Loop Antenna Electromagnetic Pulse Detection in Integrated Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated electronic circuits are vulnerable to fault injection attacks via electromagnetic pulses, which can modify power supply and reference potentials, compromising security.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a first electromagnetic pulse detection device with a loop antenna and a detection circuit that compares induced currents with a threshold, generating an alarm signal upon detection, and a second device for detecting negative pulses, both with controllable resistive elements to optimize sensitivity and specificity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a loop antenna detection device is integrated into the interconnection structure to detect electromagnetic pulses, then the detection capability and security against fault injection attacks is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The loop antenna is integrated directly into the interconnection structure of the electronic circuit, merging the detection function with the existing structural elements. This combination allows the antenna to be formed using the same manufacturing processes as the interconnection structure, thereby improving security protection while minimizing the increase in device complexity and manufacturing difficulty
Solution Approach 2:
The interconnection structure serves dual purposes: it provides electrical connections for circuit operation and simultaneously functions as the loop antenna for electromagnetic pulse detection. This multi-functionality improves security capabilities without requiring separate dedicated detection structures, thus limiting the increase in overall device complexity
2Measurement precision
If the resistive element value is made controllable to optimize detection sensitivity, then the measurement precision of electromagnetic pulse detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resistive element value is made controllable rather than fixed, allowing the detection threshold to be dynamically adjusted. This enables optimization of detection sensitivity for different operating conditions and pulse strengths, improving measurement precision while the controllability mechanism manages the added circuit complexity
3Measurement precision
If multiple detection devices are associated with stacked antennas to detect different pulse directions, then the detection accuracy and false alarm reduction is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is divided into multiple independent detection devices, each with its own loop antenna oriented in different directions. This segmentation allows each antenna to detect electromagnetic pulses from specific directions, improving overall detection accuracy and reducing false alarms while the modular structure helps manage manufacturing precision requirements
4Reliability
If the alarm circuit is positioned at a distance greater than 400 μm from the antenna to avoid interference, then the reliability of detection is improved, but the area occupied by the detection device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm circuit is positioned at a specific distance (greater than 400 μm) from the antenna, creating a spatial distribution where the antenna region handles electromagnetic pulse detection while the alarm circuit region processes and responds to detection signals. This spatial separation improves detection reliability by avoiding electromagnetic interference while the strategic placement minimizes the overall area occupied by the detection device
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
Enhances the security of integrated electronic circuits by effectively detecting and differentiating between positive and negative electromagnetic pulses, reducing false alarms and improving resistance to fault injection attacks.
Implementation Method 1
a first loop antenna formed in an interconnection structure of the integrated circuit... configured to output a first signal representative of a comparison of a first current in the first antenna
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment integrated circuit includes a first electromagnetic pulse detection device that comprises a first loop antenna formed in an interconnection structure of the integrated circuit, a first end of the first antenna being connected to a first node of application of a power supply potential and a second end of the antenna being coupled to a second node of application of the power supply potential, and a first circuit connected to the second end of the first antenna and configured to output a first signal representative of a comparison of a first current in the first antenna with a first threshold.