Semiconductor Defense Circuit With Temperature Leakage Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices face challenges in accurately detecting physical attacks, such as de-packaging attacks, due to ambient temperature-induced leakage currents that interfere with light-based detection methods, leading to potential false alarms or missed detections.
Innovation Solution
A defense circuit is implemented in semiconductor devices, comprising a sensing unit that generates a photocurrent in response to incident light, a compensation unit using a semiconductor element with similar characteristics to remove ambient temperature-dependent leakage current, and a detection unit that compares the resulting photovoltage with a reference voltage to determine if an attack has occurred, thereby enhancing detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensing circuit using semiconductor elements is used to detect physical attacks via light, then detection sensitivity is improved, but ambient temperature-induced leakage currents cause false detections
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing circuit is segmented into two separate semiconductor elements: a first semiconductor element that detects both light signals and temperature-induced leakage currents, and a second semiconductor element that detects only temperature-induced leakage currents. By separating the detection functions, the circuit can distinguish between actual attack signals and temperature interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature-induced leakage current component is extracted and measured separately using the second semiconductor element. This extracted leakage current signal is then subtracted from the total signal of the first semiconductor element, removing the harmful temperature interference from the detection result.
2Reliability
If compensation for temperature effects is implemented, then false detections are reduced, but circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A second semiconductor element is created as a copy of the first semiconductor element, with substantially the same characteristics. This copy is placed in the same circuit environment but shielded from light, allowing it to replicate the temperature response of the first element without detecting light signals. This copying approach simplifies the compensation mechanism compared to using complex temperature sensors and mathematical models.
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 solution effectively differentiates between actual attacks and ambient temperature-induced signals, improving the accuracy of physical attack detection and preventing unnecessary defense operations, while maintaining sensitivity to external light.
Implementation Method 1
a first semiconductor element configured to generate a first current in response to externally incident light
Implementation Method 2
a second semiconductor element configured to generate a second current, depending on an ambient temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes a sensing circuit including a first semiconductor element configured to generate a first current in response to externally incident light, a compensation circuit including a semiconductor element configured to generate a second current depending on an ambient temperature and to remove the second current from the first current to generate a third current, a detection circuit configured to convert the third current into a photovoltage and to compare the photovoltage with a predetermined reference voltage to determine whether an external attack has occurred, and a defense circuit configured to control the semiconductor device to perform a predetermined defense operation, based on a result of the determination.