US 12,456,979 B2
Electronic chip identity
Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Edinburgh (GB); Jose Bernardo Din, Calabarzon (PH); Albert Lastimada, Calabarzon (PH); and Herlan Kester Benitez, Central Luzon (PH)
Assigned to Analog Devices International Unlimited Company, Limerick (IE)
Filed by Analog Devices International Unlimited Company, Limerick (IE)
Filed on Jun. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/334,114.
Prior Publication US 2024/0421819 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. H03K 19/003 (2006.01)
CPC H03K 19/003 (2013.01) 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic device comprising:
an identity unit configured to store an electronic chip identifier (ECID) that uniquely identifies the electronic chip; and
a multi-purpose pin coupled to the identity unit, wherein the multi-purpose pin is for use in outputting the ECID from the electronic device and for a function unrelated to electronic chip identification,
wherein the identity unit is configured to output the ECID from the electronic device using the multi-purpose pin such that the electronic device can be uniquely identified using the multi-purpose pin;
wherein the function unrelated to electronic chip identification uses a signal of a first electrical type, and the identity unit is configured to output the ECID from the electronic device using a signal of a second electrical type,
wherein the first electrical type is voltage and the second electrical type is current, or
wherein the first electrical type is current and the second electrical type is voltage.