Method and apparatus for identifying customized integrated circuits
AssigneeSigmatel, Inc.
InventorAlan W Hansford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated circuit having a unique identifying module includes a first and second bonding pads that are deposited on a die. The identifying module further includes a bond determining module that is operably coupled to the first and second bonding pads. As coupled, the bond determining module determines the bonding status of the first and second bonding pads. For example, the bonding status indicates whether a packaged pin is bonded to the first bonding pad, the second bonding pad, both bonding pads or neither bonding pad. Based on the bonding status, the bond determining module produces a die identifier which uniquely identifies the integrated circuit.
Claims12
An identifying module for use in an integrated circuit, the identifying module comprises:
- a first bonding pad on a die;
- a second bonding pad on the die;
- and
- a bond determining module operably coupled to the first and second bonding pads, wherein the bond determining module determines bonding status of the first bonding pad and the second bonding pad, and wherein the bond determining module produces a die identifier based on the bonding status.
An audio Codec integrated circuit comprises:
- analog to digital conversion module operably coupled to receive inbound analog signals and to produce therefrom inbound digital signals;
- digital to analog conversion module operably coupled to receive outbound digital signals and to produce therefrom outbound analog signals;
- and
- an identifying module that includes:
- a first bonding pad on a die;
- a second bonding pad on the die;
- and
- a bond determining module operably coupled to the first and second bonding pads, wherein the bond determining module determines bonding status of the first bonding pad and the second bonding pad, and wherein the bond determining module produces an audio Codec identifier based on the bonding status.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.