An apparatus for detecting an attack on, or degradation of, an electric circuit is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a voltage level detector configured to determine whether the voltage level of the electric circuit exceeds a maximum selected threshold value, and to generate a first binary voltage limitation signal having if the voltage level exceeds the maximum selected threshold value. The apparatus also comprises a marginal voltage level detector configured to determine whether the voltage level of the electric circuit exceeds a marginal selected threshold value, the marginal selected threshold value being less than the maximum selected threshold value, and to generate a second binary voltage limitation signal having if the voltage level exceeds the marginal selected threshold value. A safety monitoring system monitors the first and second binary voltage limitation signals and is configured to determine that a possible attack or degradation has taken place based on at least one of the first binary voltage limitation signal and the second binary voltage limitation signal.
G06F 21/75 - Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer to assure secure computing or processing of information by inhibiting the analysis of circuitry or operation, e.g. to counteract reverse engineering
G06F 21/56 - Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
An analogue circuit design apparatus is disclosed herein. The analogue circuit design apparatus is configured to receive information representing technical requirements for the analogue circuit, wherein the technical requirements comprise (i) at least one circuit performance requirement, and (ii) at least one manufacturing requirement for the analogue circuit to satisfy a specific set of manufacturing process related rules. The analogue circuit design apparatus is configured to identify a plurality of potential analogue circuit design architectures, for satisfying the circuit performance requirement, that will satisfy the at least one manufacturing requirement and select, as a current analogue circuit design architecture, an initial analogue circuit design architecture from among the plurality of potential analogue circuit design architectures, wherein the selection of the initial analogue circuit design is dependent on the set of manufacturing process related rules.
G06F 30/367 - Design verification, e.g. using simulation, simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis [SPICE], direct methods or relaxation methods
An analogue circuit design apparatus is configured to receive information representing electrical requirements for the analogue circuit, identify a plurality of potential layout techniques such as symmetrical, common centroid, and interdigitated layout technique, select one of the potential layout technique as the current selected layout technique, and determine physical properties of the analogue circuit based on the electrical requirements and the current selected layout technique. The analogue circuit design apparatus is configured to determine whether the current selected layout technique and determined physical properties of the analogue circuits meet the electrical requirements, and in the event that they do meet the electrical requirements, produce and output a design, or if they do not meet the electrical requirements, to repeat the process with a different selected layout technique as the current selected layout technique.
G06F 30/27 - Design optimisation, verification or simulation using machine learning, e.g. artificial intelligence, neural networks, support vector machines [SVM] or training a model
G06F 30/398 - Design verification or optimisation, e.g. using design rule check [DRC], layout versus schematics [LVS] or finite element methods [FEM]
G06F 30/392 - Floor-planning or layout, e.g. partitioning or placement
G06F 30/367 - Design verification, e.g. using simulation, simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis [SPICE], direct methods or relaxation methods
A low dropout regulator comprising: a supply voltage connection for receiving a supply voltage; a load voltage output connection for providing a load voltage to a load; load voltage output control circuitry comprising a pass transistor configured to regulate the load voltage based on a voltage at its gate region; adaptive biasing circuitry comprising: a biasing transistor configured to regulate the voltage provided to the gate region of the pass transistor based on a voltage provided to a gate region of the biasing transistor; and operational transconductance amplifier, OTA, circuitry comprising a first OTA transistor and a second OTA transistor, wherein a gate region of the first OTA transistor is arranged to receive a reference voltage and a gate region of the second OTA transistor is arranged to receive a voltage indicative of the load voltage; and adaptive compensation circuitry comprising: (i) a first compensation capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, (ii) a second compensation capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, and (iii) a first compensation transistor, wherein the second electrode of the first compensation capacitor is coupled to a first region of the first compensation transistor, and wherein the first electrode of the second compensation capacitor is coupled to both a second and a gate region of the first compensation transistor; wherein a first region of the second OTA transistor is coupled to: (i) the supply voltage connection, (ii) the first electrode of the first compensation capacitor, and (iii) the gate region of the biasing transistor; and wherein a second electrode of the second compensation capacitor is coupled to a first region of the biasing transistor.
G05F 1/575 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices characterised by the feedback circuit
G05F 1/565 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices sensing a condition of the system or its load in addition to means responsive to deviations in the output of the system, e.g. current, voltage, power factor
G05F 1/59 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
An analogue circuit design apparatus is disclosed comprising a primary design unit and a plurality of secondary design units. The primary design unit is configured to: identify a plurality of circuit portions for forming the analogue circuit; determine for each circuit portion respective technical criteria; and provide the respective technical criteria to at least one of a plurality of secondary design units. Each of the plurality of secondary design units is configured to: design a respective circuit portion based on the technical criteria for that respective circuit portion; and output a resulting initial design of the respective circuit portion. The primary design unit is further configured to obtain, a set of designs comprising a respective design for each circuit portion, generate, at least an initial design for the analogue circuit, based on the set of designs, simulate an analogue circuit based on the generated design and verify whether or not the analogue circuit meets the technical requirements for the analogue circuit.
