As the industry's first and only AEC-Q100 Grade 1 solution for automotive systems, this authentication IC reduces the design complexity and software vulnerability of current approaches to ensure that only genuine components are used for many electronic systems, such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
As cars become more sophisticated with the features they offer, security risks also increase. Automakers use authentication to ensure that only OEM-certified components are securely connected to vehicle systems, as well as to reduce the growing threat of malware attacks. However, secure microcontrollers generally have a relatively large footprint and require software development teams to rigorously create, test, and debug their code. The larger the codebase, the greater the risk of bugs or malware that negatively impact performance.
The DS28C40 DeepCover authenticator is the only authenticator that meets the AEC-Q100 standard with Grade 1 performance. It replaces microcontroller-based approaches and reduces system design complexity and associated code development efforts. The authenticator deters the theft of high-value components, such as headlight modules. It also offers asymmetric public/private key ECDSA (ECC-P256 curve) and other key authentication algorithms integrated into the IC, allowing OEMs to bypass proprietary device-level code development. This and other algorithms in the authentication IC provide the strongest defense against unauthorized components that could compromise performance, security, and data integrity. The DS28C40 comes in a compact 4 mm x 3 mm TDFN package and operates in a temperature range of -40 to +125 degrees Celsius.
Key advantages
- Robust security: Integrated support for a secure symmetric-key hash algorithm (SHA-256); secure storage of ECDSA and SHA-256 keys; one-time programmable non-volatile memory for storing digital certificates and manufacturing data; hardware-based security is stronger than a software approach.
- Simple integration: Device-level development coding efforts are eliminated with authentication algorithms embedded in the CI; the industry-standard I²C interface and low software overhead on the host side simplify design integration.
