Programmable Voltage Attack Detection Circuit With Dual Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current security chips are vulnerable to voltage attacks, which can cause abnormal operations and expose sensitive information, highlighting the need for an effective detection and protection mechanism against such attacks.
Innovation Solution
A voltage attack detection circuit utilizing programmable resistors and hysteresis comparators to divide and compare supply voltages with reference voltages, generating signals to indicate high or low voltage abnormalities, thereby detecting and mitigating voltage attacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional voltage detection methods are used, then voltage attack detection is implemented, but false alarms occur frequently and detection reliability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage detection range is segmented into multiple zones using two different reference voltages (first reference voltage and second reference voltage). The first comparator detects voltage abnormalities above the first reference voltage, while the second comparator detects voltage abnormalities below the second reference voltage. This segmentation allows independent optimization of detection thresholds for different voltage conditions, reducing false alarms while maintaining high detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameters by using two distinct reference voltages instead of a single threshold. The first reference voltage is set for detecting high voltage attacks, while the second reference voltage is set for detecting low voltage attacks. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to different voltage attack scenarios, improving both reliability and detection accuracy by matching detection thresholds to specific attack types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single reference voltage is used for voltage detection, then the circuit complexity is reduced, but the ability to detect different types of voltage attacks is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The detection circuit is segmented into two independent detection paths: one path uses the first reference voltage and first comparator for high voltage attack detection, while the other path uses the second reference voltage and second comparator for low voltage attack detection. This segmentation enables the circuit to handle multiple attack types simultaneously without requiring a single complex adaptive mechanism, thus improving versatility while keeping individual detection paths relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection circuit achieves multi-functionality by incorporating two comparators with different reference voltages that can detect both high voltage attacks and low voltage attacks. The first comparator-universal detection mechanism handles high voltage scenarios, while the second comparator-universal detection mechanism handles low voltage scenarios. This universal design allows a single circuit to perform multiple detection functions without requiring separate specialized circuits for each attack type.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces false alarms and improves the reliability and sensitivity of voltage attack detection, enhancing the security of security chips by accurately identifying voltage abnormalities and preventing data exposure.
Implementation Method 1
a first programmable resistor and a second programmable resistor, where a first terminal of the first programmable resistor is connected to a supply voltage, a second terminal of the first programmable resistor is connected to a ground voltage through the second programmable resistor
Implementation Method 2
a voltage detection circuit, where the voltage detection circuit is configured to receive the first voltage and a first reference voltage and output a first signal, the first signal is configured to indicate whether the first voltage is greater than or equal to the first reference voltage
Implementation Method 3
the voltage detection circuit is further configured to receive the second voltage and a second reference voltage and output a second signal, the second signal is configured to indicate whether the second voltage is less than or equal to the second reference voltage
Data Source
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AI summary
A voltage attack detection circuit and a chip are provided. The voltage attack detection circuit (100) includes: a first programmable resistor (112) and a second programmable resistor (113), where a first terminal of the first programmable resistor (112) is connected to a supply voltage, a second terminal of the first programmable resistor (112) is connected to a ground voltage through the second programmable resistor (113), the first terminal is configured to output a first voltage, the second terminal is configured to output a second voltage; a voltage detection circuit (120), configured to receive the first voltage and a first reference voltage and output a first signal, where the first signal is configured to indicate whether the first voltage is greater than or equal to the first reference voltage, the voltage detection circuit (120) is further configured to receive the second voltage and a second reference voltage and output a second signal, and the second signal is configured to indicate whether the second voltage is less than or equal to the second reference voltage. The voltage attack detection circuit (100) can not only achieve early alarm of voltage attack, but can compensate for deviation of a voltage detection threshold caused by the process, so as to improve yield.