Semiconductor device with identification function

Abstract

A bare chip (1) is rectangular, and has a front surface (1a) on the center of which semiconductor elements are integrated and a back surface. Notches (2) are formed on a side of the bare chip (1) according to the kind of the semiconductor elements integrated on the bare chip (1). The notches (2) are oblong and extend through the bare chip (1) from the front surface (1a) to the back surface. For example, assuming that the notch (2) represents '1' and a portion without the notch (2) represents '0', one-bit information is obtained according to the presence or absence of the notch (2). When detection of several portions is made, binary information according to a detection result, i.e., information regarding the type of the bare chip (1), is obtained. For detection of the presence or absence of the notch (2), the bare chip (1) is irradiated with light, and then whether the light goes through the notch (2) or is intercepted by the bare chip (1) is detected. Thus, a semiconductor device which allows easy identification of its type is provided.