G06F 30/367 - Design verification, e.g. using simulation, simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis [SPICE], direct methods or relaxation methods
An analogue circuit design apparatus is disclosed comprising a primary design unit and a plurality of secondary design units. The primary design unit is configured to: identify a plurality of circuit portions for forming the analogue circuit; determine for each circuit portion respective technical criteria; and provide the respective technical criteria to at least one of a plurality of secondary design units. Each of the plurality of secondary design units is configured to: design a respective circuit portion based on the technical criteria for that respective circuit portion; and output a resulting initial design of the respective circuit portion. After at least an initial design of a given circuit portion has been completed by at least another one of the secondary design units, at least one of the secondary design units is configured to adapt its output initial design based on a context of its corresponding circuit portion.
G06F 30/367 - Design verification, e.g. using simulation, simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis [SPICE], direct methods or relaxation methods
An analogue circuit design apparatus is disclosed comprising a primary design unit and a plurality of secondary design units. The primary design unit is configured to: receive information representing technical requirements for the analogue circuit; identify, based on the received information, a plurality of circuit portions for forming the analogue circuit; determine, for each circuit portion of the plurality circuit portions, respective technical criteria for that circuit portion; produce a set of designs comprising a respective design for each circuit portion; for at least one circuit portion of the plurality of circuit portions obtain information relating to parasitics that will be experienced in the analogue circuit if the analogue circuit were to include that designed circuit portion; adapt the design of at least one circuit portion based on the obtained information relating to parasitics; and output a complete circuit design including at least one circuit portion adapted based on obtained information relating to parasitics.
G06F 30/367 - Design verification, e.g. using simulation, simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis [SPICE], direct methods or relaxation methods
8.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AN ATTACK ON OR DEGRADATION OF AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT
An apparatus for detecting an attack on, or degradation of, an electric circuit is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a voltage level detector configured to determine whether the voltage level of the electric circuit exceeds a maximum selected threshold value, and to generate a first binary voltage limitation signal having if the voltage level exceeds the maximum selected threshold value. The apparatus also comprises a marginal voltage level detector configured to determine whether the voltage level of the electric circuit exceeds a marginal selected threshold value, the marginal selected threshold value being less than the maximum selected threshold value, and to generate a second binary voltage limitation signal having if the voltage level exceeds the marginal selected threshold value. A safety monitoring system monitors the first and second binary voltage limitation signals and is configured to determine that a possible attack or degradation has taken place based on at least one of the first binary voltage limitation signal and the second binary voltage limitation signal.
G06F 21/75 - Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer to assure secure computing or processing of information by inhibiting the analysis of circuitry or operation, e.g. to counteract reverse engineering
G06F 1/28 - Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
H04L 9/00 - Arrangements for secret or secure communicationsNetwork security protocols
An analogue circuit design apparatus is disclosed herein. The analogue circuit design apparatus is configured to receive information representing technical requirements for the analogue circuit, wherein the technical requirements comprise (i) at least one circuit performance requirement, and (ii) at least one manufacturing requirement for the analogue circuit to satisfy a specific set of manufacturing process related rules. The analogue circuit design apparatus is configured to identify a plurality of potential analogue circuit design architectures, for satisfying the circuit performance requirement, that will satisfy the at least one manufacturing requirement and select, as a current analogue circuit design architecture, an initial analogue circuit design architecture from among the plurality of potential analogue circuit design architectures, wherein the selection of the initial analogue circuit design is dependent on the set of manufacturing process related rules.
G06F 30/367 - Design verification, e.g. using simulation, simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis [SPICE], direct methods or relaxation methods
A low dropout regulator comprising: a supply voltage connection for receiving a supply voltage; a load voltage output connection for providing a load voltage to a load; load voltage output control circuitry comprising a pass transistor configured to regulate the load voltage based on a voltage at its gate region; adaptive biasing circuitry comprising: a biasing transistor configured to regulate the voltage provided to the gate region of the pass transistor based on a voltage provided to a gate region of the biasing transistor; and operational transconductance amplifier, OTA, circuitry comprising a first OTA transistor and a second OTA transistor, wherein a gate region of the first OTA transistor is arranged to receive a reference voltage and a gate region of the second OTA transistor is arranged to receive a voltage indicative of the load voltage; and adaptive compensation circuitry comprising: (i) a first compensation capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, (ii) a second compensation capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, and (iii) a first compensation transistor, wherein the second electrode of the first compensation capacitor is coupled to a first region of the first compensation transistor, and wherein the first electrode of the second compensation capacitor is coupled to both a second and a gate region of the first compensation transistor; wherein a first region of the second OTA transistor is coupled to: (i) the supply voltage connection, (ii) the first electrode of the first compensation capacitor, and (iii) the gate region of the biasing transistor; and wherein a second electrode of the second compensation capacitor is coupled to a first region of the biasing transistor.
