Data protection by detection of intrusion into electronic assemblies

• US 5,027,397 A
• Filed: 09/12/1989
• Issued: 06/25/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Weingart, Steve H., Double, Glen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWANN, TOD R
• Application Number:
  US07/405,910
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 380/3, 380/4
• US Class Current: 713/194
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/87 by means of encapsulation, e.g. for integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/576 using active circuits
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/807 Tamper proof

Abstract

The present invention provides an intrusion barrier for protecting against mechanical or chemical intrusion into an electronic assembly, especially one containing volatile memory. It includes a screen material surrounding the electronic assembly which screen material has formed thereon fine conductive lines in close proximity to each other. The lines are formed of conductive particles of material dispersed in a solidified matrix of a material which looses its mechanical integrity when removed from the screen. An electrical supply and signal detection circuit is provided which generates an output signal responsive to a given change in resistance of the conductive lines, such that if the resistance changes are a result of a mechanical or chemical attack, a signal is generated which can cause the erasure of the volatile memory. Also, preferably radiation detection and temperature sensing circuits are provided to cause erasure of the volatile memory responsive to detection of a given intensity of radiation or a temperature below a given value.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit comprising;

a circuit card;

a plurality of electronic circuit components disposed on said circuit card;

said components including an electronic assembly;

a barrier for protecting against intrusions into said electronic assembly including;

screen means surrounding said electronic assembly, said screen means including a unitary flexible membrane wrapped around said electronic assembly and line means formed on said membrane in a pattern that resists access without disturbing said line means, said line means being formed of discrete conductive particles of material disposed in a solidified matrix of material, the resistance of said line means changing when said line means are disturbed,

encapsulating material encapsulating said line means and bonded to said line means said bond strength of line means to the membrane having a first predetermined strength and said bond strength of the encapsulating material to the line means having a second predetermined strength said second predetermined strength being greater than said first predetermined strength;

and, electrical supply and signal detection means adapted to supply an input signal to said line means and generate an output signal responsive to a given change in said resistance of said line means;

whereby said resistance of said line means changes, a signal will be generated.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the electronic assembly includes volatile memory means, and wherein means responsive to said output signal are provided to erase data contained in said volatile memory means.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said line means further comprises a plurality of line segments, and where said electrical supply and detection means detects changes in resistance between two of said line segments.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said line means form a part of a voltage divider circuit.

5. The inventions defined in claim 4 wherein means are proved to generate a signal responsive to the change in resistance of said line segments in said voltage divider circuit.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said signal is generated by amplifier means connected to said voltage divider circuit.

7. The invention as defined in claim 2 further characterized by means to detect a temperature excursion below a given temperature value and generate an output signal responsive to the detection of said temperature excursion.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said means to detect said temperature excursion includes second circuit means having means to provide a reference signal to control response to said temperature excursion.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 further characterized by means to detect radiation above a given value and generate said output signal responsive to said detected radiation.

10. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said second circuit includes temperature sensitive resistance means which varies its output as a function of temperature.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said second circuit is a reference bridge circuit,

12. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said output signal is generated by an amplifier connected in circuit relationship with said second circuit.

13. The invention as defined in claim 2 further characterized by means to detect radiation intensity above a given value and generate an output signal responsive to said detected radiation.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13 further characterized by radiation shielding means disposed to reduce radiation received by said volatile memory as compared to radiation received by said means to detect radiation.

15. The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein said means to detect radiation includes third circuit means having means to vary a characteristic thereof responsive to said detected radiation.

16. The invention as defined in claim 15 wherein said means to vary the characteristics thereof is a photosensitive device in said third circuit.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said third circuit includes an operational amplifier which produces said output signal.

18. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein gate means are provided to generate said output signal.

19. The invention as defined in claim 2 including switch means to turn off the power to said volatile memory responsive to the output signal.

20. The invention as defined in claim 19 further characterized by transistor means to short said volatile memory in response to said output signal.

21. The invention as defined in claim 2 further characterized by means to provide for EMI shielding.