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NvidiaGranted patentSecurity & privacyInterest 4/10

Nvidia patents chip protection against clock speed attacks

Nvidia describes a circuit that watches the speed of the clock signal sent to a device. If the speed gets too high, the circuit triggers a response to block access, helping stop hackers from using fast signals to steal data.

Why it mattersIt adds a layer of physical security to computer chips, which is important for protecting sensitive data in hardware.

In the filing’s own words

Apparatuses, systems, and techniques to monitor a frequency of a clock signal sent to a device to prevent or limit undesired access to the device. In at least one embodiment, a frequency monitor circuit detects a selection signal sent to a device and monitors a frequency of a clock signal also sent to the device. In at least one embodiment, if the frequency of the clock signal exceeds a predetermined threshold, the frequency monitor circuit may assert a control signal to initiate an action to prevent or limit undesired access to the device.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A system comprising: one or more circuits to: detect a selection signal sent to a device by an application processor over at least one communication channel connecting the device to the application processor, the application processor being separate from the device; and as a result of detecting the selection signal, assert a control signal based on a comparison between a predetermined threshold frequency and a frequency of a clock signal sent by the application processor to the device over the at least one communication channel, the control signal to cause access to the device to be restricted, the clock signal to be usable by the application processor to synchronize data transmission with the device over the at least one communication channel.

Facts

Company
Nvidia (NVIDIA Corporation)
Official title
Detecting and preventing frequency attacks
Patent number
US12743507B2
Application number
18898100
Filed
Sep 26, 2024
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
25

Classified under

G06F 21/554 Physics & computingG06F 13/4291 Physics & computingG06F 21/54 Physics & computingG06F 21/556 Physics & computingG06F 21/57 Physics & computingG06F 21/71 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.