What is the function of this chip?

What I can say is Google can't find it; it was made week 11 of 1998 it is an HML1010 batch code E98161 looks like a made up part probably custom made for an electronics manufacturer. Photo sensor? Reed switch? Any one add to this?

I think it is a one line video sensor

looking again, i see no 'chip' it looks like a fuze and junction box, note relatively hi amp tabs possibly its an automotive part.

most other electronic parts are very small, but hi amp fuze would have a minuritisation limit, this unit may combine a resistor function along with fuze duty.

the resistance may vary with current explaining the extra connects to each end. eg some circuits may use this as a resistor and a fuze. jbo

likely a fuze, thus window to see its cond. metal has that tin alloy look typical of melt strip fuze, looks like a slo-blow amlpifier fuze. Far less likely, a resistance thermometer but why so big and no need for window, as part likely in a dark encl. photo app. unlikeley

measure the resistance... that will start inv. then measure resistance at different temps. if resistance varies over a large but orderly range, it may be temp sensor.

finally, 95% likely its a fuze.. JBo

I have seen something like this in hi end Sony 1" (20 to 30K) Beta tape recorders. It was a total operation timer/recorder.

Over time, the center tube fills with a liquid (or something conductive, maybe from electrolysis) and the contacts along the side make contact after certain time periods have elapsed, The contact causes an alarm indicating that maintenance is due on the machine. When the device has completly timed out, (tube full) the device must be replaced. Early XEROX 744 machines also had them. These timers were in the thousands of hours timing range.

Just a guess

I see two leads attached to one end, and several at the other end. Kind of looks like an emitter at one end and a detector at the other. Could it be a delay line?

From the spec sheet, "The HML1010 is a low dark current and high sensitive
linear image sensor with 128 elements of sensor."

Made by HMC, Hualon Microelectronics Corporation in Taiwan, it is used for OCR in handheld scanners, known as pen scanners. Also used in camera auto-focus mechanisms.

Where can one find the data sheet?

Let me know how to send it to you

JZ is right on... It is a Line Scan sensor. Take out a good magnifying glass and you will see a dark line running down the center. This is the photo diode array. At the ends, where you see the wires attached, is the control circuits & I/O.

I recognized this the instant I saw it. It's a line-by-line imaging sensor. It's almost identical to the one I ripped out of an old fax machine I busted up many years ago.

Thank you for all your interesting answers! A.C.