TAMPER DETECTION AND RESPONSE IN A MEMORY DEVICE

• US 20140226396A1
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everspin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Everspin Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Subramanian, Chitra K., Lin, Halbert S., Alam, Syed M., Andre, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,135,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/1659 Cell access
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/1673 Reading or sensing circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/1695 Protection circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0002 using resistive RAM [RRAM] elements
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/004 Reading or sensing circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0059 Security or protection circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0069 Writing or programming circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2013/0054 Read is performed on a reference element, e.g. cell, and the reference sensed value is used to compare the sensed value of the selected cell
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2013/0073 Write using bi-directional cell biasing
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/14 Dummy cell management; Sense reference voltage generators
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/24 Memory cell safety or protection circuits, e.g. arrangements for preventing inadvertent reading or writing; Status cells; Test cells

Abstract

A technique for detecting tampering attempts directed at a memory device includes setting each of a plurality of detection memory cells to an initial predetermined state, where corresponding portions of the plurality of detection memory cells are included in each of the arrays of data storage memory cells on the memory device. A plurality of corresponding reference bits on the memory device permanently store information representative of the initial predetermined state of each of the detection memory elements. When a tamper detection check is performed, a comparison between the reference bits and the current state of the detection memory cells is used to determine whether any of the detection memory cells have changed state from their initial predetermined states. Based on the comparison, a tamper detect indication is flagged if a threshold level of change is determined. Once a tampering attempt is detected, responses on the memory device include disabling one or more memory operations and generating a mock current to emulate current expected during normal operation.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a plurality of detection memory cells, each detection memory cell of the plurality of detection memory cells configured to be pre-programmed to a respective initial predetermined state, the initial predetermined state of each of the plurality of detection memory cells configured to be unmodifiable by subsequent commands directed to the memory device;

a plurality of reference bits, each reference bit of the plurality of reference bits corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of detection memory cells, wherein the initial predetermined state of each detection memory cell is represented by a corresponding reference bit of the plurality of reference bits; and

comparator circuitry coupled to the plurality of detection memory cells and the plurality of reference bits, the comparator circuitry configured to compare a current state of each detection memory cell of the plurality of detection memory cells with a corresponding reference bit of the plurality of reference bits.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of data storage memory cells, the plurality of data storage memory cells configured to be accessed for data storage and retrieval.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of data storage memory cells and the plurality of detection memory cells are magnetic memory cells.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising input receiver circuitry configured to receive a command indicating a tamper detection check, wherein the comparator is configured to compare the current state of each detection memory cell of the plurality of detection memory cells with the corresponding reference bit of the plurality of reference bits in response to the command indicating a tamper detection check.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein each reference bit of the plurality of reference bits is stored using a corresponding fuse on the device.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein each reference bit of the plurality of reference bits is stored in a corresponding circuit on the device in which metal is selectively deposited to represent the reference bit.

7. The device of claim 3 further comprising control circuitry coupled to the comparator, the control circuitry configured to disable a memory operation within the device based on a tamper-attempt indication provided by the comparator.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising memory access circuitry coupled to the plurality of data storage memory cells and the control circuitry, the memory access circuitry including at least one bias voltage associated with the memory operation, the control circuitry configured to disable the memory operation by adjusting the at least one bias voltage such that a resulting adjusted bias voltage is inadequate to support performance of the memory operation.

9. The device of claim 7 further comprising current generation circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, the current generation circuitry configured to generate a mock current on the device that simulates current generated during performance of the memory operation when not disabled.

10. The device of claim 3, wherein each data storage memory cell of the plurality of data storage memory cells and each detection memory cell of the plurality of detection memory cells includes a magnetic tunnel junction.

11. A magnetic memory device comprising:

a plurality of data storage memory cells, the plurality of data storage memory cells configured to be accessed by commands directed to the device, each data storage memory cell of the plurality of data storage memory cells including a magnetic tunnel junction;

a plurality of detection memory cells, each detection memory cell of the plurality of detection memory cells configured to be pre-programmed to a respective initial predetermined state, the initial predetermined state of each of the plurality of detection memory cells configured to be unmodifiable by subsequent commands directed to the memory device, each detection memory cell of the plurality of detection memory cells including a magnetic tunnel junction;

a plurality of reference bits stored in a permanent manner on the memory device, each reference bit of the plurality of reference bits corresponding to a respective detection memory cell of the plurality of detection memory cells, wherein the initial predetermined state of each detection memory cell is represented by a corresponding reference bit of the plurality of reference bits; and

comparator circuitry coupled to the plurality of detection memory cells and the plurality of reference bits, the comparator circuitry configured to compare a current state of each detection memory cell of the plurality of detection memory cells with a corresponding reference bit of the plurality of reference bits.

12. The memory device of claim 11 further comprising input receiver circuitry configured to receive a command indicating a tamper detection check, wherein the comparator is configured to compare the current state of each detection memory cell of the plurality of detection memory cells with the corresponding reference bit of the plurality of reference bits in response to the command indicating a tamper detection check.

13. The memory device of claim 11 where each reference bit of the plurality of reference bits is permanently stored using at least one of a fuse on the memory device and metal selectively deposited to represent the reference bit.

14. The memory device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of data storage memory cells is arranged as a plurality of arrays on the memory device, wherein a corresponding portion of the plurality of detection memory cells is included in each array of the plurality of arrays.

15. The memory device of claim 14, wherein each corresponding portion of the plurality of detection memory cells included in each array of the plurality of arrays is located such that the portion of the plurality of detection memory cells is at least as vulnerable to an external memory disturb as data storage memory cells included in the array.

16. The memory device of claim 11 further comprising control circuitry coupled to the comparator, the control circuitry configured to disable a memory operation within the memory device based on a tamper-attempt indication provided by the comparator.

17. The memory device of claim 16 further comprising memory access circuitry coupled to the plurality of data storage memory cells and the control circuitry, the memory access circuitry including at least one bias voltage associated with the memory operation, the control circuitry configured to disable the memory operation by adjusting the at least one bias voltage such that a resulting adjusted bias voltage is inadequate to support performance of the memory operation.

18. The memory device of claim 16 further comprising current generation circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, the current generation circuitry configured to generate current on the device that approximates current generated during performance of the memory operation when not disabled.

19. A method of operation of a memory device that includes a plurality of data storage memory cells and a plurality of detection memory cells, the method comprising:

comparing state of each detection memory cell of the plurality of detection memory cells with a corresponding reference bit of a plurality of reference bits;

determining, based on the comparing, a tamper-attempt indication corresponding to an attempt to tamper with data stored in the data storage memory cells; and

in response to determining the tamper-attempt indication, generating a tamper-attempt indication signal.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprises receiving a command indicating a tamper detection check, wherein the comparing occurs in response to the command.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprises:

in response to determining the tamper-attempt indication, disabling a memory operation corresponding to the plurality of data storage memory cells within the memory device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein disabling the memory operation includes adjusting a bias voltage corresponding to circuitry on the memory device used in the memory operation such that the memory operation is disabled.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein disabling the memory operation further comprises generating a mock current in response to an attempt to perform the memory operation that is disabled.