Patent ID: 6883151

Claim:
A method for IC identification, to be used for identifying the origin of an IC design, wherein said IC comprises at least a testing circuit for testing the functional correctness of said IC, and said testing circuit is activated by a testing activation signal, and will generate a testing result after the testing, said identification method comprises the steps of (a). providing an original identification data representing the origin of said IC; (b). transforming said original identification data into a digital identification data; (c). providing an identification circuit for generating said digital identification data, wherein said identification circuit is activated by a testing activation signal, and generates said digital identification data; (d). integrating said identification circuit and said testing circuit into a composite circuit, wherein said composite circuit will be activated by said testing activation signal, receive said testing signal, process said digital identification data from said identification circuit and said testing result from said testing circuit, and generate an output signal; (e). inputting said testing activation signal and said testing signal to said composite circuit, and waiting for said output signal; (f). receiving said output signal and processing said output signal to obtain a digital identification data; and (g). interpreting said digital identification data to obtain said original identification data.