Detection of laser-based security attacks
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsAlan Lewis, Zhengming Fu, Nan Chen, Adam Polak, Laura Fuentes, Gregory Bullard, Mark Todorovich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments include integrated approaches to detecting attempts to breach system-level or chip-level security using photo-generated currents induced by lasers or other radiation sources. Various embodiments integrate photo-detection circuits with a secure processor or other circuit in such a manner that the response to a security attack is fast enough to prevent loss of secure or private information are described. Various embodiments include circuits capable of providing a permanent record of photocurrent detection.
Claims9
A photocurrent detection circuit, comprising:
- a first N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (first NMOS) device electrically connected to a first P-type MOS (first PMOS) device to form a logic circuit, wherein the logic circuit is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) inverter, and wherein the first NMOS device and the first PMOS device are asymmetrically sized and configured such that a change in a logic state output of the logic circuit indicates a photocurrent induced by radiation;
- a low voltage NMOS device coupled to an output of the CMOS inverter, wherein the first PMOS device is a high voltage device and the first NMOS device is a high voltage device;
- and
- a capacitor coupled to the output of the logic circuit and a gate of the low voltage NMOS device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.