Device and method for protecting an electronic system against unauthorized access
View Patent ↗The invention relates to an electronic system comprising a printed circuit contained in a package. The system comprises a protection device comprising conducting tracks carried by the printed circuit and each having a free end; a first integrated circuit connected to the conducting tracks and adapted for detecting a variation in the capacitance seen by each conducting track; and a second integrated circuit, optionally merged with the first integrated circuit, comprising a configurable memory for selecting certain of the conducting tracks. The second integrated circuit is adapted for determining that an authorized or unauthorized access has occurred on the basis of the detection of the variation of the capacitance seen by at least one of the selected conducting tracks.
1. An electronic system comprising a printed circuit contained in a package and a protection device comprising:
conductive tracks supported by the printed circuit and each of the conductive tracks having a free end;
a first integrated circuit connected to the conductive tracks and the first integrated circuit capable of detecting a variation of the capacitance seen by each conductive track; and
a second integrated circuit, confounded with the first integrated circuit, the second integrated circuit comprising a memory configurable to select some of the conductive tracks, the second integrated circuit being capable of determining that an authorized or unauthorized access is occurring from the detection of the variation of the capacitance seen by at least one of the selected conductive tracks,
wherein the printed circuit is rigid, the electronic system comprising an electronic component connected to the printed circuit by a flexible printed circuit, at least one of said conductive tracks extending to the flexible printed circuit.
2. The electronic system of claim 1 , wherein the memory configuration is different from one system to another or from one family of systems to another.
3. The electronic system of claim 1 , wherein the pattern of said conductive tracks avoids the locations above the components supported by the printed circuit.
4. The electronic system of claim 1 , wherein said conductive tracks are electrically isolated from one another and at least two of said conductive tracks overlap or are adjacent to a portion of the printed circuit.
5. The electronic system of claim 1 , wherein the first integrated circuit is connected to the second integrated circuit by a series connection.
6. A method for determining an unauthorized access to a printed circuit contained in a package of an electronic system, comprising the steps of:
providing conductive tracks, each conductive track having a free end and each conductive track extending at least to the printed circuit, a first integrated circuit connected to the conductive tracks, and a second integrated circuit, confounded with the first integrated circuit, the second integrated circuit comprising a memory, wherein the printed circuit is rigid, the electronic system comprising an electronic component connected to the printed circuit by a flexible printed circuit, at least one of said conductive tracks extending to the flexible printed circuit;
storing into the memory parameters for selecting some of the conductive tracks;
having the first integrated circuit detect, for each conductive track, whether the capacitance seen by the conductive track varies; and
having the second integrated circuit determine that an authorized or unauthorized access is occurring from the detection of the variation of the capacitance seen by at least one of the selected conductive tracks.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each conductive track has a corresponding identifier, the method comprising having the first integrated circuit transmit to the second integrated circuit the identifier of the conductive track for which the capacitance variation is detected.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the parameters comprise at least a list of identifiers of at least some conductive tracks, the second integrated circuit determining that an authorized or unauthorized access is occurring if the identifier of the track for which the capacitance variation is detected belongs to the list.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the parameters comprise at least one logic operation involving the identifiers of at least some of the conductive tracks, the second integrated circuit determining that an authorized or unauthorized access is occurring if capacitance variations are detected for the conductive tracks associated with said identifiers and if the logic operation is verified.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein several sets of parameters are stored in the memory, the method comprising providing the second integrated circuit with a signal for selecting a set of parameters from among said sets of parameters, said selected set of parameters being used by the second integrated circuit to determine that an authorized or unauthorized access is occurring.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the selection of the conductive tracks differs according to the system or to the family of systems.
12. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:
determining calibration values based on a reference printed circuit;
calibrating the first integrated circuit of the printed circuit based on said calibration values; and
having the first integrated circuit transmit a fault signal in the case where it detects a variation of the capacitance seen by at least one of the conductive tracks.