Remote identification of integrated circuit

Integrated circuit apparatus incorporating an identification number, comprising:

• an integrated circuit package;
• a first integrated circuit mounted within the package;
• a re-writable memory integrated circuit for storing an identification number, including
• a write enable input to which an electrical signal must be applied in order to re-write the number stored in the memory with a specific new value;
• and
• an integrated circuit RF transceiver, mounted within the package, including
• a receiver integrated circuit for receiving RF signals, and
• a transmitter integrated circuit for transmitting an identification RF signal conveying the stored identification number after the receiver circuit receives an RF interrogation signal;
• wherein the integrated circuit package completely encapsulates the memory circuit so that the write enable input is not connected to any electrical contact external to the package.

Integrated circuit apparatus incorporating an identification number, comprising:

• an integrated circuit package;
• a first integrated circuit mounted within the package;
• a memory integrated circuit, mounted within the package, for storing an identification number;
• means for storing in the memory an identification number which has a value which is one of a limited number of values which are valid according to a predetermined algorithm;
• and
• an integrated circuit RF transceiver, mounted within the package, including
• a receiver integrated circuit for receiving RF signals, and
• a transmitter integrated circuit for transmitting an identification RF signal conveying the stored identification number after the receiver circuit receives an RF interrogation signal.

Integrated circuit apparatus incorporating an identification number, comprising:

• an integrated circuit package;
• a first integrated circuit mounted within the package;
• a memory integrated circuit, mounted within the package, for storing an identification number;
• an integrated circuit RF transceiver, mounted within the package, including
• a receiver integrated circuit for receiving RF signals, and
• a transmitter integrated circuit for transmitting an identification RF signal conveying the stored identification number after the receiver circuit receives an RF interrogation signal and
• a circuit for testing whether the identification number stored in the ID memory has a value which is one of a limited number of values which are valid according to a predetermined algorithm.

Apparatus for identifying a first integrated circuit, comprising:

• an integrated circuit package;
• a first integrated circuit mounted within the package;
• an ID number memory integrated circuit, mounted within the package, for storing an identification number, wherein the identification number stored in the ID memory has a value which is one of a limited number of values which are valid according to a predetermined algorithm;
• an integrated circuit RF transceiver, mounted within the package, including
• a receiver integrated circuit for receiving RF signals, and
• a transmitter integrated circuit for transmitting an identification RF signal conveying the stored identification number after the receiver circuit receives an RF interrogation signal;
• and
• an interrogator RF transceiver, physically separate from and physically unattached to the integrated circuit package, including
• an interrogator RF transmitter circuit for transmitting said RF interrogation signals, and
• an interrogator RF receiver circuit for receiving said identification RF signals from the integrated circuit RF transceiver and for detecting whether the identification number conveyed in each identification RF signal has a valid value.

Integrated circuit apparatus incorporating an identification number, comprising:

• an integrated circuit package;
• a first integrated circuit mounted within the package;
• a memory integrated circuit for storing an identification number;
• an integrated circuit RF transceiver, mounted within the package, including
• a receiver integrated circuit for receiving RF signals, and
• a transmitter integrated circuit for transmitting an identification RF signal conveying the stored identification number after the receiver circuit receives an RF interrogation signal;
• and
• a battery, connected to the memory circuit, which is mounted to the integrated circuit package in such a way that the battery cannot be disconnected from the memory circuit without physically defacing the integrated circuit package.

A method of identifying an integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:

• providing an integrated circuit package;
• mounting within the package a first integrated circuit which performs a primary function different from radio frequency identification;
• mounting within the package a radio frequency identification circuit which includes a memory integrated circuit and an RF transceiver integrated circuit;
• storing an identification number in the memory;
• the RF transceiver receiving RF signals;
• and
• upon receiving an RF interrogation signal, the RF transceiver transmitting an identification RF signal conveying the identification number stored in the memory.

A method of identifying an integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:

• providing an integrated circuit package;
• mounting within the package a first integrated circuit;
• mounting within the package an RF transceiver integrated circuit;
• mounting within the package a re-writable memory integrated circuit for storing an identification number, wherein the memory circuit includes a write enable input to which an electrical signal must be applied in order to re-write the number stored in the memory with a specific new value;
• encapsulating the memory circuit within the package so that the write enable input is not connected to any electrical contact external to the package;
• the RF transceiver receiving RF signals;
• and
• upon receiving an RF interrogation signal, the RF transceiver transmitting an identification RF signal conveying the identification number stored in the memory.

A method of identifying an integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:

• providing an integrated circuit package;
• mounting within the package a first integrated circuit;
• mounting within the package an RF transceiver integrated circuit;
• mounting within the package a memory integrated circuit;
• storing in the memory an identification number having a value which is one of a limited number of values which are valid according to a predetermined algorithm;
• the RF transceiver receiving RF signals;
• and
• upon receiving an RF interrogation signal, the RF transceiver transmitting an identification RF signal conveying the identification number stored in the memory.

A method of identifying an integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:

• providing an integrated circuit package;
• mounting within the package a first integrated circuit;
• mounting within the package an RF transceiver integrated circuit;
• mounting within the package a memory integrated circuit;
• storing in the memory an identification number;
• the RF transceiver receiving RF signals;
• upon receiving an RF interrogation signal, the RF transceiver transmitting an identification RF signal conveying the identification number stored in the memory;
• and
• testing whether the identification number stored in the memory has a value which is one of a limited number of values which are valid according to a predetermined algorithm.