Microcircuit Power Supply Voltage Modulation for Security
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing countermeasures for protecting sensitive data in microcircuits against attacks like SPA, DPA, EMA, and fault injection are resource-intensive and have limitations in robustness and electrical consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method that adjusts the power supply voltage between the power supply and ground terminals of a microcircuit based on a random value, modulating it within a specific range to disrupt statistical analyses and electromagnetic radiation, thereby enhancing security without significantly increasing complexity or electrical consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If logic masking with random numbers is implemented to protect data, then security against SPA/DPA attacks is improved, but circuit size and electrical consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the power supply voltage parameter dynamically during circuit operation. By varying the voltage at different time points, the power consumption profile changes, making statistical analysis attacks ineffective without requiring additional logic circuits or random number generators, thus avoiding increased electrical consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic voltage adjustments at strategically chosen time points during circuit operation. This periodic action disrupts the temporal correlation that statistical attacks rely upon, providing security without continuous overhead operations that would increase power consumption.
2Reliability
If double rail techniques are used to balance logic gate switching, then electromagnetic radiation analysis resistance is improved, but circuit complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of duplicating circuit rails, the patent changes the voltage parameter over time. This single-rail approach with temporal variation achieves electromagnetic radiation masking without the structural complexity of double rail techniques.
3Reliability
If random delays are introduced into synchronous circuits to mask timing, then resistance to power analysis is improved, but computing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic voltage adjustments at specific phases of operation rather than continuous random delays. This targeted approach disrupts power analysis attacks at critical moments without introducing delays throughout the entire computation, preserving computing speed.
4Reliability
If voltage modulation is applied to protect data, then security against statistical analysis is improved, but power supply stability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic voltage modulation at well-defined time points rather than continuous or random modulation. This approach provides security while maintaining predictable power supply behavior that is easier to control and stabilize.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a countermeasure method in an electronic microcircuit, comprising successive process phases executed by a circuit of the microcircuit, and adjusting a power supply voltage between power supply and ground terminals of the circuit, as a function of a random value generated for the process phase, at each process phase executed by the circuit.