Method and apparatus for identifying integrated circuits
First Claim
1. A method of identifying a plurality of substantially identical integrated circuits formed on a common substrate, comprising the steps of:
- programming each of the integrated circuits with respective electronic identification information distinguishing the integrated circuits from one another; and
marking each of the integrated circuits with respective optical identification code which corresponds with the respective electronic identification information;
reading the optical identification code on each of the integrated circuits; and
accessing a lookup table to associate the optical identification code on each of the integrated circuits with the corresponding electronic identification information.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit and method for identifying same is described. The integrated circuit includes a programmable identification circuit for storing electronic identification information. The integrated circuit also includes an optical identification mark displaying a machine-readable optical identification code which corresponds with the electronic identification information stored in the identification circuit. The data encoded in the optical identification code may be identical with that of the electronic identification information. Alternatively, a look-up table or other correlating means may be employed to associate the optical identification code with the electronic identification information. The integrated circuit is packaged in a housing, and another optical identification mark is placed on an external surface of the housing. This second optical identification mark displays a machine-readable optical identification code which is identical or correlated to the electronic identification information stored in the identification circuit and/or the optical identification code displayed by the optical identification mark on the integrated circuit. Consequently, convenient and traceable identification of individual integrated circuits is provided during and after manufacture.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of identifying a plurality of substantially identical integrated circuits formed on a common substrate, comprising the steps of:
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programming each of the integrated circuits with respective electronic identification information distinguishing the integrated circuits from one another; and marking each of the integrated circuits with respective optical identification code which corresponds with the respective electronic identification information; reading the optical identification code on each of the integrated circuits; and accessing a lookup table to associate the optical identification code on each of the integrated circuits with the corresponding electronic identification information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a plurality of substantially identical integrated circuits formed on a common substrate, each of the integrated circuits including a programmable circuit for storing respective electronically readable identification code which distinguishes the integrated circuits from one another, a method of identifying the integrated circuits, comprising the steps of:
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marking each of the integrated circuits with respective optical identification code; accessing a lookup table to associate the optical identification code on each of the integrated circuits with the respective electronically readable identification code and reading the optical identification code on each of the integrated circuits. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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- 10. A wafer comprising a plurality of dies, each die including an integrated circuit having a programmable identification circuit that stores identification data, and each die having an optical identification mark positioned thereon and encoding information corresponding to the identification data, optical identification mark on each die being accessed through a lookup table to correspond to the electronic identification information.
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14. A plurality of integrated circuit chips, each comprising:
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a housing; an integrated circuit enclosed within the housing and including an identification circuit that stores identification data distinguishing each of the integrated circuit chips from one another; and an optical mark positioned on an exterior surface of the housing and encoding identification information being accessed through a lookup table to correspond to the identification data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of identifying a plurality of substantially identical integrated circuits formed on a common substrate, each of the integrated circuits being formed on a respective one of a plurality of substrate dies, the method comprising:
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programming each of the plurality of integrated circuits with respective electronic identification information for each of the integrated circuits; and marking each of the dies with optical identification code which corresponds with the respective electronic identification information; reading the optical identification code on each of the integrated circuits; reading the electronic identification information from each of the integrated circuits; and accessing a lookup table to associate the optical identification code on each of the integrated circuits with the corresponding electronic identification information. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification