Patent ID: 7337425

Claim:
A customized wafer that can be used to implement a customized application, the customized wafer comprising the following: at least one base layer configured in a repeating base pattern of individual die such that different configurations of custom layers can be added on top of the at least one base layer to implement different customized applications, the repeating base pattern of individual die including scribe line regions defining boundaries of each die, the scribe line regions including a guard ring that performs one or more of the following functions should the scribe line region be scribed: 1) protects the individual die from destructive effects of scribing, 2) protects the edge of the individual die from cracking caused by scribing, 3) protects the edge of the individual die from contaminates entering at the edge of the individual die, 4) provides a common collection ring for stray currents that occur when the individual die is performing its operational functions; at least one custom layer of a die cluster on top of the repeating base pattern of individual die, the die cluster grouping the resources of one or more individual die contained in the die cluster to implement the customized application; and one or more interconnections between the at least one base layer and the at least one custom layer such that the resources in the at least one custom layer can interoperate with resources in the at least one base layer to implement the customized application.