Tamper resistant module having logical elements arranged in multiple layers on the outer surface of a substrate to protect stored information
First Claim
1. A tamper resistant module for safeguarding stored information comprising:
- substrate means having an inner surface and an outer surface, memory means for storing confidential data, said memory means being confined by said inner surface of said substrate;
means for preventing tampering, said tamper preventing means comprising a plurality of logical elements arranged on said outer surface of said substrate, said plurality of logical elements normally operating to provide an indication of a normal tamper-free condition, said plurality of logical elements being arranged in multiple layers on said outer substrate surface so that at least one logical element of said plurality of logical elements is rendered inoperative when a tampering attempt is applied to said outer surface of said substrate; and
detecting means for detecting whether at least one of said plurality of logical elements has been rendered inoperative for indicating that a tampering has been applied to the outer surface of said substrate.
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Abstract
The reliability of a tamper resistant module for safeguarding stored information, e.g. in an electronic computer system, is improved to deny access to the system by an unauthorized person or at least to a specific portion of the system. For this purpose, the module has for example a pair of substrates which are bonded together to confine confidential data inside the module. On the outer surfaces of the substrates, a plurality of logical elements, such as transistors, form detecting memory devices. The plurality of these detecting memory devices are operative under a normal condition, but at least one of these detecting memory devices is rendered inoperative when a tampering is applied to the outer surface of the substrate. In a tamper free normal situation all memory devices work properly. The inoperability of any of the detecting memory devices is detected when tampering occurs. When the tamper is detected, the confidential data confined within the module are erased.
248 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A tamper resistant module for safeguarding stored information comprising:
- substrate means having an inner surface and an outer surface, memory means for storing confidential data, said memory means being confined by said inner surface of said substrate;
means for preventing tampering, said tamper preventing means comprising a plurality of logical elements arranged on said outer surface of said substrate, said plurality of logical elements normally operating to provide an indication of a normal tamper-free condition, said plurality of logical elements being arranged in multiple layers on said outer substrate surface so that at least one logical element of said plurality of logical elements is rendered inoperative when a tampering attempt is applied to said outer surface of said substrate; and
detecting means for detecting whether at least one of said plurality of logical elements has been rendered inoperative for indicating that a tampering has been applied to the outer surface of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- substrate means having an inner surface and an outer surface, memory means for storing confidential data, said memory means being confined by said inner surface of said substrate;
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeRyoichi Mori
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Original AssigneeRyoichi Mori
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InventorsMori, Ryoichi
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Primary Examiner(s)Anderson, Lawrence E.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Lim, Krisna
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Application NumberUS07/845,767Time in Patent Office344 DaysField of Search395/725, 395/425, 395/800, 380/4, 365/52, 365/63, 365/189.01US Class Current365/52CPC Class CodesG06F 21/87 by means of encapsulation, ...G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to pr...G11C 7/24 Memory cell safety or prote...
