A side-channel protected interface component

Abstract

This invention discloses a side-channel protected interface component, relating to the field of electronic circuit manufacturing technology. It includes a PCB board body, a radio frequency (RF) device, an interface connector, and an antenna. The interface connector is fixedly mounted on the PCB board body and is used to transmit high-speed differential signals. The antenna is an F-shaped planar antenna printed on the PCB board body and arranged in the vicinity of the interface connector and its connected high-speed differential signal lines. The RF device is fixedly mounted on the PCB board body and electrically connected to the antenna, used to control the antenna to emit electromagnetic interference signals to scramble the electromagnetic leakage signals generated by the interface connector when transmitting high-speed differential signals. This invention uses the F-shaped planar antenna to radiate interference signals in the critical signal leakage area, providing real-time masking and scrambling of electromagnetic leakage, effectively blocking non-intrusive side-channel attacks based on electromagnetic radiation, significantly improving the information security of high-speed interface data transmission, and has a compact structure that is easy to integrate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electronic circuit manufacturing technology, specifically to a side-channel protected interface component. Background Technology

[0002] In the fields of information security and high-speed interconnection of electronic devices, high-speed serial interfaces such as USB, HDMI, Type-C, and DP have become standard transmission components for electronic devices, widely used in consumer electronics, industrial control, communication equipment, and classified terminals. To reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by high-speed signal transmission, existing high-speed interface protocols generally employ spread spectrum (SSC) technology, termination matching, shielded cables, and grounding optimization, which to some extent suppress electromagnetic radiation intensity and indirectly reduce the risk of being sampled by side channels.

[0003] When existing interface components are in use, high-speed differential signals will still inevitably generate electromagnetic leakage at PCB wiring, connector pins, adapter sockets and shielding defects. This type of leakage has spectral and timing characteristics that are strongly correlated with the transmitted data. Attackers can non-invasively collect interface radiation signals through devices such as near-field probes and radio frequency receivers.

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, a side-channel protected interface component is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the electromagnetic leakage security risks present in existing high-speed interfaces, this invention provides a side-channel protected interface component that can physically block attack paths.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A side-channel protected interface component includes a PCB board body, a radio frequency device, an interface connector, and an antenna; The interface connector is fixedly mounted on the PCB board body and is used to transmit high-speed differential signals; The antenna is an F-shaped planar antenna printed on the PCB board body and arranged in the vicinity of the interface connector and the high-speed differential signal line connected thereto; The radio frequency device is fixedly mounted on the PCB board body and electrically connected to the antenna. It is used to control the antenna to emit electromagnetic interference signals and to scramble the electromagnetic leakage signals generated by the interface connector when transmitting the high-speed differential signals in real time.

[0007] Preferably, the interface connector has an electrical connection terminal at its bottom, and the PCB board body has a conductive contact pad at a corresponding position, with the electrical connection terminal soldered to the conductive contact pad.

[0008] Preferably, the F-shaped planar antenna is arranged along the routing direction of the high-speed differential signal line.

[0009] Preferably, the radiation area of ​​the F-shaped planar antenna covers the pin soldering area of ​​the interface connector, the wiring area of ​​the high-speed differential signal line, and the signal via conversion area.

[0010] Preferably, the radio frequency device includes an oscillation circuit, a power drive circuit, and a signal detection circuit; The signal detection circuit is used to perform spectrum sensing on the adjacent electromagnetic environment of the interface connector and obtain a feedback signal. The oscillation circuit is electrically connected to the signal detection circuit and is used to generate or adjust the electromagnetic interference signal according to the feedback signal. The power drive circuit is used to amplify the electromagnetic interference signal and feed it to the antenna.

[0011] Preferably, the signal detection circuit scans multiple candidate frequency points and detects the signal-to-noise ratio at each candidate frequency point, selecting the candidate frequency point that minimizes the signal-to-noise ratio as the operating frequency point of the electromagnetic interference signal.

[0012] Preferably, the oscillation circuit dynamically adjusts the transmission power and / or center frequency of the electromagnetic interference signal based on the real-time detected signal-to-noise ratio change, so that the signal-to-noise ratio is maintained below a preset threshold.

[0013] Preferably, the interface connector is a USB Type-C connector, an HDMI connector, or a DisplayPort connector.

[0014] Preferably, the frequency band of the electromagnetic interference signal covers the main frequency components of the high-speed differential signal and its associated frequency extension range.

[0015] Preferably, the structural parameters of the F-shaped planar antenna are designed such that the resonant frequency point is located within the target protection frequency band, and the radiation efficiency of the antenna within the target protection frequency band is not less than 60%.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. This application uses a radio frequency device and an antenna to generate an interference signal with a spectrum similar to the transmitted signal in real time in the interface transmission area, effectively masking electromagnetic leakage characteristics and blocking non-intrusive radiation monitoring and data restoration from the source, significantly improving the information security of high-speed interface transmissions such as USB and HDMI.

