Method and apparatus for resisting hardware hacking through internal register interface

Methods and apparatus that allow restricted access to internal registers of an integrated circuit (IC) device via an interface are provided. Unrestricted access to internal registers via the interface may be allowed during a manufacturing process to allow device testing. After such testing is comple...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors RASHID IRFAN, YOSIM PAUL S
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 03.11.2005
Edition7
Subjects
CALCULATING
COMPUTING
COUNTING
ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
PHYSICS
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Summary:Methods and apparatus that allow restricted access to internal registers of an integrated circuit (IC) device via an interface are provided. Unrestricted access to internal registers via the interface may be allowed during a manufacturing process to allow device testing. After such testing is complete, the device may be placed in a restricted access mode, for example, by blowing a master "lock" fuse, to prevent unrestricted access to one or more of the internal registers via the interface. However, full or partial access to the internal registers may still be provided via an access code or "combination lock" allowing the master fuse lock, in effect, to be bypassed.
Bibliography:Application Number: US20040835462