The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 28, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 17, 1995
Marc E Levitt, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
An integrated circuit includes a first metal layer with first layer identification signal writing circuitry connections to produce first metal layer circuit identification signals. The integrated circuit also has a second metal layer with second layer identification signal writing circuitry connections to produce second metal layer circuit identification signals. Logic circuitry in the first metal layer has input connections to the first layer identification signal writing circuitry connections and the second layer identification signal writing circuitry connections. The logic circuitry combines the first metal layer circuit identification signals and the second metal layer circuit identification signals to produce a circuit identification number. The value of the circuit identification number can be changed by altering the first layer identification signal writing circuitry connectors or the second layer identification signal writing circuitry connections. Thus, the value of the circuit identification number can be easily changed at the metal layer at which revisions are made.