Abstract: A device adapted to protect integrated circuits from reverse engineering comprising a part looking like a via connecting two metal layers, but in fact attached only to one metal layer and spaced from the other. Having such “trick” via would force a reverse engineer to think there is a connection where there is none. A method for fabricating such device.

Abstract: A permanently-ON MOS transistor comprises silicon source and drain regions of a first conductivity type in a silicon well region of a second conductivity type. A silicon contact region of the first conductivity types is buried in the well region, said contact region contacting said source region and said drain region. A first gate insulating layer is selectively placed over the silicon source and drain regions. A second gate insulating layer is selectively placed over the first gate insulating layer and over the silicon contact region. A polysilicon gate region is placed over the second gate insulating layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure for MOS-type devices including a silicon substrate of a first conductivity type; a first gate insulating regions selectively placed over the silicon substrate of the first conductivity type; a first polycrystalline silicon layer selectively placed over the silicon substrate of the first conductivity type; a second gate insulating regions selectively placed over the first gate insulating regions and the first polycrystalline silicon layer; a second polycrystalline silicon layer selectively placed over the second gate insulating regions; first buried silicon regions of a second conductivity type, buried within the silicon substrate of the first conductivity type, placed under the first polycrystalline silicon layer and in contact therewith; and second buried silicon regions of the second conductivity type, buried within the silicon substrate of the first conductivity type, placed under the second gate insulating regions, under the second polycrystalline silicon layer and insulate

Abstract: A technique for and structures for camouflaging an integrated circuit structure. The integrated circuit structure is formed having a well of a first conductivity type under the gate region being disposed adjacent to active regions of a first conductivity type. The well forming an electrical path between the active regions regardless of any reasonable voltage applied to the integrated circuit structure.

Abstract: A multilayered integrated circuit and a method of designing a multilayered integrated circuit are provided. The circuit comprises at least two conductive layers and extraneous conductive lines placed in the conductive layers. The extraneous conductive lines are made of a material which is the same as the material in the conductive layers and have dimensions which are the same as the dimension of the material in the conductive layers. The extraneous conductive lines perform functions which are unnecessary to the operation of the integrated circuit and are undistinguishable from the functional conductive lines, thus burdening the work of a reverse engineer. The method of designing the multilayered circuit comprises a step of providing a computer generated representation of the extraneous conductive lines.

Abstract: A technique for and structures for camouflaging an integrated circuit structure. A layer of conductive material having a controlled outline is disposed to provide artifact edges of the conductive material that resemble an operable device when in fact the device is not operable.

Abstract: A permanently-ON MOS transistor comprises silicon source and drain regions of a first conductivity type in a silicon well region of a second conductivity type. A silicon contact region of the first conductivity types is buried in the well region, said contact region contacting said source region and said drain region. A first gate insulating layer is selectively placed over the silicon source and drain regions. A second gate insulating layer is selectively placed over the first gate insulating layer and over the silicon contact region. A polysilicon gate region is placed over the second gate insulating layer.

Abstract: A technique for and structures for camouflaging an integrated circuit structure. The integrated circuit structure is formed by a plurality of layers of material having a controlled outline. A layer of conductive material having a controlled outline is disposed among said plurality of layers to provide artifact edges of the conductive material that resemble one type of transistor (operable vs. non-operable), when in fact another type of transistor was used.

Abstract: A method and circuit for blocking unauthorized access to at least one memory cell in a semiconductor memory. The method includes providing a switch and/or a link which assumes an open state when access to the at least one memory cell is to be blocked; and coupling-a data line associated with the at least one memory cell to a constant voltage source in response to the switch or link assuming an open state.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure for MOS-type devices including a silicon substrate of a first conductivity type; a first gate insulating regions selectively placed over the silicon substrate of the first conductivity tape; a first polycrystalline silicon layer selectively placed over the silicon substrate of the first conductivity type; a second gate insulating regions selectively placed over the first gate insulating regions and the first polycrystalline silicon layer; a second polycrystalline silicon layer selectively placed over the second gate insulating regions; first buried silicon regions of a second conductivity type, buried within the silicon substrate of the first conductivity type, placed under the first polycrystalline silicon layer and in contact therewith; and second buried silicon regions of the second conductivity type, buried within the silicon substrate of the first conductivity type, placed under the second gate insulating regions, under the second polycrystalline silicon layer and insulate

