Method for personalizing integrated circuit devices

• US 5,727,231 A
• Filed: 05/21/1996
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lewis, David O., Collett, Jeffrey A., Sellers, Glenn W., Herman, Linda S., Bartley, Gerald K., Cecchi, Delbert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Daniel H.
• Application Number:
  US08/651,019
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 395/80 D, 395/200.1, 395/892, 395/500, 395/183.2, 395/893, 395/887, 395/281, 395/180, 395/900, 395/200.01, 395/750.1, 395/309, 395/50 D, 395/508, 395/858 , 395/401, 395/421.04, 395/430, 395/27, 395/22, 395/24, 365/200, 455/38.3, 455/54.1, 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2, 364/481, 364/550, 364/489, 364/488, 371/25.1, 437/54, 340/825.25, 340/825.31, 370/408, 370/419, 370/438
• US Class Current: 710/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7867 with reconfigurable architecture

Abstract

A customizable integrated circuit device is disclosed that is capable of having unique data selected for controlling the functionality or configurability of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit device has a microcontroller unit, a plurality of function units, coupled to the microcontroller unit, and a novel customization logic unit, also coupled to the microcontroller unit. A plurality of signal selectors, further coupled to the customization logic, either on the integrated circuit or on the mounting module to which the integrated circuit is afixed, are selected to control a signal generated by the customization logic to the microcontroller. The customization logic unit may use data that represents a serial number, performance characteristics, such as operational speed, or qualified external working configurations, such as mainstore or caching configurations, associated with the integrated circuit and as selected by the signal selectors.

Claims

1. A customizable integrated circuit device comprising:

an integrated circuit chip including a microcontroller unit formed therein;

M function units formed within said integrated circuit chip and coupled to said microcontroller unit;

a customization logic unit, coupled to said microcontroller unit, for generating a signal sent to said microcontroller unit for controlling which of said M function units are operational by means of microcodes stored within said microcontroller unit;

a mounting module, to which said integrated circuit chip is attached, for coupling said integrated circuit chip to an electronic system, and further comprising;

N signals selectors formed within said mounting module, coupled to said customization logic, for controlling said generated signal sent by said customization logic, wherein N is less than M.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said customization logic unit further comprises an enabling driver for placing a first signal on each of said N signal selectors.

3. The customizable integrated circuit device according to claim 2 wherein said customizable logic unit further comprises a plurality of pull-up receivers, each coupled to one of said N signal selectors for selectively altering said first generated signal from said enabling driver.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said customization logic unit further comprises a storage latch for receiving said generated signal and being further connected to said microcontroller unit.

5. A customizable integrated circuit device comprising:

a microcontroller unit;

M function units, coupled to said microcontroller unit;

a customization logic unit, coupled to said microcontroller unit, for generating a signal sent to said microcontroller unit for controlling which of said M function units are operational by means of microcodes stored in said microcontroller unit, said customization logic unit further including a storage latch for receiving said generated signal and being further connected to said microcontroller unit; and

N signals selectors, coupled to said customization logic, for controlling said generated signal sent by said customization logic, wherein N is less than M.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said customization logic unit further comprises an enabling driver for placing a first signal on each of said N signal selectors.

7. The customizable integrated circuit device according to claim 6 wherein said customizable logic unit further comprises a plurality of pull-up receivers, each coupled to one of said N signal selectors for selectively altering said first generated signal from said enabling driver.