how it is decided that that chip is a 1TA316?
While waiting for the peyote to kick in, let's break it down....
1 TA 316
The first number is the number of spots on the chip -- typically 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8. In this case, there is only one spot -- hence '1'.
The letters refer to type of special spot configuration -- either none (no letters), 'D' for double, 'T' for triple, 'S' for split, or 'A' for adjacent (or alternating color). In this case, it is a triple spot where they are all adjacent -- hence 'TA'.
The last numbers are the width (or letters/words describing the shape) of the spots -- typically '12' for 1/2", '14' for 1/4", '18' for 1/8", etc. Shapes include 'V', 'W', 'moon', or nothing for rectangles (regardless of width). In this case, the spot width of each rectangular triple spot is 3/16", hence '316'.
Add them all together and you get 1TA316 -- a single triple spot consisting of adjacent 3/16" wide rectangles.
Some spot patterns are simple, and easy to determine. An 8V pattern is eight V-shaped (triangle) spots. An 818 pattern is eight 1/8" wide rectangles. A 614 pattern is six 1/4" rectangles. A 3-moon pattern has three moons. The two chips below both have four double rectangular spots that are 1/8" wide, but the spots are split apart on the chip at left (hence 4DS18 vs 4D18).
More complex patterns have a more complex and descriptive pattern name. If the pattern is a combination of different patterns, it will contain both pattern descriptions in the name. The chip on the left contains two V shapes and two double 1/8" rectangles (2V and 2D18, written 2V2D18), and the chip on the right has four V shapes and four 1/8" rectangles (4V and 418, written 4V418):
Hurried answer
