Sony date coding?
 

Overlay white print on pcb .
4 squares then numeral 2
In the squares are domino-like dots , as
2,4,4,0
44th week of 2002 ? year 2 from the first or the fifth number?
or 24/4/02 ?, unlikley to be non-USA dates
from one IC ,only ,probably 2002
need another example at least to clarify