SOIC and Friends Big Microchip Adventures
An edtech book series that introduces kids 2-8
to a whole new world of imagination.
SOIC and Friends are an engaging group of characters whose relatable stories draw kids in to a whole new world beneath the plastic and glass of their household electronics. In this big, tiny world, adorable microchips solve the big problems of their everyday life – just like real kids. Through fun adventures with friends, kids are learning along the way!
Meet SOIC and his friends!
SOIC
(sō’ĭk)
Small Outline Integrated Circuit. An average guy, hard worker. No rocket science here, but he’s no dummy either. SOIC’s the one who started it all.
SOT
(sŏt)
Small Outline Transistor. Sweet girl, very simple – or “uncomplicated,” she says. SOIC has 1000’s of transistors, where SOT has just one. But she’s knows what she’s worth.
TSSOP
(tē’sŏp)
Thin Shrink Small Outline Package. TSSOP is a USB interface chip on the “front lines” of the system. She communicates directly with the public, and in her time she has seen it all. “Keep Calm, (Reset) and Carry On” is her motto!
MSOP
(ĕm’sŏp)
She’s a plucky kid. As many transistors as SOIC, but with less brawn. She can do a lot of measuring and mathematics, but not much heavy lifting. She makes decisions that affect the entire system, and she’s very proud of her independence.
DPAK
(dē’păk)
A ‘Decawatt’ Package who happened to be born on a small line in central Asia. DPAK is a real bruiser who can carry the power of the entire system. But he hasn’t got any more transistors in him than SOT, and he needs a lot of direction in his life.
Born from a shortage of technical talent, and inspired by the reality that there are many, many more people involved in electronics than just engineers and scientists.
From an industry research background in the very specialized area of Electrostatic Discharge Protection development, Jeffrey sometimes has to introduce and teach newly developed scientific principles to other engineers, or manufacturing technicians, or quality managers who are also very advanced in their own different and specialized fields. But whether instructing an advanced engineer with 30 years in the business, or teaching a young child who may be learning the basics for the first time, there is a need to gently bridge gaps in knowledge. SOIC and Friends addresses this intimidation barrier in the teaching of technology by helping kids learn what’s under the hood in their high-tech laptops, tablets and smartphones. By sparking an interest in how things work, we can inspire the next generation of technologists while ensuring an independent and innovative future.
Meet the author, Jeffrey Dunnihoo
Jeffrey C. Dunnihoo is an electrical engineer with over 30 years of experience in semiconductor and system development. A young computer nerd in the early days of 8-bit home-brew computers and Fortran mainframes, Jeff has been awarded over a dozen patents and co-authored research papers and the “System Level ESD Co-Design” textbook.
Through SOIC & Friends, he hopes to help children discover their own passion for the “nuts and volts” within their toys and tablets – not just play with them – but experience the adventure of what goes on inside.
Jeff is from Texas. He’s a rancher, a classic car nut, writer of software and fiction (never at the same time), builder, sculptor, inventor, and most of all – a husband and dad.
Meet the artist, Simona Ceccarelli
Simona M. Ceccarelli has never donned an ESD suite, but did wear a lab coat for many years. As a professional artist, she now mixes colors instead of chemicals, but her love of science and technology often leads her to projects that stride both art and science.
Simona lives in Switzerland, where she illustrates books and other products for children, raises some of her own, and tries to keep the sense of wonder forever alive.