Tamper resistant circuit boards

• US 7,015,823 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Infoscitex
• Original Assignee: Systran Federal Corporation
• Inventors: Gillen, Robert Joseph, Grimes, Todd Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Zandra V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRUZ, LESLIE PILAR
• Application Number:
  US10/966,593
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 257/211, 257/226, 257/232, 257678-679, 257/734, 257/752, 257/787, 257/922, 257/638, 174/254, 361748-837, 713/194, 235/380, 235/487, 235/492, 365 52- 53, 365/63, 365/225.7, 365/226, 380/277, 702/117, 702/190, 340/652, 340/541, 340/550
• US Class Current: 340/652
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/128 the housing being an electronic circuit unit, e.g. memory or CPU chip protecting computer components in secure or tamper resistant housings G06F21/86; protecting computer input devices, e.g. keyboards G06F21/83
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0275 Security details, e.g. tampering prevention or detection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0286 Programmable, customizable or modifiable circuits by programmable non-printed jumper connections H05K3/222
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10204 Dummy component, dummy PCB or template, e.g. for monitoring, controlling of processes, comparing, scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10212 Programmable component
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/284 for encapsulating mounted components H05K1/185 takes precedence

Abstract

A physical barrier for a circuit board also functions as a tampering sensor or sensors monitored by electrical circuitry that generates a tamper signal for erasing information critical for the operation of the circuit board in the event of sensed tampering. One or more routing matrices configured in at least one programmable device is programmed to interconnect operating as well as optional dummy components on the board so that routing information is erased in the event of sensed tampering.

Claims

1. A tamper resistant circuit board comprising:

a circuit board having electrically conducting paths formed thereon;

at least one programmable logic component mounted on said circuit board;

electronic components mounted on said circuit board and interconnected by said electrically conducting paths and by programmed paths through said at least one programmable logic component;

a physical barrier coating said at least one programmable logic component, said electronic components and said circuit board, said physical barrier having a plurality of layers which are alternately electrically insulating and electrically conducting;

electrical circuitry mounted on said circuit board and connected to at least one electrically conducting layer for sensing a tamperer seeking to determine construction or operation of said circuit board and for generating a tamper signal indicative of tampering; and

security circuitry responsive to said tamper signal for erasing said programmed paths through said at least one programmable logic chip.

2. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for controlling said at least one programmable logic component to interconnect input terminals to output terminals through at least two different sets of paths through said at least one programmable logic component.

3. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 2 wherein said control means for said at least one programmable logic component dynamically changes said at least two different sets of paths.

4. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 1 wherein said programmable logic component is programmed by a source external to said circuit board.

5. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one dummy component mounted on said circuit board and being interconnected by said electrically conducting paths to at least one of said electronic components.

6. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 5 wherein said at least one of said electronic components interconnected to said at least one dummy component generates signals that are sent to said at least one dummy component.

7. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 6 wherein said at least one dummy component is connected to one of said at least one programmable logic component.

8. A tamper resistant circuit board comprising:

a circuit board having electrically conducting paths formed thereon;

at least one programmable logic component mounted on said circuit board;

electronic components mounted on said circuit board, said at least one programmable logic circuit and said electronic components being interconnected by said electrically conducting paths, and said at least one programmable logic component being programmed to define interconnection paths for said electronic components;

a physical barrier coating said at least one programmable logic component, said electronic components and said circuit board, said physical barrier having a plurality of layers which are alternately electrically insulating and electrically conducting;

electrical circuitry mounted on said circuit board and connected to at least one electrically conducting layer for sensing a tamperer seeking to determine construction or operation of said circuit board and for generating a tamper signal indicative of tampering; and

security circuitry responsive to said tamper signal for erasing a program contained in said at least one programmable logic chip.

9. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 8 wherein said at least one programmable logic component is programmed by a source external to said circuit board.

10. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 8 wherein said physical barrier comprises at least two electrically conductive layers and said electrical circuitry is connected to both of said electrically conductive layers.

11. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 8 further comprising means for controlling said at least one programmable logic component to interconnect input terminals to output terminals through at least two different sets of paths through said at least one programmable logic component.

12. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 11 wherein said control means for said at least one programmable logic component dynamically changes said at least two different sets of paths.

13. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 8 further comprising at least one dummy component mounted on said circuit board and being interconnected by said electrically conducting paths to at least one of said electronic components.

14. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 13 wherein said at least one dummy component is connected to one of said at least one programmable logic component.

15. A tamper resistant circuit board as claimed in claim 13 wherein said at least one of said electronic components interconnected to said at least one dummy component generates signals that are sent to said at least one dummy component.