The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Aug. 23, 2011

Filed:

Feb. 27, 2009
Applicants:

Vincent Dupaquis, Biver, FR;

Patrick Debaenst, Roquevaire, FR;

Inventors:

Vincent Dupaquis, Biver, FR;

Patrick Debaenst, Roquevaire, FR;

Assignee:

Atmel Rousset S.A.S., Rousset, FR;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 12/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A dummy write operation is disclosed that mimics an actual write operation to a memory array. In some implementations, a dummy write operation mimics an actual write operation by starting a charge pump, selecting a correct data line in the memory array, and by following the sequencing of an actual write operation. By mimicking an actual write operation, an attacker cannot use power analysis to distinguish between dummy and actual write operations. For example, PIN comparison operations would present the same or substantially the same power trace for both positive and negative comparisons, making it difficult for an attacker to determine if a retry count was written to NVM.


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