IC Version Recording Using N-Bit Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for recording integrated circuit (IC) versions using incremental hexadecimal numbers fail to simultaneously allow new software or firmware to identify different IC versions while maintaining compatibility with older versions.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that record IC versions using N bits, where at least one unused bit is amended each time the IC is revised, allowing new and old software or firmware to read the version correctly by initializing and modifying bit values in a binary format.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If incremental hexadecimal numbers are used to denote IC version, then the version can be simply recorded, but new software cannot identify different versions while maintaining compatibility with old software

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveversion identification capabilityVSAvoidversion recording mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The version identification is segmented into multiple bits (N bits) where each bit can be independently controlled. This allows different software versions to read different bit patterns, enabling both new and old software to identify versions appropriately without conflict.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from using a single hexadecimal value to using multiple binary bits for version recording. This dimensional expansion allows for more granular version identification, where each bit can represent a specific version characteristic, enabling backward compatibility while supporting new version identification requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the register uses incremental hexadecimal numbers to record IC version, then the recording method is simple, but it fails to allow both new and old software to correctly identify their corresponding versions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveversion recording implementationVSAvoidversion identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter representation from hexadecimal to binary bits, where each bit can be independently set to indicate version information. This allows for more precise version encoding that can simultaneously satisfy both new and old software requirements, improving identification reliability while maintaining implementation simplicity through systematic bit assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11636243B2Method and system for recording integrated circuit version

Publication Date: 2023.04.25 REALTEK SEMICON CORP

AI summary

A method and a system for recording an integrated circuit version are provided. The method is adapted to a register in an integrated circuit, which includes the following steps: recording the integrated circuit version with N bits, in which N is an integer greater than 1; and amending only a bit value of at least one bit selected from the N bits that have not been used for denoting any past integrated circuit version each time when the integrated circuit is revised.