DEVICE "ID" ENCODING WITH USE OF PROTECTION DEVICES

An apparatus including an integrated circuit device comprising a plurality of pins, a plurality of electrostatic discharge units individually coupled to respective ones of the plurality of pins, and a portion of the plurality of electrostatic discharge units configured, upon addressing, to generate a signal representing a signature of the integrated circuit device. A method including for a plurality of suppliers of a similar integrated circuit device, the integrated circuit device comprising a plurality of pins and a plurality of electrostatic discharge units individually coupled to respective ones of a portion of the plurality of pins, and assigning an output value representative of the supplier to an addressing of the plurality of electrostatic discharge units.