Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Implementing temporary disable function of protected circuitry by modulating threshold voltage of timing sensitive circuit
- Patent Title (中): 通过调制定时敏感电路的阈值电压实现受保护电路的暂时禁用功能
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Application No.: US13091243Application Date: 2011-04-21
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Publication No.: US08456187B2Publication Date: 2013-06-04
- Inventor: Karl R. Erickson , Phil C. Paone , David P. Paulsen , John E. Sheets, II , Gregory J. Uhlmann , Kelly L. Williams
- Applicant: Karl R. Erickson , Phil C. Paone , David P. Paulsen , John E. Sheets, II , Gregory J. Uhlmann , Kelly L. Williams
- Applicant Address: US NY Armonk
- Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
- Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
- Current Assignee Address: US NY Armonk
- Agent Joan Pennington
- Main IPC: H03K19/00
- IPC: H03K19/00

Abstract:
A method and circuits for implementing a temporary disable function at indeterminate times of circuitry to be protected in a semiconductor chip, such as in an integrated circuit or a system on a chip (SOC) by modulating threshold voltage shifts of a timing sensitive circuit, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The timing sensitive circuit is designed to be sensitive to threshold-voltage shifts and is placed over an independently voltage controlled silicon region. Upon startup, the independently voltage controlled silicon region is grounded, and then is left floating. Each time a hack attempt or predefined functional oddity is detected, charge is applied onto the independently voltage controlled silicon region. After a defined charge has accumulated, the device threshold voltages in the timing sensitive circuit above the independently voltage controlled silicon region are modulated causing the timing-sensitive circuit to fail.
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