Abstract: Technique and structures for camouflaging an integrated circuit structure. The integrated circuit structure is formed by a plurality of layers of material having controlled outlines and controlled thicknesses. A layer of dielectric material of a controlled thickness is disposed among said plurality of layers to thereby render the integrated circuit structure intentionally inoperable.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is protected from reverse engineering by connecting doped circuit elements of like conductivity with a doped implant in the substrate, rather than with a metallized interconnect. The doped circuit elements and their corresponding implant interconnections can be formed in a common fabrication step with common implant masks, such that they have an integral structure with similar dopant concentrations. The metallization above the substrate surface can be designed to provide further masking of the interconnects, and microbridges can be added to span strips of transistor gate material in the interconnect path.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure for MOS-type devices comprising a silicon substrate of a first conductivity type; a first gate insulating regions selectively placed over the silicon substrate of the first conductivity type; a first polycrystalline silicon layer selectively placed over the silicon substrate of the first conductivity type; a second gate insulating regions selectively placed over the first gate insulating regions and the first polycrystalline silicon layer; a second polycrystalline silicon layer selectively placed over the second gate insulating regions; first buried silicon regions of a second conductivity type, buried within the silicon substrate of the first conductivity type, placed under the first polycrystalline silicon layer and in contact therewith; and second buried silicon regions of the second conductivity type, buried within the silicon substrate of the first conductivity type, placed under the second gate insulating regions, under the second polycrystalline silicon layer and insulat

Abstract: A permanently-ON MOS transistor comprises silicon source and drain regions of a first conductivity type in a silicon well region of a second conductivity type. A silicon contact region of the first conductivity types is buried in the well region, said contact region contacting said source region and said drain region. A first gate insulating layer is selectively placed over the silicon source and drain regions. A second gate insulating layer is selectively placed over the first gate insulating layer and over the silicon contact region. A polysilicon gate region is placed over the second gate insulating layer.

Abstract: A camouflaged interconnection for interconnecting two spaced-apart regions of a common conductivity type in an integrated circuit or device and a method of forming same. The camouflaged interconnection comprises a first region forming a conducting channel between the two spaced-apart regions, the conducting channel being of the same common conductivity type and bridging a region between the two spaced-apart regions, and a second region of opposite conductivity to type, the second region being disposed between the two spaced-apart regions of common conductivity type and over lying the conducting channel to camouflage the conducting channel from reverse engineering.

Abstract: A method and circuit for blocking unauthorized access to at least one memory cell in a semiconductor memory. The method includes providing a switch and/or a link which assumes an open state when access to the at least one memory cell is to be blocked; and coupling a data line associated with the at least one memory cell to a constant voltage source in response to the switch or link assuming an open state.

Abstract: Semiconducting devices, including integrated circuits, protected from reverse engineering comprising passivation openings made in a passivation layer. When a reverse engineer etches away the passivation layer, underlying metal layers and/or other elements of the device are destroyed making the reverse engineering impossible. Top metal layer may remain intact. A method for fabricating such devices.

Abstract: A device adapted to protect integrated circuits from reverse engineering comprising a part looking like a via connecting two metal layers, but in fact attached only to one metal layer and spaced from the other. Having such “trick” via would force a reverse engineer to think there is a connection where there is none. A method for fabricating such device.

Abstract: Semiconducting devices, including integrated circuits, protected from reverse engineering comprising metal traces leading to field oxide. Metallization usually leads to the gate, source or drain areas of the circuit, but not to the insulating field oxide, thus misleading a reverse engineer. A method for fabricating such devices.

Abstract: An ionic flame monitor. The flame monitor has a flame rod that produces an ionization current when the flame rod is immersed in a flame and excited by a voltage. The ionization current has a DC component and an AC component each dependent on the intensity of the flame, and a flicker frequency. The flame monitor also has a computing device that is responsive to signals representative of the flicker frequency, and the AC and DC components of the ionization current for determining the existence of the flame.