Display Driver IC Seed Encryption for Component Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

The issue of counterfeit smartphones, where imitation phones with high-end display panels and low-end or counterfeit application processors cause financial losses and damage to manufacturers' reputations, as existing technologies lack effective certification procedures to differentiate genuine from imitation components.

Innovation Solution

A display driver integrated circuit (DDI) that includes a seed generation block, encryption block, and comparison block, using a public encryption algorithm to generate and compare encryption texts from both the DDI and application processor, ensuring only genuine components can properly drive the display panel, with the DDI outputting control signals to either enable or disable display functionality based on the comparison result.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If no certification procedure is implemented, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to prevent counterfeit components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidcertification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing encryption algorithms and seed values in both the DDI and application processor before operation. The authentication capability is built into the hardware design, with encryption blocks pre-configured to perform cryptographic operations. This allows the system to have authentication readiness without adding operational complexity during normal device usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism using encryption texts as mediators between the DDI and application processor. Instead of direct trust verification, the system uses encrypted seed values as intermediate proof of authenticity. The comparison block acts as an intermediary that verifies matching encryption texts without exposing the actual seed values, thereby maintaining security while enabling authentication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If encryption and comparison blocks are added to DDI, then authentication capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent authenticationVSAvoidDDI internal structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the authentication function with the existing DDI structure by integrating the encryption block and comparison block into the display driver's existing data processing path. The authentication operations are combined with normal display data transmission through the MIPI interface, allowing dual functionality without requiring completely separate authentication hardware subsystems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the DDI by introducing cryptographic operations (encryption/decryption) alongside traditional display data processing. The system transitions from purely visual data handling to including cryptographic verification, utilizing the existing processor and memory resources to perform both display and authentication functions with minimal additional hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10289831B2Display driver integrated circuit for certifying an application processor and a mobile apparatus having the same
Publication Date: 2019.05.14 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • US10289831B2 patent drawing
  • US10289831B2 patent drawing
  • US10289831B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A display driver integrated circuit includes a seed generation block configured to generate a seed, an encryption block configured to encrypt the seed and generate a first encryption text, and a comparison block configured to receive a second encryption text, in which the seed is encrypted, from an application processor, compare the first encryption text with the second encryption text, and output a control signal based on the comparison result.