Programmable Chip Power Isolation for Secure Decryption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Programmable chips, such as FPGAs, are vulnerable to reverse engineering due to power consumption variations during sensitive operations like decryption, as techniques like differential power analysis can extract cryptographic keys during the decryption process.
Innovation Solution
A programmable chip package with an alternate power source and a controller that selectively couples the main power source to the chip, decoupling it before sensitive operations to isolate power consumption, using the alternate source during sensitive tasks and recharging it as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the programmable chip draws power from the main power source during sensitive operations, then continuous power supply is maintained, but power consumption variations leak information about the operation being performed
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply is segmented into two independent sources: a main power source for general operation and a secondary power source for sensitive operations. The switch isolates the programmable chip from the main power source during sensitive operations, dividing the power supply system to eliminate information leakage while maintaining continuous power availability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the main power source is continuously coupled to the programmable chip, then power availability is ensured, but differential power analysis can extract cryptographic keys during decryption
Solution Approach 1:
A switch acts as an intermediary component between the main power source and the programmable chip. This intermediary enables or disables the connection based on operational sensitivity, controlling power flow to prevent differential power analysis attacks while ensuring power availability when needed.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the programmable chip is decoupled from the main power source during sensitive operations, then power signature elimination is achieved, but additional control circuitry is required
Solution Approach 1:
The switch serves as a simple intermediary component that provides power isolation without requiring complex control circuitry. This straightforward approach eliminates power signature variations during sensitive operations while minimizing the addition of system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Power isolation during sensitive operations is disclosed. In one embodiment, a programmable chip package includes a programmable chip configured to perform a sensitive operation, and a switch configured to selectively couple a main power source to the programmable chip. The programmable chip package may also include an alternate power source and a controller that is configured to control the switch to decouple the main power source from the programmable chip prior to the sensitive operation, wherein the programmable chip is configured to draw power from the alternate power source during the sensitive operation. The controller is further configured to control the switch to couple the main power source to the programmable chip after the sensitive operation.