Non-Contact Memory Card IC Layout for Tamper-Resistant Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contact type memory cards have low tamper resistance, making encrypted game software easily readable and vulnerable to illegal copying due to the ease of data access through data pins.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact memory card design incorporating a single IC chip with a driver and transmitter, including coils for magnetic coupling, which encrypts and transmits data without physical contact, enhancing tamper resistance and preventing illegal copies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If data pins are used for data transfer in contact type memory cards, then data transfer is simple and direct, but tamper resistance decreases and data security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact system (data pins requiring physical contact) with a magnetic field-based wireless communication system. The transmitting coil and receiving coil enable data transfer through magnetic coupling without physical contact, thereby maintaining data transfer functionality while significantly improving tamper resistance and security against probing attacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary medium for data transfer. Instead of direct electrical contact through pins, data is modulated onto magnetic fields generated by the transmitting coil, transmitted through space, and detected by the receiving coil. This intermediary approach prevents direct access to data while enabling secure wireless communication.
2Reliability
If data is stored in encrypted form in memory cards, then security is improved, but data can still be easily read out through contact type data pins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vulnerable mechanical contact interface with a magnetic field-based wireless interface. Even though data is encrypted, the wireless transmission through magnetic coupling prevents direct probing and interception that was possible with contact pins, adding a layer of physical security to the existing cryptographic protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines preliminary encryption of data with preliminary security measures of wireless transmission. By encrypting data before transmission and using magnetic coupling that resists probing, the system preemptively counteracts potential interception and decryption attempts by attackers.
3Ease of manufacture
If commercial parts are used in contact type memory cards, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but illegal copies can be easily made
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the standard contact-type interface with a proprietary wireless magnetic coupling interface. This substitution maintains compatibility with existing manufacturing processes for the memory components themselves, while the unique wireless interface architecture provides inherent protection against copying, as it cannot be easily replicated or probed like traditional contact interfaces.
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 non-contact memory card significantly increases tamper resistance and prevents unauthorized data duplication by using magnetic coupling for secure data transmission, making it difficult to intercept or replicate the data stored.
Implementation Method 1
a non-contact type memory card using magnetic coupling of coils in place of the data pins
Data Source
AI summary
A memory card includes a memory that stores data, a driver that transmits the data received from the memory, and at least one transmitter that transmits the data received from the driver to a receiver provided in an external main unit. The driver and the at least one transmitter are provided in a single IC (integrated circuit) chip and are not overlapped with each other in a planar view.