Abstract:
A timer including a sensor and a radiation source is used to prevent counterfeiting of integrated circuits. The timer confirms the date code of the integrated circuit resulting in a more secure supply chain.
Abstract:
전도성 레이어의 제조 공정 상의 공정 편차를 이용하여 식별키를 생성하는 장치가 제공된다. 상기 식별키 생성 장치는, 반도체 칩에 포함되는 제1 전도성 레이어와 연결되는 제1 컨택 - 제1 노드는 상기 제1 전도성 레이어와 상기 제1 컨택이 전기적으로 연결되어 형성됨 -; 상기 반도체 칩에 포함되는 제2 전도성 레이어와 연결되는 제2 컨택 - 제2 노드는 상기 제2 전도성 레이어와 상기 제2 컨택이 전기적으로 연결되어 형성되고, 상기 제1 컨택과 상기 제2 컨택은 상기 반도체 칩의 패터닝 레이아웃 상에서 상기 제1 노드와 상기 제2 노드가 단락되지 않는 것을 보장하는 최소 스패이싱 값 미만의 스패이싱 값을 가짐 --및 상기 제1 노드와 상기 제2 노드 사이가 전기적으로 단락되는지의 여부를 식별하여 식별키를 생성하는 독출부를 포함할 수 있다.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for embedded tamper mesh protection are provided. The embedded tamper mesh includes a series of protection bond wires surrounding bond wires carrying sensitive signals. The protection bond wires are positioned to be vertically higher than the signal bond wires. The protection wires may be bonded to outer contacts on the substrate while the signal bond wires are bonded to inner contacts, thereby creating a bond wire cage around the signal wires. Methods and systems for providing package level protection are also provided. An exemplary secure package includes a substrate having multiple contacts surrounding a die disposed on an upper surface of the substrate. A mesh die including a series of mesh die pads is coupled to the upper surface of the die. Bond wires are coupled from the mesh die pads to contacts on the substrate thereby creating a bond wire cage surrounding the die.
Abstract:
Packaged integrated circuits (ICs) of some types, such as processors, are graded and sold according to a performance scale, such as maximum specified clock speed, set by the manufacturer as a result of testing. As a record of this grading some part of the package, usually the upper surface, is marked with the specified performance attribute. However, criminal activity has developed where the packaging is relabelled to show a higher specification so the ICs can be fraudulently resold at a higher price. To address this problem, the invention envisages that manufacturers maintaining a product database for each packaged IC which logs not only the performance specification, but also a digital signature derived from a speckle pattern obtained from the packaging. Subsequently, any packaged IC can be rescanned to interrogate its speckle pattern and recompute the signature. The signature is then used to find the product in the database, whereby the originally specified performance attribute is retrieved. The fraud is then detectable. This method can be used to test products returned under a warranty claim, for example.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a screening device comprising means for optical and/or electrical screening which are arranged in the semiconductor chip on the side of the integrated circuit facing the substrate. Preferred embodiments use an SOI substrate with the integrated circuit in the body silicon layer (3) and with the isolator layer (2) as an optical screening device of the bulk silicon layer (1). Electrical conductors (5) can be provided in the bulk silicon layer as an optical and electrical screening device and can be connected to the circuit by means of platings (4).
Abstract:
A device adapted to protect integrated circuits from reverse engineering comprising a part looking like a via connecting two metal layers, but in fact attached only to one metal layer and spaced from the other. Having such "trick" via would force a reverse engineer to think there is a connection where there is none. A method for fabricating such device.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for protecting semiconductor integrated circuits from reverse engineering. Semiconductor active areas are formed on a substrate. A silicide layer is formed both over at least one active area of the semiconductor active areas and over a selected substrate area for interconnecting the at least one active area with another area through the silicide area formed on the selected substrate area. In a preferred embodiment a silicide layer formed on a first active area is interconnectingly merged laterally with a silicide layer formed on a second active area through the silicide layer formed on the selected substrate area.
Abstract:
The present invention pertains to semiconductor chips and wafers presenting on at least one face a protective layer applied according to a flame or plasma projection method. The protective layer is mainly ceramic. Between the protective layer and the chip or wafer surface, there can be an intermediate layer made of a non-electroconductive and moisture-proof material. The intermediate layer has an adhesive function and improves the chip or wafer surface protection against chemical and mechanical degradations and makes the unauthorized detection of circuit systems difficult.
Abstract:
A method for securing confidential circuitry from observation by unauthorized inspection, and a secure circuit immune from unauthorized inspection according to the method. In one embodiment, confidential data or circuitry is placed on a face of separate silicon layers (42, 44), each silicon layer having part of a circuit. Neither silicon layer is intelligible without the other, yet neither can be observed without destroying the other. The two silicon layers are juxtaposed, the face of the first silicon layer (42) flush against and fused to the face of the second silicon layer (44), the confidential circuits on each silicon layer connecting directly with circuits on the other silicon layer without external connectors. Data stored on each face is erased or destroyed when the silicon layers are separated or one of the silicon layers is destroyed. Violence to either silicon layer, or exposure of either silicon layer to light, destroys the data or circuitry on at least one silicon layer of silicon, making the data or circuitry unreadable.
Abstract:
For the purposes of protection before optical analysis, two semiconductor chips are arranged on a support module in such a way that they operate only when electrically interconnected.