G05F 1/565 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices sensing a condition of the system or its load in addition to means responsive to deviations in the output of the system, e.g. current, voltage, power factor
G05F 1/575 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices characterised by the feedback circuit
H03F 1/00 - Details of amplifiers with only discharge tubes, only semiconductor devices or only unspecified devices as amplifying elements
An analogue circuit design apparatus is disclosed comprising a primary design unit and a plurality of secondary design units. The primary design unit is configured to: identify a plurality of circuit portions for forming the analogue circuit; determine for each circuit portion respectix/e technical criteria; and provide the respective technical criteria to at least one of a plurality of secondary design units. Each of the plurality of secondary design units is configured to: design a respective circuit portion based on the technical criteria for that respective circuit portion; and output a resulting initial design of the respective circuit portion. The primary design unit is further configured to obtain, a set of designs comprising a respective design for each circuit portion, generate, at least an initial design for the analogue circuit, based on the set of designs, simulate an analogue circuit based on the generated design and verify whether or not the analogue circuit meets the technical requirements for the analogue circuit.
An analogue circuit design apparatus is disclosed comprising a primary design unit and a plurality of secondary design units. The primary design unit is configured to: receive information representing technical requirements for the analogue circuit; identify, based on the received information, a plurality of circuit portions for forming the analogue circuit; determine, for each circuit portion of the plurality circuit portions, respective technical criteria for that circuit portion; produce a set of designs comprising a respective design for each circuit portion; for at least one circuit portion of the plurality of circuit portions obtain information relating to parasitics that will be experienced in the analogue circuit if the analogue circuit were to include that designed circuit portion; adapt the design of at least one circuit portion based on the obtained information relating to parasitics; and output a complete circuit design including at least one circuit portion adapted based on obtained information relating to parasitics.
An analogue circuit design apparatus is disclosed comprising a primary design unit and a plurality of secondary design units. The primary design unit is configured to: identify a plurality of circuit portions for forming the analogue circuit; determine for each circuit portion respective technical criteria; and provide the respective technical criteria to at least one of a plurality of secondary design units. Each of the plurality of secondary design units is configured to: design a respective circuit portion based on the technical criteria for that respective circuit portion; and output a resulting initial design of the respective circuit portion. After at least an initial design of a given circuit portion has been completed by at least another one of the secondary design units, at least one of the secondary design units is configured to adapt its output initial design based on a context of its corresponding circuit portion.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Semiconductor intellectual property cores; integrated
circuits; software for the design of semiconductor
intellectual property cores and integrated circuits;
downloadable electronic publications relating to the
foregoing. Technical design and development services; design and
development of semiconductor intellectual property cores and
integrated circuits; design and development of software for
the design of semiconductor intellectual property cores and
integrated circuits; support, updating and maintenance of
computer software; information, advisory and consultancy
services relating to the foregoing.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Semiconductor intellectual property cores being devices; integrated circuits; downloaded and recorded software for the design of semiconductor intellectual property cores and integrated circuits; downloadable electronic publications, namely, e-books, periodicals, journals, magazines, articles, newsletters, whitepapers and brochures relating to semiconductor intellectual property cores, integrated circuits and software for the design of semiconductor intellectual property cores and integrated circuits Technical design and development services, namely, technical design and development of semiconductor intellectual property cores and integrated circuits; design and development of semiconductor intellectual property cores and integrated circuits; design and development of software for the design of semiconductor intellectual property cores and integrated circuits; Technical support services, namely, troubleshooting of computer software problems; updating and maintenance of computer software; information, advisory and consultancy services relating to the foregoing
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Semiconductor intellectual property cores; integrated
circuits; software for the design of semiconductor
intellectual property cores and integrated circuits;
downloadable electronic publications relating to the
foregoing. Technical design and development services; design and
development of semiconductor intellectual property cores and
integrated circuits; design and development of software for
the design of semiconductor intellectual property cores and
integrated circuits; support, updating and maintenance of
computer software; information, advisory and consultancy
services relating to the foregoing.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Configurable semiconductor intellectual property cores; downloadable software for the design of configurable semiconductor intellectual property cores and software for the design of integrated circuits; all of the foregoing being semiconductor intellectual property cores for Power on reset circuits (PORs), Standard cell libraries; downloadable electronic publications in the nature of articles, reports, research papers, white papers, journals and user manuals relating to the foregoing Technical design and development services for computer hardware and software; design and development of configurable semiconductor intellectual property cores, namely, semiconductor intellectual property cores for Power on reset circuits (PORs), Standard cell libraries; design and development of software for the design of configurable semiconductor intellectual property cores and design and development of software for the design of integrated circuits, namely, semiconductor intellectual property cores for Power on reset circuits (PORs), Electronic oscillator circuits, Standard cell libraries; support being diagnosing of computer software problems; updating and maintenance of computer software; information, advisory and consultancy services relating to the foregoing
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Configurable semiconductor intellectual property cores; software for the design of configurable semiconductor intellectual property cores and software for the design of integrated circuits; downloadable electronic publications relating to the foregoing. Technical design and development services; design and development of configurable semiconductor intellectual property cores; design and development of software for the design of configurable semiconductor intellectual property cores and design and development of software for the design of integrated circuits; support, updating and maintenance of computer software; information, advisory and consultancy services relating to the foregoing.
