Integrated circuit assembly preventing intrusions into electronic circuitry

• US 5,761,054 A
• Filed: 08/25/1997
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kuhn, Harry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ledynh, Bot L.
• Application Number:
  US08/917,988
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 174/35 R, 174/51, 174/52.1-52.4, 257/787, 361/683, 361/749-751, 361/816, 361/818, 29/855, 29/828-832
• US Class Current: 361/818
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07372 by detecting tampering with the circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/576 using active circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/18 the devices being of types provided for in two or more different subgroups of the same main group of groups H01L27/00 - H01L33/00, or in a single subclass of H10K, H10N
• 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: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49128 Assembling formed circuit to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49171 with encapsulating

Abstract

An integrated circuit package which has a flexible circuit that covers an integrated circuit. The flexible circuit contains a conductive line which prevents a probe from accessing the integrated circuit. The conductive line of the flexible circuit can be attached to the power lines, synchronization line, memory erase line, or any other line that will disable, erase or otherwise prevent access to the integrated circuit if the flexible circuit conductive line is broken. The integrated circuit can be mounted to a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board, integrated circuit and flexible circuit can all be enclosed within the package.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit assembly which prevents an interrogation of an integrated circuit within a package, comprising:

an integrated circuit that has an operable pin; and

,

a flexible circuit that covers and prevents a probe from accessing said integrated circuit, wherein said flexible circuit has a conductive line connected to said operable pin of said integrated circuit so that said integrated circuit is inoperative when said conductive line is broken.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said conductive line of said flexible circuit is connected to a clock synchronization pin of said integrated circuit.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said conductive line of said flexible circuit is connected to a memory erase pin of said integrated circuit.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said conductive line of said flexible circuit is connected to a sensing circuit of said integrated circuit which disables said integrated circuit when said conductive line is opened.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board that is attached to said integrated circuit.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising of packaging that encloses said integrated circuit and said flexible circuit.

7. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said conductive line is routed in a serpentine configuration.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said flexible circuit has conductive line portions separated by a non-conductive space within a first layer of said flexible circuit, and a conductive line portion located within a second layer of said flexible circuit in-line with said non-conductive space of said first layer.

9. An integrated circuit package, comprising:

a printed circuit board;

an integrated circuit that is mounted to said printed circuit board, said integrated circuit has an operable pin;

a flexible circuit that covers and prevents a probe from accessing said integrated circuit, said flexible circuit has a conductive line connected to said operable pin of said integrated circuit so that said integrated circuit is inoperative when said conductive line is broken; and

,

packaging that encloses said printed circuit board, said integrated circuit and said flexible circuit.

10. The package as recited in claim 9, further comprising a lead frame connected to said integrated circuit.

11. The package as recited in claim 9, wherein said conductive line of said flexible circuit is connected to a clock synchronization pin of said integrated circuit.

12. The package as recited in claim 9, wherein said conductive line of said flexible circuit is connected to an memory erase pin of said integrated circuit.

13. The package as recited in claim 9, wherein said conductive line of said flexible circuit is connected to a sensing circuit of said integrated circuit which disables said integrated circuit when said conductive line is opened.

14. The package as recited in claim 9, wherein said conductive line is routed in a serpentine configuration.

15. The package as recited in claim 9, wherein said flexible circuit has conductive line portions separated by a non-conductive space within a first layer of said flexible circuit, and a conductive line portion located within a second layer of said flexible circuit in-line with said non-conductive space of said first layer.