Integrated circuit chip stack
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
InventorsAlexandre Sarafianos, Thomas Ordas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated circuit chip stack includes a main integrated circuit chip and at least one auxiliary integrated circuit chip. The main integrated circuit chip contains circuit components to be protected. The auxiliary integrated circuit chip is mounted to a surface of the main integrated circuit chip and includes a metal plane connected to ground located opposite the circuit components to be protected. The auxiliary integrated circuit chip further includes at least one insulated conductive track forming a tight pattern opposite the circuit components to be protected. A detection circuit is connected to the at least one conductive track and is configured to detect interruption of the at least one insulated conductive track.
Claims17
A stack of integrated circuit chips, comprising:
- a main integrated circuit chip containing circuit components to be protected from attack;
- and
- an auxiliary integrated circuit chip mounted opposite each of a front surface and a rear surface of the main integrated circuit chip, wherein an area of each auxiliary integrated circuit chip located opposite the circuit components to be protected from attack comprises a metal plane connected to ground, and
- each auxiliary integrated circuit chip further including at least one insulated conductive track forming a tight pattern opposite the components to be protected, wherein ends of said at least one conductive track are accessible at a level of the main integrated circuit chip.
A method of protecting circuit components of a main integrated circuit chip, comprising the steps of:
- providing auxiliary integrated circuit chips each comprising a metal plane connected to ground and at least one insulated conductive track forming a tight pattern;
- assembling the auxiliary integrated circuit chips on either side of the main integrated circuit chip so that the metal planes and the conductive tracks are opposite the components to be protected;
- and
- connecting the ends of the conductive tracks to the main integrated circuit chip.
An integrated circuit chip stack, comprising:
- a main integrated circuit chip including a front surface and containing circuit components to be protected;
- and
- a first auxiliary integrated circuit chip mounted to the front surface, the first auxiliary integrated circuit chip including a layer with a metal plane connected to ground and a layer with a first insulated conductive track forming a tight pattern;
- wherein the main integrated circuit chip includes a circuit electrically connected to said first insulated conductive track and configured to detect a circuit interruption of the first insulated conductive track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.