US 12,436,741 B2
Car processor with PQC encryption support
Jan Laubrock, Rhede (DE); Thomas Rotter, Neunkirchen am Brand (DE); Julia Kölbel, Dortmund (DE); and Christian Lammers, Dülmen-Rorup (DE)
Assigned to ELMOS Semiconductor SE, Dortmund (DE)
Appl. No. 18/702,318
Filed by ELMOS Semiconductor SE, Dortmund (DE)
PCT Filed Oct. 25, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/079826
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 17, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/072956, PCT Pub. Date May 4, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2021 128 005.2 (DE), filed on Oct. 27, 2021; application No. 10 2021 130 107.6 (DE), filed on Nov. 18, 2021; application No. 10 2022 110 713.2 (DE), filed on May 2, 2022; application No. 10 2022 125 574.3 (DE), filed on Oct. 4, 2022; application No. 10 2022 125 617.0 (DE), filed on Oct. 5, 2022; and application No. 10 2022 125 768.1 (DE), filed on Oct. 6, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0411902 A1, Dec. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 7/58 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 7/588 (2013.01) 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A secure microcontroller for controlling devices in an automobile, comprising:
a semiconductor substrate,
memory elements,
at least one internal bus,
at least one microcontroller core,
one or more data bus interfaces, and
at least one quantum process-based generator for true random numbers,
wherein the memory elements are connected to the at least one internal bus,
wherein the one or more data bus interfaces is connected to the at least one internal bus,
wherein the at least one quantum process-based generator is connected to the at least one internal bus,
wherein the at least one microcontroller core is connected to the at least one internal bus,
wherein the at least one quantum process-based generator generates a random number at a request of the at least one microcontroller core,
wherein the at least one quantum process-based generator provides said random number to the at least one microcontroller core,
wherein the at least one microcontroller core generates a key using a program from one or more of its memory elements and using the random number,
wherein the at least one microcontroller core uses the program from the one or more of its memory elements and the key to encrypt and decrypt data which it exchanges with external devices or internally via the one or more data bus interfaces,
wherein the semiconductor substrate integrally comprises sub-devices of the secure microcontroller mentioned herein,
wherein the at least one quantum process-based generator comprises at least one first SPAD (Single Photon Avalanche Diode) diode as a light source for an optical quantum signal,
wherein the at least one quantum process-based generator comprises at least one second SPAD diode as a photodetector for receiving the optical quantum signal,
wherein the at least one quantum process-based generator comprises at least one optical fiber for optically coupling the at least one first SPAD diode to the at least one second SPAD diode,
wherein the at least one quantum process-based generator comprises an operating circuit for supplying the at least one first SPAD diode with electric energy for emitting light, and
wherein the at least one quantum process-based generator comprises a processing circuit for detecting an output signal of the at least one second SPAD diode and for forming the random number from the output signal of the at least one second SPAD diode and providing the random number to the at least one microcontroller core,
wherein
the semiconductor substrate comprises a surface,
the semiconductor substrate comprises a semiconducting material below its surface,
the surface of the semiconductor substrate comprises a metallization stack,
the metallization stack comprises an optically transparent and electrically insulating layer which is located on the surface of the semiconductor substrate,
at least a part of the optically transparent and electrically insulating layer forms the at least one optical fiber,
the at least one first SPAD diode emits photons from the semiconducting material of the semiconductor substrate into the at least one optical fiber, and
the at least one optical fiber transports the photons to the at least one second SPAD diode.