Arizona State University

Broadcom Corporation

Nathan D Hindman

Lawrence T Clark

Dan Wheeler Patterson

Mark Leonard Buer

The present disclosure outlines various systems and methods for detecting an optical fault injection within an electronic device and/or preventing the optical fault injection from introducing an exploitable abnormality within the electronic device. These various systems and methods can include systems and methods that can detect or prevent laser injection attacks, which can include one or more small footprint complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) light detection circuits, or structures that can shield one or more transistors from a bottom side laser injection attack.

Systems and methods for detecting and preventing optical attacks

The disclosure relates generally to triple-redundant sequential state (TRSS) machines formed as integrated circuits on a semiconductor substrate, such as CMOS, and computerized methods and systems of designing the triple-redundant sequential state machines. Of particular focus in this disclosure are sequential state elements (SSEs) used to sample and hold bit states. The sampling and holding of bits states are synchronized by a clock signal thereby allowing for pipelining in the TRSS machines. In particular, the clock signal may oscillate between a first clock state and a second clock state to synchronize the operation of the SSE according to the timing provided by the clock states. The SSEs has a self-correcting mechanism to protect against radiation induced soft errors. The SSE may be provided in a pipeline circuit of a TRSS machine to receive and store a bit state of bit signal generated by combinational circuits within the pipeline circuit.

Sequential state elements in triple-mode redundant (TMR) state machines

The disclosure relates generally to triple-redundant sequential state (TRSS) machines formed as integrated circuits on a semiconductor substrate, such as CMOS, and computerized methods and systems of designing the triple-redundant sequential state machines. Of particular focus in this disclosure are sequential state elements (SSEs) used to sample and hold bit states. The sampling and holding of bits states are synchronized by a clock signal thereby allowing for pipelining in the TRSS machines. In particular, the clock signal may oscillate between a first clock state and a second clock state to synchronize the operation of the SSE according to the timing provided by the clock states. The SSEs have a self-correcting mechanism to protect against radiation induced soft errors. The SSE may be provided in a pipeline circuit of a TRSS machine to receive and store a bit state of bit signal generated by combinational circuits within the pipeline circuit.

Growing community of inventors

Tempe, AZ, United States of America

Nathan D Hindman