Method of providing a customer with increased integrated circuit performance

• US 20080004889A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Inventors: Edwards, William T., Sartain, Daryl G.
• Application Number:
  US11/479,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004889A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/71 to assure secure computing or processing of information
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit. The method includes fabricating the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being fabricated to operate at a first performance level; sorting the integrated circuit to a second performance level; locking the integrated circuit to operate at the second performance level when manufacturing the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being configured to be unlocked to operate at the first performance level.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit comprising:

fabricating the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being fabricated to operate at a first performance level;

sorting the integrated circuit to a second performance level;

locking the integrated circuit to operate at the second performance level when manufacturing the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being configured to be unlocked to operate at the first performance level.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the integrated circuit includes a processor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the sorting is based upon customer commitments.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selling the integrated circuit at a predefined price based upon the second performance level.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the integrated circuit is fabricated to operate at the first performance level due to a higher than anticipated performance yield.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating revenue by unlocking the integrated circuit to operate at the first performance level after market.

7. An apparatus for manufacturing an integrated circuit comprising:

means for fabricating the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being fabricated to operate at a first performance level;

means for sorting the integrated circuit to a second performance level;

means for locking the integrated circuit to operate at the second performance level when manufacturing the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being configured to be unlocked to operate at the first performance level.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the integrated circuit includes a processor.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the sorting is based upon customer commitments.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

selling the integrated circuit at a predefined price based upon the second performance level.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the integrated circuit is fabricated to operate at the first performance level due to a higher than anticipated performance yield.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

generating revenue by unlocking the integrated circuit to operate at the first performance level after market.