Fiducial transistor in an integrated circuit
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsSteve Seidel, Simon Tam, Valluri Rao, Stefan Rusu, Richard Livengood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method. In the method, a fiducial transistor is provided in an integrated circuit. Also in the method, a power conductor is coupled to a first terminal of the transistor. Also in the method, a ground conductor is coupled to a second terminal of the transistor. Also in the method, a control conductor is coupled to a third terminal of the transistor. Also in the method, other circuitry is provided, the other circuitry is operatively decoupled from the fiducial transistor and the other circuitry is operable without the fiducial transistor.
Claims22
An apparatus comprising:
- a fiducial transistor in an integrated circuit, wherein the fiducial transistor emits infrared radiation when conducting current to be used to find a portion of the integrated circuit;
- a power supply conductor coupled to a first terminal of the fiducial transistor;
- a ground conductor coupled to a second terminal of the fiducial transistor;
- a control conductor coupled to a third terminal of the fiducial transistor, wherein the control conductor coupled to the power supply conductor;
- and
- other circuitry in the integrated circuit, the fiducial transistor operatively decoupled from the other circuitry.
A method comprising:
- providing a fiducial transistor in an integrated circuit, wherein the fiducial transistor emits infrared radiation when conducting current to be used to find a portion of the integrated circuit;
- coupling a power conductor to a first terminal of the fiducial transistor;
- coupling a ground conductor to a second terminal of the fiducial transistor;
- coupling a control conductor to a third terminal of the fiducial transistor;
- coupling the control conductor to the power conductor;
- and
- providing other circuitry in the integrated circuit, the other circuitry operatively decoupled from the fiducial transistor, the other circuitry operable without the fiducial transistor.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a fiducial transistor in an integrated circuit, wherein the fiducial transistor emits infrared radiation when conducting current to be used to find a portion of the integrated circuit;
- a power supply conductor coupled to a first terminal of the fiducial transistor;
- a ground conductor coupled to a second terminal of the fiducial transistor;
- a control conductor coupled to a third terminal of the fiducial transistor;
- other circuitry in the integrated circuit, the fiducial transistor operatively decoupled from the other circuitry;
- and
- a package enclosing the integrated circuit, the package including a plurality of leads, a lead of the plurality of leads coupled to a bond pad, wherein the bond pad is coupled to the control conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.