US Patent 7948060 Integrated circuit structure

An integrated circuit and corresponding method of manufacture. The integrated circuit has a die comprising: an outer strengthening ring around a periphery of the die, the outer ring having one or more gaps; and an inner strengthening ring within the outer ring and around interior circuitry of the die, the inner ring having one or more gaps offset from the gaps of the outer ring. One or more conducting members are electrically isolated from said rings and electrically connected to the interior circuitry, each member passing through a gap of the inner ring and through a gap of the outer ring.