Electronic chip identity
AssigneeAnalog Devices International Unlimited Company
InventorsJonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Jose Bernardo Din, Albert Lastimada, Herlan Kester Benitez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure relates to electronic chip identifiers, ECIDs. In one example an electronic device is disclosed, which includes an identity unit configured to store an ECID that uniquely identifies the electronic chip, and a multi-purpose pin for use in outputting the ECID from the electronic device. The multi-purpose pin is also for a function of the electronic device that is unrelated to electronic chip identification. The identity unit is configured to output the ECID from the electronic device using the multi-purpose pin such that the electronic device can be uniquely identified using the multi-purpose pin.
Claims19
An electronic device comprising:
- an identity unit configured to store an electronic chip identifier (ECID) that uniquely identifies the electronic chip;
- and
- a multi-purpose pin coupled to the identity unit, wherein the multi-purpose pin is for use in outputting the ECID from the electronic device and for a function unrelated to electronic chip identification,
- wherein the identity unit is configured to output the ECID from the electronic device using the multi-purpose pin such that the electronic device can be uniquely identified using the multi-purpose pin;
- wherein the function unrelated to electronic chip identification uses a signal of a first electrical type, and the identity unit is configured to output the ECID from the electronic device using a signal of a second electrical type,
- wherein the first electrical type is voltage and the second electrical type is current, or
- wherein the first electrical type is current and the second electrical type is voltage.
An electronic device comprising:
- an identity circuit configured to store an electronic chip identifier (ECID) that uniquely identifies the electronic chip, wherein the identity circuit is normally off but is configured to turn on and output the ECID from the electronic device upon detecting an ECID enable condition;
- wherein a function unrelated to electronic chip identification uses a signal of a first electrical type, and the identity circuit is configured to output the ECID from the electronic device using a signal of a second electrical type,
- wherein the first electrical type is voltage and the second electrical type is current, or
- wherein the first electrical type is current and the second electrical type is voltage.
An electronic device configured to store an electronic chip identifier (ECID) that uniquely identifies the electronic chip, wherein the electronic device comprises:
- a physically unclonable function (PUF) circuit for storing the ECID;
- and
- a readout unit for reading the ECID from the PUF circuit and outputting the ECID from the electronic device;
- wherein the function unrelated to electronic chip identification uses a signal of a first electrical type, and an identity unit is configured to output the ECID from the electronic device using a signal of a second electrical type,
- wherein the first electrical type is voltage and the second electrical type is current, or
- wherein the first electrical type is current and the second electrical type is voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.