Method and system for generating electronic keys

• US 8,118,214 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rochette, Philip Andre, Mummert, Randall William
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDLER, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US11/389,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20070222645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 235/488, 235/492, 235/379
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

A method and system for generating electronic keys. The method comprises providing a plurality of devices and generating an electronic key for each device of the plurality of devices, wherein the electronic keys are generated substantially simultaneously. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the electronic keys for all of the devices are generated in the same amount of time that is required to generate one electronic key for one device.

Claims

1. A method for generating electronic keys for a plurality of devices, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of devices in a molded strip;

coupling the plurality of devices to a single biasing circuit, such that the single biasing circuit causes each of the devices in the molded strip to self-generate a unique primary number in response to signals from the single biasing circuit;

generating, by a security chip, an electronic key for each of the devices in parallel using the associated primary number while the devices reside in the molded strip and remain coupled to the single biasing circuit, the electronic key being unique to each of the devices; and

providing power from the single biasing circuit to the security chip.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the molded strip is a lead-frame strip that results from device fabrication,

wherein the plurality of devices as provided in the molded strip include dambars,

wherein prior to coupling the plurality of devices to the single biasing circuit, the method comprises:

removing the dambars; and

inserting the molded strip into a strip socket, the strip socket to make an individual electrical contact with lead frames of each of the devices to couple each of the devices to the single biasing circuit,

wherein after the electronic keys are generated, the devices are singulated.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the electronic key generated by the security chip for each of the devices is used to execute functions or code on the associated device, and

wherein the primary number is self-generated by each of the devices using fused links within each of the devices to ensure that each of the devices generates a unique primary number.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the security chip is provided with powered prior to coupling the plurality of devices to the single biasing circuit.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising configuring an inverter to provide a predetermined output to the security chip to cause the security chip to generate an electronic key for one of the devices.

6. A computer-readable medium that stores program instructions for generating electronic keys for a plurality of devices that are provided in a molded strip, the program instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

couple the plurality of devices that reside in the molded strip to a single biasing circuit to cause each of the devices to self-generate a unique primary number in response to signals from the single biasing circuit;

cause a security chip to generate an electronic key for each of the devices in parallel using the associated primary number while the devices reside in the molded strip and remain coupled to the single biasing circuit, the electronic key being unique to each of the devices and

provide power from the single biasing circuit to the security chip.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 wherein the molded strip is a lead-frame strip that results from device fabrication,

wherein the plurality of devices as provided in the molded strip include dambars,

wherein prior to coupling the plurality of devices to the single biasing circuit, the dambars are removed and the molded strip is inserted into a strip socket, the strip socket to make an individual electrical contact with lead frames of each of the devices to couple each of the devices to the single biasing circuit, and

wherein after the electronic keys are generated, the devices are singulated.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the electronic key generated by the security chip for each of the devices is unique to each of the devices and used to execute functions or code on the associated device, and

wherein the primary number is self-generated by each of the devices using fused links within each of the devices to ensure that each of the devices generates a unique primary number.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the program instructions further configure the processor to power the security chip with the single biasing circuit prior to coupling the plurality of devices to the single biasing circuit.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the program instructions further configure an inverter to provide a predetermined output to the security chip to cause the security chip to generate an electronic key for one of the devices.

11. A system to generate electronic keys for a plurality of devices, the system comprising:

a strip socket for inserting the plurality of devices that reside in a molded strip;

a single biasing circuit to cause each of the devices to self-generate a unique primary number in response to signals from the single biasing circuit, the strip socket being configured to make an individual electrical contact with lead, frames of each of the devices to couple each of the devices to the single biasing circuit; and

a security chip to generate an electronic key for each of the devices in parallel using the associated primary number while the devices reside in the molded strip and remain coupled to the single biasing circuit, the electronic key being unique to each of the devices, wherein the single biasing circuit is configured to provide power to the security chip.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the molded strip is a lead-frame strip that results from device fabrication,

wherein the plurality of devices as provided in the molded strip include dambars used to mold device packages housing the devices,

wherein prior to the devices being coupled to the single biasing circuit, the dambars are removed, and

wherein after the electronic keys are generated, the devices are singulated.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the electronic key generated by the security chip for each of the devices is used to execute functions or code on the associated device, and

wherein the primary number is self-generated by each of the devices using fused links within each of the devices to ensure that each of the devices generates a unique primary number.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the security chip is powered prior to the plurality of devices being coupled to the single biasing circuit.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising an inverter configured to provide a predetermined output to the security chip to cause the security chip to generate an electronic key for one of the devices.