Integrated Circuit Temperature Sensing for Physical Attack Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing integrated circuits face challenges in protecting against physical attacks that do not rely solely on backside protection, as current methods are either too expensive or complex to implement effectively.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating temperature sensors within the integrated circuit to measure and compare temperatures during specific instructions, triggering an event if the measured temperature exceeds a threshold, indicating a potential physical attack by detecting changes in heat dissipation characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If backside protection mechanisms are implemented to reduce physical attack likelihood, then security against physical attacks is improved, but manufacturing cost and process complexity increase prohibitively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against physical attacksVSAvoidprotection mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of laser heating (used in optical probing attacks) into a beneficial detection mechanism. Temperature sensors monitor heating patterns during laser probing, and when abnormal heating is detected, the system triggers security responses such as data destruction or operation blocking, thereby turning the attack vector into a detection opportunity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where temperature sensors continuously monitor the integrated circuit during operation, compare measured temperatures against expected values, and trigger security responses when deviations indicate an attack. This closed-loop feedback system enables real-time detection and response to physical attacks without requiring complex structural modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If backside protection mechanisms are implemented to reduce physical attack likelihood, then security against physical attacks is improved, but manufacturing cost increases prohibitively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against physical attacksVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes temperature sensors serve multiple functions: they monitor normal operational temperature for thermal management and simultaneously detect abnormal heating patterns caused by laser probing attacks. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate detection mechanisms, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the integrated circuit's own operational characteristics (heat generation during instruction execution) as the basis for attack detection. The system monitors its own temperature during normal operation and detects attacks through deviations from expected thermal patterns, eliminating the need for external or specialized protection components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If temperature monitoring is implemented to detect physical attacks, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattack detection capabilityVSAvoidtemperature monitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the attack detection function with the existing temperature sensing infrastructure of the integrated circuit. By combining operational monitoring and attack detection into a single temperature monitoring system, the patent reduces overall device complexity while maintaining high detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Effectively identifies and responds to physical attacks by preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data, enhancing security without the need for prohibitively expensive or complex backside protection mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

the processing region being configured to compare the measured first temperature with a predefined temperature at the first temperature measuring region when the processing region runs the one instruction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat dissipation: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11842969B2Integrated circuit, method and computer program

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 MASTERCARD INT INC

AI summary

An integrated circuit is disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises: a processing region configured to run one instruction from a plurality of instructions; a first temperature measuring region configured to measure a first temperature within the integrated circuit in response to the processing region running the one instruction; the processing region being configured to compare the measured first temperature with a predefined temperature at the first temperature measuring region when the processing region runs the one instruction and to trigger an event when the measured first temperature exceeds the predefined temperature by a threshold value.