IC Voltage Adjustment Circuit for Security Event Disruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing system protection mechanisms in electronic devices are vulnerable to attacks, as hackers can exploit trial and error to crack complex combinations, leading to potential system compromise.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit with a monitoring circuit, power voltage generation circuit, and voltage adjustment circuit that dynamically adjusts internal power voltage in response to security events, making it difficult for hackers to predict and execute successful attacks by randomly exceeding predetermined voltage ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex protection mechanisms (encryption, hardware interface misconnection) are implemented, then system security is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to trial-and-error attacks and side effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter dynamically in response to security events. When a security event is detected, the voltage adjustment circuit modifies the power voltage from the normal range (e.g., 1.7V-1.9V) to an abnormal range (e.g., 1.5V-1.6V or 2.0V-2.2V), thereby disrupting malicious code execution without requiring complex protection mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of voltage fluctuation into a beneficial security feature. By intentionally introducing voltage instability when security events are detected, the system transforms a potentially harmful parameter into a protective mechanism that disrupts hacker attempts while maintaining normal operation during legitimate use
2Reliability
If voltage adjustment is applied to disrupt security events, then system protection is improved, but normal operations may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage adjustment based on real-time security event detection. The voltage adjustment circuit responds to security events by changing voltage levels, but returns to normal voltage when no security events are present, thereby protecting the system while maintaining normal operation stability through conditional rather than continuous adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring circuit detects security events in advance and triggers voltage adjustment before the malicious code can successfully execute. This preliminary action prevents the harmful effect while allowing normal operations to proceed uninterrupted, as the voltage adjustment is activated only when security threats are anticipated
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit (IC) applicable to performing system protection through dynamic voltage change may include a monitoring circuit, at least one power voltage generation circuit and a voltage adjustment circuit. The monitoring circuit monitors at least one security checking result of a security engine to determine whether at least one security event occurs. The at least one power voltage generation circuit generates at least one internal power voltage within the IC according to at least one input voltage received from outside of the IC, to provide the internal power voltage to at least one internal component of the IC. In response to occurrence of the at least one security event, the voltage adjustment circuit controls the at least one power voltage generation circuit to dynamically adjust the at least one internal power voltage, to control the internal power voltage randomly exceed predetermined voltage range thereof, thereby performing the system protection.