[0017] 2. The F-shaped planar antenna of this application is printed on the PCB board body and arranged along the high-speed differential signal line. The antenna radiation area covers the interface connector pins, differential traces and transition area. The structure is simple, requires no extra space, and can be directly integrated into the existing interface circuit board, with strong adaptability.

[0018] 3. The radio frequency device of this application has built-in signal detection, oscillation and power drive circuits, which can adaptively match the working frequency bands of various high-speed interfaces without changing the electrical characteristics and transmission protocols of the original interfaces, and has good compatibility and versatility. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a front view diagram of a side-channel protected interface component; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the reverse structure of a side-channel protected interface component.

[0020] In the diagram: 1. PCB body; 2. RF device; 3. Interface connector; 4. Antenna; 5. High-speed differential signal line. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] To further understand the content of this invention, a detailed description of the invention will be provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 This invention provides a side-channel protected interface component, including a PCB board body 1, a radio frequency device 2, an interface connector 3, and an F-shaped antenna 4.

[0024] The interface connector 3 is fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the PCB board body 1. It has an electrical connection terminal at its bottom. By soldering with the corresponding conductive contact pads on the PCB board body, a stable electrical connection is achieved. The interface connector can be a high-speed serial interface of type USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, etc., for signal interconnection with external devices.

[0025] The antenna 4 is an F-shaped planar antenna printed on the PCB board. It is positioned near the interface connector and extends along the routing direction of the high-speed differential signal line 5 connected to the interface connector 3. This arrangement allows the radiation field of the antenna 4 to effectively cover key electromagnetic leakage source areas such as the pin soldering area of ​​the interface connector 3, the main wiring area of ​​the high-speed differential signal line 5, and the signal via conversion area. The structural parameters of the F-shaped planar antenna (such as radiating arm length, feeding structure, bend angle, and grounding layout) are designed to achieve good impedance matching and radiation efficiency in the target protection frequency band, meeting the requirements for integration within a compact space.

[0026] In this embodiment, the design of the F-shaped planar antenna achieves miniaturization and impedance matching by coordinating the optimization of the radiating arm length (L≈λ / 4-ΔL), the distance between the feed point and the short-circuit point (d), the width and position of the short-circuit stub (w), the turning angle (θ), and the extension length (Ls), combined with the iterative adjustment of parameters through electromagnetic simulation. At the same time, the ground plane size must be ≥λ / 4 and a clearance area must be set to ensure that the antenna resonates in the target frequency band and the radiation efficiency is ≥60%, meeting the requirements of compact device integration.

[0027] The radio frequency (RF) device is fixedly mounted on the PCB board, located on one side of the antenna and electrically connected to it, working in conjunction with the antenna. The RF device 2 integrates signal detection circuitry, oscillation circuitry, and power drive circuitry, enabling adaptive matching with various high-speed interface operating frequency bands. The oscillation circuitry generates electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals, i.e., masking signals; the power drive circuitry amplifies the EMI signals and feeds them to the antenna 4. The signal detection circuitry continuously monitors signal characteristics within the target frequency band, such as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

[0028] The component's operation and adaptive protection mechanism are as follows: When interface connector 3 performs high-speed data transmission, its related circuits generate electromagnetic leakage signals related to the transmitted data. Simultaneously, the RF device 2 starts operating. The signal detection circuit monitors the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the preset frequency band in real time. When the detected SNR is lower than a preset threshold, the control logic determines that there is a valid, not fully masked side-channel leakage signal, and then triggers a dynamic masking mechanism. This mechanism dynamically enhances the transmission power of the masking signal emitted by antenna 4 and / or optimizes its center frequency and spectral shape by adjusting the parameters of the oscillation circuit and power drive circuit. The oscillation circuit can adaptively adjust its output based on feedback from the signal detection circuit to generate electromagnetic interference signals that match the data transmission characteristics of different interface protocols (such as USB, HDMI, and DisplayPort). The enhanced electromagnetic interference signal radiated by antenna 4 has a spectrum that can cover and effectively mask the actual electromagnetic leakage signal. This prevents external attackers from extracting valid transmission data from the interfered composite electromagnetic field, even if they use highly sensitive devices such as near-field probes to collect radiation signals. This physically blocks non-intrusive side-channel attack paths based on electromagnetic radiation, thus improving the security of data transmission.

[0029] The principle behind the adaptive matching of radio frequency devices with various high-speed interface operating frequency bands lies in the following: the device, through its internal signal detection circuit, emits probing interference signals at multiple candidate frequency points while simultaneously receiving electromagnetic radiation from the environment. When the frequency point of the interference signal coincides with or is very close to the main energy frequency point of the interface data leakage signal, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) detected by the device will significantly decrease because the leakage signal is effectively masked. By traversing or scanning preset frequency points and finding the point with the lowest SNR, the device can lock the center frequency point of the current interface leakage signal, thereby completing frequency matching.

