H01L23/57

Protection of integrated circuits

A first integrated circuit chip is assembled to a second integrated circuit chip with a back-to-back surface relationship. The back surfaces of the integrated circuit chips are attached to each other using one or more of an adhesive, solder or molecular bonding. The back surface of at least one the integrated circuit chips is processed to include at least one of a trench, a cavity or a saw cut.

SEMICONDUCTOR DIE BACKSIDE DEVICES AND METHODS OF FABRICATION THEREOF
20170373011 · 2017-12-28 ·

A die for a semiconductor chip package includes a first surface including an integrated circuit formed therein. The die also includes a backside surface opposite the first surface. The backside surface has a total surface area defining a substantially planar region of the backside surface. The die further includes at least one device formed on the backside surface. The at least one device includes at least one extension extending from the at least one device beyond the total surface area.

Prevention of reverse engineering of security chips

A semiconductor chip includes a chip substrate; a self-destructive layer arranged on the chip substrate, the self-destructive layer including a pyrophoric reactant; and a sealant layer arranged on a surface of the self-destructive layer, on sidewalls of the self-destructive layer, and on the chip substrate such that the sealant layer forms a package seal on the semiconductor chip; wherein the pyrophoric reactant ignites spontaneously upon exposure to air.

PUF-FILM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
20220384368 · 2022-12-01 ·

A method for producing a PUF-film includes printing a layer of dielectric material on a film substrate, such that a variable thickness of the layer is obtained by the printing. The method includes arranging a structured electrode layer on the dielectric material such that the structured electrode layer is influenced with respect to an electric measurement value due to the variable thickness.

DISAGGREGATED ENTROPY SERVICES FOR MICROELECTRONIC ASSEMBLIES

A microelectronic assembly is provided, comprising: a first plurality of integrated circuit (IC) dies in a first level, each one of the first plurality of IC dies having respective first physical unclonable function (PUF) circuits; a second IC die having a second PUF circuit and a security circuit; a second plurality of IC dies in a second level, the second level not coplanar with the first level, the first level and the second level being coupled with interconnects having a pitch of less than 10 micrometers between adjacent ones of the interconnects; and conductive pathways between the first plurality of IC dies and the second IC die for communication between the first PUF circuits and the second PUF circuit, the conductive pathways comprising a portion of the interconnects.

CONFIGURABLE ROM
20170301681 · 2017-10-19 · ·

A configurable read only memory (ROM) including a number of memory cells. The memory cells include first-type memory cells that are electrically-programmable antifuses and second-type memory cells that are antifuses programmed by masking.

METHOD FOR DETECTING A THINNING OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE OF AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT FROM ITS BACK FACE AND CORRESPONDING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT

The thinning of a semiconductor substrate of an integrated circuit from a back face is detected using the measurement of a physical quantity representative of the resistance between the ends of two electrically-conducting contacts situated at an interface between an insulating region and an underlying substrate region. The two electrically-conducting contacts extend through the insulating region to reach the underlying substrate region.

Inspection and identification to enable secure chip processing

A computer-implemented method executed on a processor for detecting whether a wafer has been tampered during a semiconductor fabrication process, the method including, at a plurality of patterning steps where lithographic patterns are defined and etched or at a plurality of fabrication processing steps, marking, via an identification tool, each die with an unclonable identification in a memory array, inspecting, via an inspection tool, each of the dies, and removing compromised wafers from a wafer pool during the semiconductor fabrication process.

Environment-tolerant tamper-proof circuit board
09730315 · 2017-08-08 · ·

A circuit board is protected by being enclosed in a security housing that includes conductive tamper traces running along its interior surface, the conductive tamper traces being a housing portion of a tamper detection circuit. The tamper detection circuit also includes a board portion that detect tampering with the tamper detection circuit by monitoring voltages at monitor nodes along the board portion. The board portion of the tamper detection circuit is connected to the tamper traces via multiple connector pieces. The connector pieces can be held in place by board connector piece holders affixed to the board or housing connector piece holders of the housing. When tampering is detected, it can be localized based on voltages measured at multiple recesses along the housing. The tamper detection circuit can be arranged in a wheatstone bridge layout for environmental tolerance. The circuit board's functions/components can be disabled if tampering is detected.

Increasing security in inter-chip communication

An apparatus for increasing security in inter-chip communication includes a sending control module, a communication bus, and a receiving control module. The communication bus is coupled between the sending control module and the receiving control module. The sending control module operates to send data on the communication bus, disable the communication bus when threats are detected, or both.