Hi,Just a stupid little question.As an application programmer I am used to the fact that software can bereversed engineered.Like executable format back to assembler instructions.Or java/.net bytecode back to java/C#/whatever code.Now that IC's can be programmed with HDL's etc I just have to ask thequestion:Is it common for IC's to be reversed engineered ?For example:Imaginary steps:1. Buy a processor in the store ;)2. Place it under a high resolution scanner3. Have some cad/cam program look at it and create a cad/cam drawing4. Have some extra tool convert it back to a netlist.5. Have some extra tool convert the netlist back to a HDL ;)The smaller the IC the thougher problably ;)What about processors have they been reversed engineered ? :)Bye, Skybuck.

[snip]Yes. There are even companies that specialize in it. ...Jim Thompson-- | James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens || Analog Innovations, Inc. | et || Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus || Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | || E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat || | 1962 | I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Is it common to re-verse engineer an integrated circuit ?

Aug 03, 2005 24 Replies

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Pooh Bear 20 years ago

Wonderful isn't it ?

Seen the same thing with 0.156" pitch connectors spaced at 0.15". It's ugly !

Graham

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Nick Maclaren 20 years ago

Standard field engineering. "Don't bend the tool - get a bigger hammer."

Regards, Nick Maclaren.

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Skybuck Flying 20 years ago

Exactly racism is about hate ;)

Bye, Skybuck.

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Richard Tobin 20 years ago

Just because a licence says something doesn't mean it has any legal force. In the specific case of reverse engineering, many countries have laws specifically allowing it for certain purposes (e.g. to create interoperable products).

-- Richard

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Ben Bradley 20 years ago

I dunno, I suspect this one to be a copyright violation:

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Did they really have the rights to reproduce an image of Waldo? I wonder how many copies they made? If they get sued and have to pay a per-copy royalty or penalty, it could get expensive...

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