Post by thread:[EE]: [PIC]: How to have a private labeled chip ?

Hello, This is for a friend of mine. He developed microcontroller firmware for a specific application and want to sell the programmed chips under his own name. That is, instead of having the chip vendor marking on the chip, he wants to have his own chip number. Any advice how to do that ? Can he order the chips from chip vendor with the private marking or even have the manufacture program/mask the chips ? What about small quantities, is there a way to erase the original marking and stamp his own ? Currently this is a garage operation but potentially he may strike gold and have large orders. Thanks, Tal -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

I have seen the ID sandblasted or sanded off and a new label done with a pad printer to put on "HOUSE Numbers". At 10:14 AM 6/13/02 -0700, you wrote: {Quote hidden}>Hello, > >This is for a friend of mine. He developed microcontroller firmware for a >specific application and >want to sell the programmed chips under his own name. That is, instead of >having the >chip vendor marking on the chip, he wants to have his own chip number. > >Any advice how to do that ? Can he order the chips from chip vendor with the >private marking or even have the manufacture program/mask the chips ? > >What about small quantities, is there a way to erase the original marking >and stamp his own ? > >Currently this is a garage operation but potentially he may strike gold and >have large >orders. > >Thanks, > >Tal > >-- >http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different >ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. Larry G. Nelson Sr. spam_OUTL.NelsonTakeThisOuTieee.org http://www.ultranet.com/~nr -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

If you order a lot of chips mask programming is an option, along with specific/special markings. I believe that they usually charge a large setup fee for the mask programming and then for the stamping/laser marking, then a low cost per thousand for the chips. I've heard of individuals sanding off the markings and placing their own through varous means. I imagine it wouldn't be difficult to make a tray that holds 24-40 chips which can be sanded at once then silk-screen printed at once making the job quick and easy for a medium number of parts. I imagine they want this is obscure the fact that it's a PIC. I've heard of people turning the leads upside down and designing the PCB to match so you can't determined the chip type from the pinout as easily. Still others buy the dice from the manufacturer and have them custom packaged with a different pinout and marking by another manufacturer. If this is going to be a very high volume app you might consider having a company put the dice directly on board (COB) and blobbing epoxy over it. Won't stop the determined from getting your product, but will stop the curious. -Adam Tal (Zapta) wrote: {Quote hidden}>Hello, > >This is for a friend of mine. He developed microcontroller firmware for a >specific application and >want to sell the programmed chips under his own name. That is, instead of >having the >chip vendor marking on the chip, he wants to have his own chip number. > >Any advice how to do that ? Can he order the chips from chip vendor with the >private marking or even have the manufacture program/mask the chips ? > >What about small quantities, is there a way to erase the original marking >and stamp his own ? > >Currently this is a garage operation but potentially he may strike gold and >have large >orders. > >Thanks, > >Tal > >-- >http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different >ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. > > > > > > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

At 09:59 PM 6/13/02 -0700, you wrote: >Thanks for the information. > >Do typical dies (sp?) include markings such as the manufactured or chip >model ? Yes. Quite frankly there is no practical way to stop a determined foe from finding out your secrets if they have the price of a car or two to throw around, and maybe a whole lot less. You may end up shooting yourself in the foot by trying (extra costs, and drawing attention to your presumably very healthy profit margin). Best regards, Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" .....speffKILLspam@spam@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com 9/11 United we Stand -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listservKILLspammitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

On Thu, 13 Jun 2002, Tal Dayan wrote: >Thanks for the information. > >Do typical dies (sp?) include markings such as the manufactured or chip >model ? Small ones only have number codes or nothing at all (not enough room) large ones have whole 'books' printed on the back of the die and sometimes etched into the edges on the front side. I don't know about PIC dies. Peter -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList .....piclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspam.....mitvma.mit.edu

>>Do typical dies (sp?) include markings such as the >>manufactured or chip model ? >Small ones only have number codes or nothing at all >(not enough room) large ones have whole 'books' >printed on the back of the die and sometimes etched >into the edges on the front side. And some chips have all sorts of pictures and other announcements (including undying love) etched on them. See the Silicon Zoo at http://www.microscopy.fsu.edu/creatures/index.html >I don't know about PIC dies. I don't either. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics