Tamper-resistant time reference and apparatus using same
AssigneeNXP B.V.
InventorStefan Drude
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tamper-proof reference usable as a time reference and an integrated circuit apparatus using the tamper-proof reference to determine an elapsed time are disclosed. The circuit comprises a reference source (200) contained in an integrated package comprising a radioactive material (210), a measurement circuit (220) in contact with the radioactive material (210), the measurement circuit for collecting for a predetermined period radiation generated by the radioactive material (210) and a processor (110) in communication with the reference (200), the processor (110) for initiating a measurement by the reference (200) and for determining an elapsed time based on a plurality of measurements by the reference (200).
Claims23
A tamper resistant sensor reference packaged in an integrated circuit, the sensor reference comprising:
- a radioactive material;
- a measurement circuit in contact with the radioactive material, the measure circuit for collecting for a predetermined period radiation generated by the radioactive material;
- and a plurality of contacts extending from the integrated circuit package for obtaining information from or providing information to the measurement circuit.
An integrated circuit for obtaining tamper-resistant time measurement comprising a sensor reference comprising:
- a radioactive material;
- a measurement circuit in contact with the radioactive material, the measure circuit for collecting for a predetermined period radiation generated by the radioactive material;
- and a processor in communication with the sensor reference, the processor providing a command for initiating a measurement by the sensor reference and for determining an elapsed time based on a plurality of measurements by the time reference.
A time measurement circuit contained in a tamper-resistant package, said circuit comprising:
- a sensor reference comprising:
- a radioactive material;
- a measurement circuit in contact with the radioactive materialism, the measurement circuit for collecting for a predetermined period radiation generated by the radioactive material;
- a processor in communication with the sensor reference, the processor providing a command for initiating a measurement by the sensor reference and for determining an elapsed time based on a plurality of measurements by the time referenced;
- an internal timing reference in communication with the processor containing receiving means for receiving a signal from an external clock reference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.