Technology Corner: Dating of Electronic Hardware for Prior Art Investigations

This Standard was formulated for the purpose of describing an easily understood coding system that has been sponsored and operated by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) since 1945, for the identification of the manufacturing source and the date of manufacture of an electronic component or equipment. Currently 585 manufacturers are participating in the program. A user may determine who manufactured the component or equipment or when it was manufactured through reference to the EIA Source and Date Code Listing, or by direct contact with EIA.