Secure Sensor Apparatus with Actuator Stimulation for Manipulation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor systems in critical applications like airplanes and cars lack effective means to detect manipulations or malfunctions of sensors, which can lead to security breaches and unsafe operations, as integrating sensor chips with encryption does not prevent physical measurement condition manipulations or sensor malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A secure sensor apparatus comprising a sensor, an actuator, and a detection circuit that outputs an alarm signal if the sensor does not react as expected to predefined manipulations of the physical quantity, allowing for self-stimulation and detection of potential attacks or malfunctions, such as by comparing sensor output signals to predefined thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor chips are integrated with encryption chips to protect data, then data privacy and integrity are improved, but the system cannot detect physical measurement condition manipulations or sensor malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the security function into two independent parts: encryption for data protection and actuator-based stimulation for manipulation detection. This allows each component to specialize in its function while working together to provide comprehensive security.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator performs preliminary stimulation actions on the physical quantity before the sensor processes the measurement. By pre-manipulating the physical quantity in known patterns, the system establishes expected sensor responses that can detect deviations indicating manipulation or malfunction.
2Reliability
If encryption is integrated into sensor chips, then authentication and data protection are improved, but the system remains vulnerable to physical measurement condition manipulations
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator applies preliminary anti-actions by manipulating the physical quantity in predefined patterns before an attacker can manipulate measurement conditions. This creates expected sensor responses that reveal manipulations, counteracting potential attacks on the measurement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the actuator manipulates the physical quantity, the sensor measures the response, and the detection circuit compares the actual response against expected patterns. This continuous feedback enables real-time detection of physical manipulations.
3Reliability
If sensor chips are integrated with encryption, then data security is improved, but the device complexity increases without preventing sensor malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator serves multiple functions: it manipulates the physical quantity for normal operation and simultaneously provides stimulation patterns for security verification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated test components, managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the encryption function with the actuator-stimulation function into an integrated security apparatus. By combining data protection and manipulation detection in a unified system, the patent reduces overall complexity compared to having separate independent systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus including a sensor configured to sense a physical quantity, an actuator configured to manipulate the physical quantity in a predefined manner, and a detection circuit configured to output an alarm signal in case the sensor does not react to the manipulation of the physical quantity in an expected way.