[0030] To further improve the accuracy and efficiency of interference, the control logic of the RF device can dynamically select the optimal interference frequency point based on the effective operating frequency band of the F-shaped antenna (such as the efficient radiation range of ±20MHz near its resonant frequency) and real-time spectrum sensing results through an adaptive algorithm. This algorithm prioritizes frequencies with a deviation ≤100MHz from the current operating frequency and a signal strength ≥-60dBm as key interference targets, dynamically adjusting the frequency and power of the interference signal to ensure optimal masking of leaked signals. This achieves precise and efficient spectrum energy delivery, maximizing the effectiveness of side-channel protection.

[0031] This adaptive mechanism does not require identification of specific interface protocols, nor does it require changes to the electrical characteristics and transmission protocols of the original interfaces. It can achieve efficient protection through frequency matching at the physical layer, thus possessing excellent compatibility and versatility.

[0032] This embodiment has a simple structure. By directly integrating the F-shaped planar antenna 4 and the radio frequency device 2 onto the existing interface PCB board body 1, the electrical characteristics and transmission protocol of the original interface are not changed. This achieves protection against side channel leakage of high-speed interfaces and can be directly applied to side channel protection scenarios of high-speed interfaces with various interface protocol types such as USB, HDMI, and DisplayPort. It has good compatibility and practicality.

[0033] It should be noted that the aforementioned electrical components are equipped with power supplies, and their control methods are existing technologies. To avoid redundancy, they will be described here uniformly. Furthermore, this application is primarily for the protection of mechanical equipment, so the control methods and circuit connections will not be explained in detail herein. In this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0034] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A side-channel protected interface component, characterized by: Includes PCB board body (1), radio frequency device (2), interface connector (3) and antenna (4); The interface connector (3) is fixedly mounted on the PCB board body (1) and is used to transmit high-speed differential signals; The antenna (4) is an F-shaped planar antenna printed on the PCB board body (1) and arranged in the vicinity of the interface connector (3) and the high-speed differential signal line connected thereto; The radio frequency device (2) is fixedly mounted on the PCB board body (1) and electrically connected to the antenna (4) to control the antenna (4) to emit electromagnetic interference signals and to scramble the electromagnetic leakage signals generated by the interface connector (3) when transmitting the high-speed differential signal in real time.

2. The side-channel protected interface component according to claim 1, characterized in that: The interface connector (3) has an electrical connection terminal at its bottom, and the PCB board body (1) has a conductive contact pad at a corresponding position. The electrical connection terminal is soldered to the conductive contact pad.

3. The side-channel protected interface component of claim 1, wherein: The F-shaped planar antenna is extended along the routing direction of the high-speed differential signal line.

4. The side-channel protected interface component of claim 3, wherein: The radiation area of ​​the F-shaped planar antenna covers the pin soldering area of ​​the interface connector (3), the wiring area of ​​the high-speed differential signal line, and the signal via conversion area.

5. The side-channel protected interface component of claim 1, wherein: The radio frequency device (2) includes an oscillation circuit, a power drive circuit, and a signal detection circuit; The signal detection circuit is used to perform spectrum sensing on the adjacent electromagnetic environment of the interface connector (3) and obtain feedback signals; The oscillation circuit is electrically connected to the signal detection circuit and is used to generate or adjust the electromagnetic interference signal according to the feedback signal. The power drive circuit is used to amplify the electromagnetic interference signal and feed it to the antenna (4).

6. The side-channel protected interface component of claim 5, wherein: The signal detection circuit scans multiple candidate frequency points and detects the signal-to-noise ratio at each candidate frequency point. It then selects the candidate frequency point that minimizes the signal-to-noise ratio as the operating frequency point of the electromagnetic interference signal.

7. The side-channel protected interface component of claim 6, wherein: The oscillation circuit dynamically adjusts the transmission power and / or center frequency of the electromagnetic interference signal based on the real-time detected signal-to-noise ratio change, so that the signal-to-noise ratio is maintained below a preset threshold.

8. The side-channel protected interface component of claim 1, wherein: The interface connector (3) is a USB Type-C connector, an HDMI connector, or a DisplayPort connector.

9. The side-channel protected interface component of claim 1, wherein: The frequency band of the electromagnetic interference signal covers the main frequency components of the high-speed differential signal and its related frequency extension range.

10. The side-channel protected interface component of claim 1, wherein: The structural parameters of the F-shaped planar antenna are designed such that the resonant frequency point is located within the target protection frequency band, and the radiation efficiency of the antenna within the target protection frequency band is not less than 60%.

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