Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

Alain-Christophe Rollet

Frank Lhermet

Yann Loisel

Vincent Debout

Yann Yves Rene Loisel

The invention relates to methods of interleaving payload data and integrity control data in an external memory interfaced with a microcontroller to improve data integrity check, enhance data confidentiality and save internal memory. Data words are received for storing in the external memory. Each data word is used to generate a respective integrity word, while an associated logic address is translated to two physical addresses in the external memory, one for the data word and the other for the integrity word. The two physical addresses for the data and integrity words are interleaved in the external memory, and sometimes, in a periodic scheme. In particular, each data word may be associated to an integrity sub-word included in an integrity word having the same length with that of a data word. The external memory may have dedicated regions for the data words and the integrity words, respectively.

Data interleaving scheme for an external memory of a secure microcontroller

Embodiments of the invention prevent unauthorized access to electronic systems by providing an enclosure with improved intrusion detection around sensitive areas of a secured electronic system. Certain embodiments eliminate the need for constant battery power and yet provide uninterrupted high-security supervision at the device perimeter such that even following a power down event it is possible to determine whether a device has been tampered with, so that appropriate action can be taken. This is especially useful in applications in which batteries are not acceptable.

Tamper detection systems and methods for industrial and metering devices not requiring a battery

A tamper resistant keypad includes one or more key assemblies having a resilient key member and a contact. The resilient key member is configured to flex when the key assembly is depressed to allow the contact to close a key press detection circuit on a circuit board to register a key press. A tamper detection switch assembly at least partially surrounds the resilient key member. The tamper detection switch assembly is configured to detect attempts to access the key assembly.

Keypad having tamper-resistant keys

Various embodiments of the present invention are related to integrated circuits for processing data at a microcontroller interface. The microcontroller interfaces to a memory. The method is employed to process input data provided by the microcontroller during a memory write operation, or input data extracted from the memory during a memory read operation, respectively. A write/read control is used to indicate the memory write or read operation, and a logic address is translated to at least one physical address in the memory. The write/read control and the logic address are further employed to determine a data process mode. In various data processing modes, the input data are processed according to at least one of a plurality of data processing methods to result in processed data in different data formats. Data in different formats may be stored in various regions of the memory.

Growing community of inventors

La Ciotat, France

Alain-Christophe Rollet