Secure crypto module including security layers
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJoseph Kuczynski, Phillip V. Mann, Kevin M. O'Connell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electromagnetic radiation (EMR) receiver is located upon a printed circuit board (PCB) glass security layer. EMR flux is transmitted by the glass security layer and received by the EMR receiver. When the PCB is subject to a tamper event the EMR transmitted by glass security layer is increased. A monitoring device that monitors the flux or interference pattern of the EMR received by the EMR receiver detects a change in flux or interference pattern and passes a tamper signal to one or more computer system devices to respond to the tamper event. For example, one or more cryptographic adapter card or computer system functions or secured crypto components may be disabled.
Claims20
A cryptographic printed circuit board (PCB) comprising:
- a crypto component encapsulated by a glass security layer;
- an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) receiver optically connected to the glass security layer;
- and
- a destruct feature electrically connected to the EMR receiver, the destruct feature is programmed in response to the EMR receiver receiving a predetermined threshold increase of flux of EMR propagated by the glass security layer to the EMR receiver.
A data handling electronic device comprising:
- a motherboard comprising a processor and a memory;
- a cryptographic adapter card, the cryptographic adapter card comprising:
- a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a connector that interconnects with the motherboard, and
- a secure crypto module comprising a daughter card electrically connected to the PCB;
- the daughter card comprising:
- a crypto component encapsulated by a glass security layer;
- an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) receiver optically connected to the glass security layer;
- and
- a destruct feature electrically connected to the EMR receiver, the destruct feature is programmed in response to the EMR receiver receiving a predetermined threshold increase of flux of EMR propagated by the glass security layer to the EMR receiver.
A method of fabricating a cryptographic printed circuit board (PCB), the method comprising:
- forming a glass security layer upon a PCB wiring layer;
- attaching an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) receiver optically connected to the glass security layer;
- forming a security layer upon the glass security layer and upon the EMR receiver;
- and
- electrically connecting a monitor device to the EMR receiver, wherein the monitor device detects a threshold increase of threshold increase of flux of EMR propagated by the glass security layer to the EMR receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.