Power Supply Peak Current Glitch Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secure electronic devices are vulnerable to glitch attacks that tamper with power supply rails, causing malfunctions or permanent damage, as existing technologies lack effective detection and response mechanisms for such attacks.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system with integrated peak current detectors and communication interfaces that monitor and encrypt signals to detect glitches, alerting connected devices and potentially shutting off power to prevent further damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power supply rails are monitored for glitch detection, then security against malicious attacks is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional detection circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the peak current detection function with the existing power supply circuitry by integrating a peak detector that monitors current on the power output line within the power supply itself. This merging approach allows glitch detection without requiring completely separate monitoring systems, thereby improving security while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication interface as an intermediary component that securely transmits glitch detection information from the power supply to the electronic device. This intermediary handles the complex tasks of encryption and secure communication, isolating the core detection function from the complexity of secure data transmission while still achieving reliable glitch detection and response.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If peak current detection is implemented within the power supply, then glitch attack detection capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply circuitry is designed to perform multiple functions: providing power output and simultaneously detecting peak currents for glitch detection. By making the power supply universal and multi-functional, the patent improves glitch detection capability while avoiding the need for entirely separate detection hardware, thereby easing manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply performs self-monitoring of its own output current through the integrated peak detector. This self-service capability allows the system to detect glitches without requiring external monitoring equipment, improving detection capability while simplifying manufacturing by reducing the number of separate components that need to be integrated.
3Reliability
If encrypted communication is used to transmit glitch information, then security against information extraction is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication interface is pre-configured with encryption capabilities and protocols before operation. By having the encryption mechanism already in place and prepared, the system can quickly encrypt and transmit glitch information when needed, improving security while minimizing the time penalty associated with encryption operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A peak current detector is integrated into a power supply, such as a power management integrated circuit, to detect glitch attacks imposed on the power rails inside the power supply. Integrated circuitry being supplied by the power supply periodically checks the state of the power supply via a secure communication channel to obtain the detected peak current values, which allow the integrated circuitry to detect those attacks and react accordingly to any possible threats.