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US 2010/0169671 A1Published application
Cryptoprocessor with improved data protection
AssigneeIngenico France
InventorsAlain Coussieu, Alain Eck
Life of this patent
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AssigneeIngenico France
InventorsAlain Coussieu, Alain Eck
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to an electronic circuit comprising: a first random-access data storage element, a processing module designed to delete the first storage element, and an access terminal which is connected to the processing module and receives a first power signal supplied by a first power source external to the electronic circuit. The circuit also includes a second random-access storage element in which a key is stored, said key being used to encrypt the data and a second power source which is built into the electronic circuit and supplies a second power signal to the processing module. The processing module is designed to detect an unauthorized access attempt by comparing the first and second power signals and to delete the key when the processing module is powered by the second power source.
An electronic circuit made in integrated form, comprising:
A method for protecting data stored in a first RAM of an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit further comprising a second RAM at the level of the electronic circuit in which a key is stored, said data being obtained by an encryption implementing said key, a processing unit capable of performing a delete operation in the first RAM and an access terminal connected to the processing unit and intended to receive a first power supply signal delivered by a first power supply source, external to the electronic circuit, the method being characterized in that it comprises providing a second power supply source integrated to the electronic circuit and capable of providing a second power supply signal to the processing unit and in that it comprises having the processing unit detect that an unauthorized access attempt is occurring based on the comparison of the first and second power supply signals and delete said key, the processing unit being then powered by the second power supply source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.