IP Library Granted Patent US 7,062,659
Granted Patent B2
US 7,062,659 · App. 10/043,290 · Granted Jun 13, 2006

Apparatus for protecting code ROM data in code ROM test

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,062,659
App. No.
10/043,290
Granted
Jun 13, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus of a code read only memory (ROM) data capable of protecting code ROM data is easily read and plagiarized in field in case of testing a code ROM built-in a microcontrol unit (MCU) The apparatus for protecting data outputted from a code ROM has: a first encryptor for encrypting data outputted from the code ROM; a second encryptor for generating a read enable signal through an encryption process; and an output unit for dumping out the encrypted data outputted from the first encryptor in response to the read enable signal outputted from the second encryptor.

Claims (32)

1. An apparatus for protecting data outputted from a code read only memory (ROM), comprising:

the code ROM for storing and outputting the data in response to an address and a read enable signal;

a first encryption means for encrypting the data outputted from the code ROM;

a second encryption means for encrypting a test enable signal based on key data to generate a read enable signal; and

an output means for dumping out the encrypted data outputted from the first encryption means in response to the read enable signal outputted from the second encryption means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first encryption means including:

a multiple input signature analysis register (MISR) for compressing data outputted from the code ROM in synchronization with a clock signal; and

an initializing means for providing an initialization value to the MISR unit in response to a test enable signal and a reset signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the initializing means includes a transistor, which provides the initialization value to the MISR unit when all the test enable signal and the reset signal are enabled.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second encryption means including:

a control state machine unit for generating a control signal for a ROM test operation in response to the test enable signal and a clock signal;

a MISR unit for inputting, and compressing the key data in synchronization with the clock signal;

an initializing means for providing an initialization value to the MISR unit in response to the test enable signal and the reset signal; and

a comparison unit for outputting the read enable signal by comparing a value outputted from the MISR unit with an expected value.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the expected value is a value generated in a condition of recognizing the initialization value and the key data.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the control state machine unit includes an initial state, a finish state and a plurality of internal states, wherein the control state machine unit transits to the initial state in response to a reset signal, wherein the control state machine unit sequentially transits to a plurality of internal states in response to the test enable signal and the clock signal, wherein the control state machine unit in the final internal state, finally transits to the finish state, wherein the control state machine unit outputs the enabled control signal in the initial state and in the plurality of internal states, and wherein the control state machine unit outputs the control signal in the final state.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the control state machine unit equips the internal state as much as the number of the key data.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the comparison means outputs the read enable signal when the compressing value outputted from the MISR unit and the initialization value are the same.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the initializing means includes a transistor, which provides the initialization value to the MISR unit when all the test enable signal and the reset signal are enabled.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the output means includes a logic multiplication means for ANDing the encrypted data outputted from the first encryption means and the read enable signal.

11. An apparatus for protecting data outputted from a code ROM, comprising:

a control state machine unit for generating a control signal for a ROM test operation in response to a test enable signal and a clock signal;

a MISR unit for inputting, and compressing key data in synchronization with the clock signal in response to the test enable signal;

an initializing means for providing an initialization value to the MISR unit in response to the test enable signal and the reset signal;

a comparison unit for outputting a read enable signal by comparing value outputted from the MISR unit with an expected value; and

an output means for dumping the code ROM data in response to the read enable signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the initialization value is a value generated in a condition of recognizing the initialization value and the key data.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control state machine unit includes an initial state, a finish state and lots of internal states, and the control state machine unit transits to the initial state, the lots of internal states, sequentially, and to the finish state, finally, in response to a reset signal, the test enable signal and the clock signal, and in the final internal state, respectively, and then, the initial state and the lots of internal states output the enabled control signal, and the final state outputs disabled the control signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control state machine unit equips the internal state as much as the number of the key data.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the comparison means outputs enabled the read enable signal when the compressing value outputted from the MISR unit and the initialization value are the same.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the initializing means includes a transistor, which provides the initialization value to the MISR unit when all the test enable signal and the reset signal are enabled.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the output means includes a logic multiplication means for ANDing the encrypted data outputted from the first encryption means and the read enable signal.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2006
From: MAGNACHIP SEMICONDUCTOR, LTD.
To: ABOV SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017379/0378 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2005
From: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: MAGNACHIP SEMICONDUCTOR, LTD.
Reel/Frame 016216/0649 →