IC chip security box

Details IC chip security box IC chip security box

1999-06-15

2001-06-12

Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)

Electricity: conductors and insulators

Boxes and housings

C174S050510, C174S050510, C361S001000, C361S087000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06245992

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an integrated circuit (IC) chip protection, and in particular to a security box for an IC chip.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the field of circuit design, it is common to write program in an integrated circuit (IC) chip to provide circuit functions in firmware form. The program that is written in the IC chip is generally not intended to be disclosed. However, a conventional IC package cannot protect the program codes written therein from unauthorized duplication. For example, program codes of a circuit may be accessed by detecting radio frequency emission from pins of the IC chip during the operation thereof or the codes may be directly accessed by electrically contacting the pins of the IC chip.
Thus, it is desired to have a security box for an IC chip which prevents program codes written therein from unauthorized copy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an IC chip security box which prevents unauthorized copy of program codes written in the chip.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an IC chip security box which prevent radio frequency signals from emitting outward from the IC chip.
To achieve the above object, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an IC chip security box comprising a top cover member and a bottom cover member respectively mounted to top and bottom sides of a circuit board to enclose an IC chip mounted to the circuit board. The cover members are made of conductive material for blocking radio frequency emission from the IC chip. Bolts secure the cover members to the circuit board. Conductive members are formed on one of the cover members and the circuit board and engage with each other when the security box is mounted to the circuit board thereby forming an electrical loop. Unauthorized opening of the security box breaks the electrical loop thereby causing a signal to the IC chip to initiate a purging process which deletes program codes written in the chip and prevents unauthorized copy of the codes.


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patent: 5621387 (1997-04-01), Phillips et al.
patent: 5761054 (1998-06-01), Kuhn
patent: 5828544 (1998-10-01), Matsuda
patent: 6069315 (2000-05-01), Tang

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