Systems and methods for using a security circuit to monitor a voltage of an integrated circuit to counter security threats to the integrated circuit
US8788850B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jul 22, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/755
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment, having a corresponding method, features an integrated circuit comprising: a power supply terminal configured to receive electrical power; a core circuit powered by the electrical power, wherein the core circuit comprises a volatile memory configured to store data; a clock source configured to provide a clock signal at a selected frequency, wherein the selected frequency is one of a plurality of possible frequencies of the clock signal, and a processor configured to operate according to the clock signal; and a security circuit configured to reset the core circuit based on the selected frequency of the to clock signal and a voltage of the power supply terminal, wherein resetting the core circuit clears the data from the volatile memory.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.