Security Element and Methods for Manufacturing and Authenticating the Same
First Claim
1. A security element comprising at least one oscillating circuit that includes a capacitor for setting a frequency of the oscillating circuit, the capacitor comprising a first and a second electrodes which are spaced apart from each other, and a dielectric arranged between the electrodes, wherein the capacitor has a random capacitance value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A security element comprises at least one oscillating circuit (O1-On) and a digital signature (2). Each oscillating circuit (O1-On) comprises a capacitor (C1-Cn) as resonance frequency setting element wherein the capacitor (C1-Cn) consists of two electrodes (8, 10) which are spaced apart from each other and a dielectric (9) that is sandwiched between the two electrodes (8, 10). The capacitor (C1-Cn) of each oscillating circuit has a random capacitance value which randomness is caused by a non-uniform thickness (d) of the dielectric (9) and/or by an inhomogeneous dielectric material. The digital signature (2) comprises reference values indicative for the resonance frequencies (f1-fh) of the oscillating circuits wherein the reference values are digitally signed with a secret key.
16 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A security element comprising at least one oscillating circuit that includes a capacitor for setting a frequency of the oscillating circuit, the capacitor comprising a first and a second electrodes which are spaced apart from each other, and a dielectric arranged between the electrodes, wherein the capacitor has a random capacitance value.
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12. (canceled)
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13. A system, comprising:
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a security element that includes at least one oscillating circuit comprising a capacitor for setting a frequency of the oscillating circuit, the capacitor comprising a first and a second electrodes, spaced apart from each other, and a dielectric arranged between the electrodes, wherein the capacitor has a random capacitance value; and a set of reference values corresponding to values of the security element, wherein the values of the security element are obtainable by determining the frequencies of the oscillator circuits and treating them with a security function. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for initializing a security element, comprising:
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providing the security element that includes at least one oscillating circuit comprising a capacitor for setting a frequency of the oscillating circuit, the capacitor comprising a first and a second electrodes, spaced apart from each other, and a dielectric arranged between the electrodes, wherein the capacitor has a random capacitance value, and transforming the measured frequencies (f1-fn) into reference values (b1-bn) that are indicative for the frequencies of the oscillating circuits. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for authenticating an object provided with a security element, comprising:
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measuring frequencies (f′
1-f′
n) of the oscillating circuits (O1-On) by energizing with an AC electromagnetic signal, the frequency being swept over a predetermined frequency range and determining at which frequency the oscillating circuit resonates,transforming the measured frequencies (f′
1-f′
n) into authentication values (b′
1-b′
n) that are indicative for the frequencies of the oscillating circuits,verifying the reference values (b1-bn), comparing the authentication values (b′
1-b′
n) with the reference values (b1-bn). - View Dependent Claims (22)
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21. The authentication method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the reference values are verified from a digital signature (2) that is either directly read from the object (1) or is read out from a data base (DB).
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23. (canceled)
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24. (canceled)
Specification