Regeneration of a secret quantity from an intergrated circuit identifier

• US 20030102493A1
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Wuidart, Luc, Bardouillet, Michel, Plaza, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 7,941,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/082 Features insuring the integrity of the data on or in the card
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2223/54473 for use after dicing
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/544 Marks applied to semiconductor devices or parts, e.g. registration marks, alignment structures, wafer maps test patterns for characterising or monitoring manufacturing processes H01L22/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/57 Protection from inspection, reverse engineering or tampering
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0866 involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics

Abstract

A method and a circuit for generating a secret quantity based on an identifier of an integrated circuit, consisting of combining a first digital word derived from a physical parameter network with a second word stored in a non-volatile memory element.

Claims

1. A method for generating a secret quantity (KEY) based on an identifier of an integrated circuit (2), consisting of combining (13) a first digital word (12) derived from a physical parameter network (10) with a second word stored in a non-volatile memory element (14).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second word is intended to be modified after a revocation of a preceding secret quantity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second word is randomly generated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least the first word and the secret quantity are stored in elements of a secure area of the integrated circuit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second word is scrambled (18) by means of at least a portion of the first word.

6. A method for modifying a secret quantity (KEY) of identification of an integrated circuit (2), obtained from a first digital word derived from a physical parameter network (10) and considered as being revoked, consisting of combining said first word with a second word stored in a non-volatile memory element, and of changing said second word each time a new secret quantity needs being generated.

7. A circuit for generating a secret quantity (KEY) internal to an integrated circuit (2), including:

a generator (11) of a first word specific to the integrated circuit chip based on a physical parameter network (10);

a non-volatile memorization element (14) intended to contain a second digital word; and

a combiner (13) of the first two words providing said secret quantity.

8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the second word can be replaced in case of the revocation of a secret quantity.

9. The circuit of claim 7, further including a scrambler (18) at the input/output of the non-volatile memorization element (14), the scrambler exploiting at least a portion of the first word coming from the physical parameter network (10).

10. The circuit of claim 7, further including a generator (15) of random words to form said second digital word.

11. The circuit of claim 7, including means (17) for making ephemeral the respective storages of the first digital word coming from the physical parameter network (10) and of the word forming the secret quantity.