GMI Chip Shielding for Attack Detection in SiP Packages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current protection solutions for electronic chips and system-in-packages (SiPs) are inadequate against various types of attacks, including laser, electromagnetic wave, and probing attacks, as they remain vulnerable and do not offer comprehensive protection, especially against electromagnetic wave attacks with varied frequencies, and detection of attacks when the device is not powered is difficult.
Innovation Solution
A device incorporating an attack detection element with a giant magneto-impedance (GMI) effect material and a magnetic field emitter, which changes impedance in response to attacks, allowing for real-time and a posteriori detection, and also serves as a shield against electromagnetic waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional protection solutions (diode-based light detectors, anti-intrusion layers, electromagnetic shielding) are added to protect chips and SiPs, then protection against specific attack types is improved, but device complexity and vulnerability to other attack types increase
Solution Approach 1:
The GMI-based protective element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it detects laser attacks through impedance changes, blocks electromagnetic wave attacks through the magnetic shielding effect of ferromagnetic material, and provides structural integrity verification. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by consolidating multiple specialized protection components into a single universal protective element.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the detection function (monitoring for attacks) and the shielding function (blocking electromagnetic waves) into a single integrated protective element comprising ferromagnetic material with GMI properties. This combination eliminates the need for separate detection and shielding components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive protection.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If real-time detection mechanisms are implemented using powered monitoring, then attack detection capability is improved, but energy consumption and inability to detect attacks when device is off worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The GMI-based protective element performs self-diagnosis by inherently changing its impedance properties when subjected to attacks. The element automatically indicates attack conditions through measurable impedance changes without requiring external power or active monitoring systems, enabling detection capability while eliminating continuous energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective element exploits changes in its electrical impedance parameter in response to external magnetic field variations caused by attacks. By measuring impedance changes rather than requiring continuous power consumption for active monitoring, the system achieves attack detection capability without the penalty of constant energy usage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive protection against all attack types is implemented, then security coverage is improved, but vulnerability to sophisticated attacks and protection effectiveness worsen due to remaining gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The ferromagnetic material in the protective element is subjected to magnetization during normal device operation, which strengthens its magnetic shielding properties and enhances its ability to block electromagnetic wave attacks. This converts the operational use into a beneficial strengthening process, improving protection robustness while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
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 blocks and detects attacks, provides real-time monitoring, and ensures protection even when the device is not powered, offering robust defense against electromagnetic and laser attacks by measuring impedance changes and using GMI materials as a shield.
Implementation Method 1
an attack detection element of the device comprising at least one electrically conductive material with a giant magneto-impedance, GMI, effect
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic field emitter to which the GMI-effect electrically conductive material is to be subjected
Implementation Method 3
The protective element may be disposed in front of the region of the device to be protected so that an attack cannot be implemented without removing or modifying this protective element to gain access to this region of the device
Data Source
AI summary
Device of the chip or electronic system-in-package type, comprising at least one element for protecting at least part of at least one face of the device, said protective element comprising at least:an attack detection element of the device comprising at least one GMI-effect electrically conductive material, anda magnetic field emitter to which said GMI-effect electrically conductive material is to be subjected,and wherein the GMI effect is to be achieved in said GMI-effect electrically conductive material when an exciting alternating electric current flows therethrough and when subjected to the magnetic field of the magnetic field emitter.