Asynchronous Peak Hold Circuit for EMP Voltage Spike Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing integrated circuit security systems are ineffective against electromagnetic pulse (EMP) glitching attacks, as they either require expensive redundant hardware or fail to detect short, asynchronous voltage spikes induced by EMPs, which can cause malfunctions and data breaches.

Innovation Solution

Implementing asynchronous peak hold circuits on conductive traces within integrated circuits to detect and store voltage peaks, followed by synchronous comparison with a threshold value to identify EMP-induced voltage spikes, allowing for flexible and efficient detection and response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If synchronous detection techniques are used to detect EMP attacks, then detection can be performed using existing clock signals, but short EMP pulses (0.5-5 ns) that do not align with clock pulses cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEMP attack detection capabilityVSAvoiddetection of short voltage spikes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit performs preliminary action by capturing and holding the peak voltage value of the trace before any clock-synchronized comparison occurs. The peak hold circuit continuously monitors the trace voltage and stores the maximum value encountered, ensuring that even transient EMP-induced voltage spikes are captured before the synchronous comparison stage evaluates them against the threshold.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If high frequency clock signal (>1 GHz) is used for synchronous detection, then short EMP pulses can be detected, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of short voltage spikesVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If redundant hardware is used to mitigate glitching attacks, then security against known attack vectors is improved, but silicon area and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against glitching attacksVSAvoidsilicon area and power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary detection mechanism - the peak hold circuit - that mediates between the trace voltage and the comparison logic. This intermediary continuously captures peak voltages and holds them for subsequent evaluation, enabling the system to detect EMP attacks without requiring full redundant hardware paths, thus reducing silicon area and power consumption while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If current loops are used in metal layers to detect EMP attacks, then magnetic field induced current can be detected, but the loops are not sufficiently sensitive and require close proximity to the EMP source

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEMP attack detectionVSAvoidsensitivity to EMP magnetic field

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the magnetic field-based detection mechanism (current loops sensing magnetic induction) with an direct electrical voltage measurement approach. Instead of using loops to detect magnetic field induced currents, the invention uses a peak hold circuit that directly monitors voltage on the trace, providing higher sensitivity and eliminating the proximity requirement of magnetic sensing methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 detects and responds to EMP attacks by identifying short-duration voltage spikes, reducing the risk of data breaches and system malfunctions without the need for costly redundant hardware or high-power clock signals.

Implementation Method 1

asynchronously detecting and holding a voltage value corresponding to a peak voltage present on a conductive trace

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage comparison:

Implementation Method 2

synchronously storing an indication that the peak voltage on the conductive trace is a voltage spike indicative of an electromagnetic pulse responsive to the voltage value being above a threshold voltage value

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage threshold comparison:

Data Source

PatentUS12498404B2Asynchronous peak hold circuit on an integrated circuit trace to monitor for voltage spikes caused by an electromagnetic pulse

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 SILICON LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

An electromagnetic pulse detector in an integrated circuit includes one or more peak hold circuits coupled to one or more traces in the integrated circuit and configured to asynchronously detect voltage spike(s) on the one or more traces and store voltage value(s) corresponding to the voltage spike(s). One or more comparator circuits are coupled to the peak hold circuits to compare the voltage values corresponding to the voltage spikes to one or more threshold voltage values. Storage locations are coupled to the comparator circuits to store indications of the voltage spike(s) being greater than the threshold voltage value to thereby indicate detection of an electromagnetic pulse.