Cryptographic device having active clearing of memory regardless of state of external power
US8201267B2 · kind B2 · utility
5Cited by
32References
6Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00346
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A cryptographic device that will actively clear its memory even in the absence of external power when a security breach is detected is provided. The memory cell clusters of the cryptographic device are provided with an internal power source that provides sufficient energy for the memory cell clusters to perform a clearing operation. If the external power source for the memory is removed and a physical security breach is detected, the power from the internal power source will allow the memory cells to actively clear their contents, thereby rendering any attempt to obtain the contents of the memory cells fruitless.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.