On-chip fault-injection detection for secure microcontrollers
This technology is a protection system built into microprocessors that detects and responds to 'fault injection attacks' — a hardware hacking technique where an attacker deliberately causes errors in a chip (via voltage spikes, electromagnetic pulses, or similar means) to bypass security controls. When the system detects such an attack, a dedicated hardware module instantly switches the processor into a safe mode and logs diagnostic information, then hands off to a software recovery routine that uses that information to restore the chip to a clean, secure state. The key innovation is the tight hardware-software pairing: the hardware catches the attack faster than software alone could, while the software handles flexible recovery without needing to redesign the whole chip. This approach is designed to add minimal cost in chip area or processing speed.
What you could build
A licensable processor security extension (IP block) that semiconductor companies or secure microcontroller vendors could integrate into chips used in smart cards, payment terminals, IoT devices, or government hardware — sold as a silicon IP license or embedded in custom secure microcontroller designs targeting defense, fintech, and IoT OEMs.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense and intelligence contractors concentrated in Northern Virginia — particularly those building secure embedded systems, hardware security modules, or classified computing hardware — would have direct interest.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Bilgiday Yuce, Nahid Farhady Ghalaty, Patrick R. Schaumont
- Granted
- October 22, 2019
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10452493
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.