Security arrangement for integrated circuits using arrays of capacitive elements

An integrated circuit defining one or more exterior surfaces, the integrated circuit comprising:

• one or more layers having a plurality of electronic components defined therein;
• a first security capacitive arrangement disposed between the one or more layers and a first exterior surface of the integrated circuit, wherein the first capacitive security arrangement comprises a plurality of capacitors that spatially overlap the plurality of electronic components;
• and
• monitoring circuitry configured to:
• identify in response to a first physical intrusion of the first capacitive security arrangement, a first capacitor of the plurality of capacitors based on a change in a capacitance of the first capacitor of the plurality of capacitors,
• in response to identifying the first capacitor, determine, based on which of the plurality of electronic components are overlapped by the first capacitor, whether to perform a first predefined security action,
• identify in response to a second physical intrusion of the first capacitive security arrangement, a second capacitor of the plurality of capacitors based on a change in a capacitance of the second capacitor of the plurality of capacitors, and
• in response to identifying the second capacitor, determine, based on which of the plurality of electronic components are overlapped by the second capacitor, whether to perform a second predefined security action that is different than the first predefined security action.

A method for use with a security arrangement that overlaps a plurality of electronic components, the plurality of electronic components arranged within one or more layers of an integrated circuit, the security arrangement comprising a first conductive layer electrically insulated from a second conductive layer, the method comprising:

• identifying a first capacitor of a plurality of capacitors based on detecting a first change in a first capacitance of the first capacitor, wherein the plurality of capacitors are formed of a plurality of first conductive elements of the first conductive layer and a plurality of second conductive elements of the second conductive layer, wherein the first change in the first capacitance indicates a first physical intrusion of one or both of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer at the first capacitor;
• in response to identifying the first capacitor, performing, based on which of the plurality of electronic components are overlapped by the first capacitor, a first predefined security action;
• and
• identifying a second capacitor of the plurality of capacitors based on detecting a second change in a second capacitance of the second capacitor, wherein the second change in the second capacitance indicates a second physical intrusion of one or both of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer at the second capacitor;
• and
• in response to identifying the second capacitor, performing, based on which of the plurality of electronic components are overlapped by the second capacitor, a second predefined security action that is different than the first predefined security action.