US 7,321,522 B2
Securing an integrated circuit
Robert C. Dixon, Austin, Tex. (US); Kirk E. Morrow, Round Rock, Tex. (US); and Phil C. F. Paone, Rochester, Minn. (US)
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y. (US)
Filed on May 05, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/381,837.
Prior Publication US 2007/0258309 A1, Nov. 08, 2007
Int. Cl. G11C 17/18 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 365—225.7  [365/185.04; 365/201] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for securing an integrated circuit, the method comprising:
fabricating the integrated circuit so that the integrated circuit includes at least one efuse that is intended to be always blown during operation of the integrated circuit and the integrated circuit includes security circuitry capable of blowing the efuse and of performing other security related functions;
blowing, by the security circuitry of the integrated circuit, the efuse when power is applied to the integrated circuit and prior to performing any other security related functions; and
setting, by the security circuitry after blowing the efuse, a security state of the integrated circuit in dependence upon a sensed state of the efuse.