Dynamic power-supply attack detection circuit
An attack-detection (A-DET) circuit in an integrated circuit includes a main detector and a spike detection circuit. The main detector is configured to, while activated, detect an abnormal level of a power supply input of the integrated circuit. The spike detection circuit is configured to detect a transition on the power supply input and to send an activation indication to the main detector responsively the detected transition.
1 . An attack-detection (A-DET) circuit in an integrated circuit, the A-DET circuit comprising:
a main detector, configured to, while activated, detect an abnormal level of a power supply input of the integrated circuit; and
a spike detection circuit, configured to detect a transition on the power supply input and to send an activation indication to the main detector responsively the detected transition.
2 . The A-DET circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the main detector is configured to alternate, responsively to the activation indication, between a low-power mode of operation and a high-speed mode of operation, wherein the high-speed mode of operation has a faster level-detection speed but higher power consumption than the low-power mode of operation.
3 . The A-DET circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the main detector is configured to alternate, responsively to the activation indication, between an inactive mode of operation, and an active mode of operation.
4 . The A-DET circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the main detector is configured to alternate, responsively to the activation indication, between a limited-functionality mode of operation and a full-functionality mode of operation.
5 . The A-DET circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the activation indication comprises a boost supply current.
6 . The A-DET circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the A-DET circuit power supply comprises a regulated power source.
7 . The A-DET circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising a Low Drop-Out (LDO) regulated power source that is configured to supply a stable voltage to the main detector according to a reference voltage input.
8 . The A-DET circuit according to claim 7 , further comprising a band-gap reference (BG-REF) that is configured to produce the reference voltage.
9 . The A-DET circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the spike detection circuit is configured to detect transitions in the power supply input that are greater than a preset threshold.
10 . An attack-detection method in an integrated circuit, the method comprising:
using a main detector, while activated, detecting an abnormal level of a power supply input of the integrated circuit; and
using a spike detection circuit, detecting a transition on the power supply input, and sending an activation indication to the main detector responsively the detected transition.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein sending the activation indication comprises alternating the main detector between a low-power mode of operation and a high-speed mode of operation, wherein the high-speed mode of operation has a faster level-detection speed but higher power consumption than the low-power mode of operation.
12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein sending the activation indication comprises alternating the main detector between an inactive mode of operation, and an active mode of operation.
13 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein sending the activation indication comprises alternating the main detector between a limited-functionality mode of operation and a full-functionality mode of operation.
14 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein sending the activation indication comprises sending a boost supply current.
15 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising supplying a stable voltage to the main detector according to a reference voltage input.
16 . The method according to claim 15 , further comprising producing the reference voltage using a band-gap reference (BG-REF).
17 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein detecting the transition comprises detecting transitions in the power supply input that are greater than a preset threshold.