Importance

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Abstract

A security tag for electronic designs implemented on integrated circuits uses a thermal transmitter to transmit tag data to an external sensor. The security tag is activated by an activation code sent to the security tag from an external transmitter. The security tag transmits data which indicates the presence of the electronic design to the external detector, for purposes of detecting and preventing unauthorized use of the electronic design. The security tag may use changes in temperature to receive the activation code from the external transmitter, and to send the security tag data to the external sensor. The security tag may use the electronic design associated with the security tag to generate the signals used to transmit the tag data. Alternatively, the security tag may use a dedicated heat generator, such as a collection of ring oscillators, to send these signals. The security tag may use a thermal receiver such as a ring oscillator to receive a thermal signal bearing the activation code from the external transmitter.

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First Claim