Method and device for protection of an MRAM device against tampering
US8261367B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 19, 2010 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S257/922
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Data, stored in MRAM-cells should be protected against misuse or read-out by unauthorized persons. The present invention provides an array of MRAM-cells provided with a security device for destroying data stored in the MRAM-cells when they are tampered with. This is achieved by placing a permanent magnet adjacent the MRAM-array in combination with a soft-magnetic flux-closing layer. As long as the soft-magnetic layer is present, the magnetic field lines from the permanent magnet are deviated and flow through this soft-magnetic layer. When somebody is tampering with the MRAM-array, e.g. by means of reverse engineering, and the flux-closing layer is removed, the flux is no longer deviated and affects the nearby MRAM-array, thus destroying the data stored in the MRAM-cells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.