Authenticating a printed circuit board
| DWPI Title: Computing module for use in a modern electronic device, includes generating a digital signature for a printed circuit board, while generating digital signature based upon a sensor signal by a sensor, and determining the authenticity |
| Abstract: A computing module is described herein, wherein the computing module is configured to perform acts including generating a digital signature for a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the digital signature is based upon a sensor signal generated by a sensor that is electrically coupled to at least one of a trace of the PCB or an electrical component of the PCB. The acts further include determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering based upon the digital signature. The acts additionally include outputting an indication that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering responsive to determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering. |
| Use: Computing module for use in a modern electronic device, such as a desktop computing device, a mobile computing device, and a laptop computing device. |
| Advantage: Efficiently compares the test digital signature to the verified digital signature stored in the data store, and hence ensures efficient usage of the computing module. Facilitates authenticating printed circuit board using the digital signatures based on waveforms propagated through discrete electrical components. |
| Novelty: The computing module (116) includes generating a digital signature for a printed circuit board (102) (PCB), and uniquely identifies the PCB by the hardware processor. The digital signature based upon a sensor signal generated by a sensor (114) that is electrically coupled to the trace (104) of the PCB. The PCB is determined for its authenticity, and is free of tampering based upon the digital signature. The digital signature is compared with the verified digital signature for the PCB, while determining, whether the PCB is authentic and free of tampering based upon the comparison. The indication is outputted, in reference to the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering responsive to determining that the PCB is authentic and is free of tampering. |
| Filed: 6/16/2017 |
| Application Number: US15624907A |
| Tech ID: SD 13881.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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