; this is similar to the archaic "phlogiston"
hypothesis about combustion). Its existence is demonstrated
by what happens when a chip burns up - the magic smoke gets
let out, so it doesn't work any more.
See Electing a Pope, smoke test.
Usenetter Jay Maynard tells the following story:
"Once, while hacking on a dedicated Zilog Z80 system, I was
testing code by blowing EPROMs and plugging them in the
system then seeing what happened. One time, I plugged one in
backward. I only discovered that *after* I realised that
Intel didn't put power-on lights under the quartz windows on
the tops of their EPROMs - the die was glowing white-hot.
Amazingly, the EPROM worked fine after I erased it, filled it
full of zeros, then erased it again. For all I know, it's
still in service. Of course, this is because the magic smoke
didn't get let out."
Compare the original phrasing of Murphy's Law.
[Jargon File]
(1995-01-25)
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magic smoke
(jargon) | magic smoke
n.
A substance trapped inside IC packages that enables them to function (also
called blue smoke; this is similar to the archaic phlogiston hypothesis
about combustion). Its existence is demonstrated by what happens when a
chip burns up — the magic smoke gets let out, so it doesn't work any more.
See smoke test, let the smoke out.
Usenetter Jay Maynard tells the following story: “Once, while hacking on a
dedicated Z80 system, I was testing code by blowing EPROMs and plugging
them in the system, then seeing what happened. One time, I plugged one in
backwards. I only discovered that after I realized that Intel didn't put
power-on lights under the quartz windows on the tops of their EPROMs — the
die was glowing white-hot. Amazingly, the EPROM worked fine after I erased
it, filled it full of zeros, then erased it again. For all I know, it's
still in service. Of course, this is because the magic smoke didn't get let
out.” Compare the original phrasing of Murphy's Law.
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