|
Private property
|
09/03/2006
|
| |
Rapid advancements in lithography continue to enable more functionality to be diffused on to single wafers, fuelling the system on a chip (SoC) era. In reality, of course, there have been examples of SoCs have been around for much longer, in the form of microcontrollers.
The massive appeal of the microcontroller is due largely to the range of peripherals available, even if this does necessitate a wider family selection. But, arguably, the most sought after feature of any microcontroller today is integrated flash memory.
Whilst perfecting the process, the capacity and performance of integrated flash memory rapidly become a key differentiating factor within families, even amongst devices with the same peripheral sets. In the same timeframe, its use also developed; from eeprom replacement for data storage, to eprom replacement for program memory. Now, flash memory is effectively unified, providing the capacity and performance needed to meet most of the micro’s storage needs.
With the novelty wearing off, attention turned to the security of the flash memory – both in terms of the program and the data stored. Poaching IP from flash storage is a serious threat in some applications and even for low risk applications, protecting the memory’s contents from unintentional alteration or unwanted investigation has always been an issue. So how secure are microcontrollers?
|
| |
Author
Graham Pitcher
|
| |
| |
|
This material is protected by Findlay Publications copyright 2008.
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.
|
| |
|
| Email this article |
|
|