Patent US6330668B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6330668B1
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US
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Integrated circuit having hardware circuitry to prevent electrical or thermal stressing of the silicon circuitry
Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products Inc
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Filing: 1998-08-14
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Granted: 2001-12-11
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Expires: 2018-08-14
Abstract
Abstract An integrated circuit, such as a microprocessor, which incorporates hardware mechanisms to prevent the circuitry from operating outside the proper bounds of design. The hardware circuitry prevents the microprocessor circuitry from being forced to operate at clock speeds that are greater than it is designed for, from operating at temperatures above or below that which it is designed for, and from being forced to operate at voltages that are above or below voltages that the microprocessor is designed to operate at.
Inventors
- 👤 Andreas Curiger
- 👤 Wendell L. Little
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:13
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/70; G06F21/71; G06F21/75; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0428; G06F11/00; G06F11/004; G06F11/30; G06F11/3003; G06F11/3013; G06F11/3024; G06F11/3058; G06F21/72; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/073; G06K19/07309; G06K19/07363; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/24; G05B2219/24205; G06F11/22; G06F11/24; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2101; G06F2221/2143
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An integrated circuit comprising: general circuitry for performing a predetermined function; protection circuitry, connected to said general circuitry, for resetting said general circuitry if said general circuitry is forced to operate outside of at least one predetermined parameter, said protection circuitry comprising: control circuitry for providing said resetting signal to said general circuitry; voltage-sensing circuitry for sensing an over voltage or under-voltage condition; temperature sensing circuitry for sensing an under temperature or over-temperature, condition; and an internal system clock which does not connect an off chip oscillation source; said voltage-sensing circuitry and temperature-sensing circuitry being connected to said control circuitry.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An integrated circuit comprising: general circuitry for performing a predetermined function; protection circuitry, connected to said general circuitry, for resetting said general circuitry if said general circuitry is forced to operate outside of at least one predetermined parameter, said protection circuitry comprising: control circuitry for providing said resetting signal to said general circuitry; voltage-sensing circuitry for sensing an over voltage or under-voltage condition; temperature sensing circuitry for sensing an under temperature or over-temperature, condition; and an internal system clock which does not connect an off chip oscillation source; said voltage-sensing circuitry and temperature-sensing circuitry being connected to said control circuitry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein said general circuitry is a microcontroller circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein said general circuitry is at least one of an arithmetic logic unit circuit, a math coprocessor circuit, and a circuit designed to perform encryption calculations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The integrated ciruitry of claim 1 , wherein said temperature-sensing circuit is battery backed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
A microcontroller integrated circuit comprising: a central processing unit; an arithmetic coprocessor connected by a bus to said central processing unit; an on-board oscillation circuit for providing clock signals to at least said arithmetic coprocessor; a temperature-sensing circuit for providing a reset signal to said arithmetic coprocessor if the temperature is outside of a predetermined temperature window and for providing an erase signal at least one memory location if the temperature is below a predetermined temperature; and a voltage-sensing circuit for providing a reset signal to said arithmetic coprocessor if a supply voltage is outside of a predetermined voltage window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
A microcontroller integrated circuit comprising: a central processing unit; an arithmetic coprocessor connected by a bus to said central processing unit; an on-board oscillation circuit for providing clock signals to at least said arithmetic coprocessor; a temperature-sensing circuit for providing a reset signal to said arithmetic coprocessor if the temperature is outside of a predetermined temperature window and for providing an erase signal at least one memory location if the temperature is below a predetermined temperature; and a voltage-sensing circuit for providing a reset signal to said arithmetic coprocessor if a supply voltage is outside of a predetermined voltage window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The microcontroller integrated circuit of claim 5 , wherein said microcontroller is designed for use with encrypted data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The microcontroller integrated circuit of claim 5 , wherein at least a part of said temperature-sensing circuit is battery backed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The microcontroller integrated circuit of claim 5 , wherein said on-board oscillation circuit is designed similarly to said arithmetic coprocessor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The microcontroller integrated circuit of claim 5 , wherein said arithmetic coprocessor is a modulo-math coprocessor circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
An integrated circuit capable of performing encryption calculations, said integrated circuit comprising: temperature-sensing circuitry for sensing temperature and providing a first reset signal if the temperature is outside of a predetermined temperature range; voltage-sensing circuitry for sensing a supply voltage and providing a second reset signal if the supply voltage is outside of a predetermined voltage range; an on-board oscillation circuit for providing a clock signal to at least a portion of said integrated circuit, said oscillation circuit does not receive oscillation signals originating from off said integrated circuit, said first reset signal and said second reset signal being utilized to reset at least a arithmetic circuit on said integrated circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
An integrated circuit capable of performing encryption calculations, said integrated circuit comprising: temperature-sensing circuitry for sensing temperature and providing a first reset signal if the temperature is outside of a predetermined temperature range; voltage-sensing circuitry for sensing a supply voltage and providing a second reset signal if the supply voltage is outside of a predetermined voltage range; an on-board oscillation circuit for providing a clock signal to at least a portion of said integrated circuit, said oscillation circuit does not receive oscillation signals originating from off said integrated circuit, said first reset signal and said second reset signal being utilized to reset at least a arithmetic circuit on said integrated circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The integrated circuit of claim 10 , wherein said arithmetic circuit performs data encryption calculations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The integrated circuit of claim 10 , wherein said temperature-sensing circuit provides a erase memory signal if said temperature is below a predetermined temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4593180A
Cited
US5353350A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-10 | 2005-06-11 | 2005-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | 2009-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-10 | 2013-06-11 | 2013-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |