Glitch Detector Circuit for Low-Power Supply Tamper Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Security devices face vulnerabilities during data transmission, as stored data can be leaked or altered by attackers monitoring signals, necessitating effective glitch detection to prevent such breaches.

Innovation Solution

A glitch detector with a sensing circuit, glitch-to-pulse generator, and comparing circuit is implemented, which generates detection voltages based on power supply voltages to rapidly detect glitches, reducing static current consumption and power usage during normal operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous monitoring is performed to detect glitches, then detection reliability is improved, but static current consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglitch detection reliabilityVSAvoidstatic current consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The glitch detector uses a clock signal to periodically enable the comparing circuit at specific intervals rather than continuously. The clock signal controls the timing when the comparing circuit is active, allowing it to monitor for glitches only during designated time windows, thus reducing static current consumption while maintaining detection reliability through periodic sampling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The comparing circuit is designed to be dynamically controllable through the clock signal, transitioning between active and inactive states. This dynamic operation allows the circuit to be enabled only when glitch detection is needed and disabled during normal operation, resolving the contradiction between continuous monitoring reliability and static power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If glitch detection is performed continuously, then detection speed is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglitch detection speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic activation of the comparing circuit synchronized with the clock signal, enabling fast glitch detection only during active periods while consuming minimal power during inactive periods. This periodic operation maintains detection speed capability when needed while significantly reducing overall power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous monitoring function is extracted and replaced with periodic sampling controlled by the clock signal. The comparing circuit is taken out of continuous operation and activated only during specific time windows, extracting the essential detection capability while eliminating unnecessary continuous power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11486912B2Glitch detector, security device including the same and electronic system including the same

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A glitch detector includes a sensing circuit, a glitch-to-pulse generator and a comparing circuit. The sensing circuit generates a glitch voltage and at least one reference voltage based on a first power supply voltage. The glitch-to-pulse generator receives the first power supply voltage or the glitch voltage, and generates at least one pulse voltage including a pulse when the glitch occurs on the first power supply voltage. The comparing circuit generates at least one detection voltage by comparing the glitch voltage with the at least one reference voltage based on the pulse included in the at least one pulse voltage. The at least one detection voltage is activated when the glitch occurs on the first power supply voltage.