Integrated circuit

• US 20020008428A1
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Wegertseder, Dominik, Smola, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,690,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/413
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07372 by detecting tampering with the circuit
• 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

Abstract

An integrated circuit with at least one antenna for the contactless transmission of data or energy. The antenna is configured above and/or below circuit sections to be protected and, as part of a protective circuit, enables the integrated circuit to be monitored with regard to an undesirable external attack. Such an attack can be identified by the attempt to effect observation or manipulation from the outside, which are typically associated with an alteration of the physical properties of the antenna. These physical alterations lead to significant changes in the protective circuit signals that are transmitted via the antenna. These changes are identified by signal detectors and initiate a transfer of the integrated circuit into a security mode. In this case, in addition to the function as means for transmitting data and/or energy, the antenna also serves the function of being a protective shield of a protective circuit for the integrated circuit. This integrated function of the antenna makes it possible to provide a cost-effective, protected integrated circuit with an antenna for contactless transmission in particular for use in smart cards.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit having at least one antenna for contactless transmission of data or energy, which comprises:

a plurality of circuit planes configured one above another;

a plurality of circuit sections to be protected, said plurality of said circuit sections located in said plurality of said circuit planes;

at least one antenna for contactless transmission of a signal selected from the group consisting of a data signal and an energy signal, said antenna configured at a location selected from the group consisting of a location that is above said plurality of said circuit sections and a location that is below said plurality of said circuit sections; and

a protective circuit that monitors said plurality of said circuit sections with regard to an attack, said protective circuit connected to said antenna.

2. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said protective circuit is switchably connected to said antenna.

3. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, comprising:

selection means assigned to said antenna for defining a function of said antenna;

said function selected from the group consisting of forming an operative part of said protective circuit and forming a means for the transmission of the signal selected from the group consisting of the data signal and the energy signal.

4. The integrated circuit according to claim 3, wherein said selection means is constructed to define the function of said antenna in a temporally alternating manner.

5. The integrated circuit according to claim 3, wherein:

said selection means is constructed for outputting signals to said antenna and for obtaining signals from said antenna that can be separated from each other; and

the signals obtained from said antenna include protective circuit signals and signals selected from the group consisting of transmission signals and reception signals.

6. The integrated circuit according to claim 5, wherein:

said selection means includes components for separating the protective circuit signals from the signals selected from the group consisting of the transmission signals and the reception signals; and

said components are selected from the group consisting of filters and demodulators.

7. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said antenna at least mostly covers said plurality of said circuit sections.

8. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one antenna at least mostly covers said plurality of said circuit sections from above and from below in a sandwich-like manner.

9. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said antenna is located in one of said plurality of said circuit planes and has a helical design.

10. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, comprising:

at least one signal generator for generating a protective circuit signal and for feeding the protective circuit signal to said antenna;

said protective circuit including a signal detector connected to said antenna for obtaining the protective circuit signal and for evaluating the protective circuit signal that is obtained from said antenna; and

said antenna at least mostly covering said signal generator and said signal detector.