Patent ID: 7446550

Claim:
An integrated circuit to enhance photon emissions responsive to an input signal within the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit comprising: circuitry to generate the input signal based upon an operable circuit voltage, the circuitry being coupled with a conductor of the integrated circuit, to apply the input signal to the conductor while the integrated circuit is operating, wherein the input signal has a magnitude at or less than the operable circuit voltage; and a beacon coupled with the circuitry at the conductor to generate photon emissions in response to the input signal while enabled and to substantially remain non-responsive to the input signal while disabled, wherein the beacon comprises: a first transistor having a first channel to couple with a second supply voltage at a first end of the first channel and having a first gate coupled with the conductor, to accelerate carriers through the first channel in response to the input signal, wherein the second supply voltage is materially greater in magnitude than the operable circuit voltage to generate the photon emissions via the carriers; and a second transistor coupled with a second end of the first channel between the first channel and a low circuit voltage, wherein the second transistor comprises a second gate to couple with an enablement signal to enable or disable the beacon; wherein an impedance of the first transistor is materially greater than an impedance of the second transistor to increase voltage drop across the first channel of the first transistor with respect to voltage drop across the second channel of the second transistor; wherein the first transistor comprises a thick oxide transistor and the second transistor comprises a thin oxide transistor; the integrated circuit to couple the circuitry with a first external power supply to supply the operable circuit voltage; and the integrated circuit to couple the first end of the channel of the first transistor with a second external power supply to supply the second supply voltage, the second external power supply being distinct from the first external power supply.