Authenticating a printed circuit board
AssigneeNational Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
InventorsNathan J. Edwards, Jason Hamlet, Mitchell Tyler Martin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computing module is described herein, wherein the computing module is configured to perform acts including generating a digital signature for a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the digital signature is based upon a sensor signal generated by a sensor that is electrically coupled to at least one of a trace of the PCB or an electrical component of the PCB. The acts further include determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering based upon the digital signature. The acts additionally include outputting an indication that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering responsive to determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering.
Claims17
A computing module comprising a hardware processor that is configured to perform acts comprising:
- generating, by the hardware processor, a digital signature for a printed circuit board (PCB) that uniquely identifies the PCB, wherein the digital signature is based upon a sensor signal generated by a sensor that is electrically coupled to at least one of a trace of the PCB or an electrical component of the PCB, wherein the sensor generates the sensor signal as an electrical signal having a predefined waveform is propagated through the trace, wherein the trace connects a first electrical component that is mounted on the PCB to a second electrical component that is mounted on the PCB separately from the first electrical component, wherein the sensor signal is indicative of electrical characteristics of the trace;
- determining, by the hardware processor, that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering based upon the digital signature, wherein determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering comprises:
- comparing the digital signature with a verified digital signature for the PCB, wherein the verified digital signature was previously generated for the PCB;
- and
- determining that the PCB is authentic and free of tampering based upon the comparison;
- and
- outputting, by the hardware processor, an indication that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering responsive to determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering.
A method executed by a computing module, the method comprising:
- generating a digital signature for a printed circuit board (PCB) that uniquely identifies the PCB, wherein the digital signature is based upon a sensor signal generated by a sensor that is electrically coupled to at least one of a trace of the PCB or an electrical component of the PCB, wherein the sensor signal is based upon an electrical signal having a predefined waveform that is propagating through the trace of the PCB, wherein the trace connects a first electrical component that is mounted on the PCB to a second electrical component that is mounted on the PCB separately from the first electrical component, wherein the sensor signal is indicative of electrical characteristics of the trace;
- determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering based upon the digital signature, wherein determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering comprises:
- comparing the digital signature with a verified digital signature for the PCB, wherein the verified digital signature was previously generated for the PCB;
- and
- determining that the PCB is authentic and free of tampering based upon the comparison;
- and
- outputting an indication that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering responsive to determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering.
A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
- generating a digital signature for a printed circuit board (PCB) that uniquely identifies the PCB, wherein the digital signature is based upon a sensor signal generated by a sensor that is electrically coupled to at least one of a trace of the PCB or an electrical component of the PCB, wherein the sensor signal is based upon an electrical signal having a predefined waveform that is propagating through the trace of the PCB, wherein the trace connects a first electrical component that is mounted on the PCB to a second electrical component that is mounted on the PCB separately from the first electrical component, wherein the sensor signal is indicative of electrical characteristics of the trace;
- determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering based upon the digital signature, wherein determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering comprises:
- comparing the digital signature with a verified digital signature for the PCB, wherein the verified digital signature was previously generated for the PCB;
- and
- determining that the PCB is authentic and free of tampering based upon the comparison;
- and
- outputting an indication that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering responsive to determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.