Patents by Inventor Dirk Pfeiffer

Dirk Pfeiffer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200019731
    Abstract: A private key of a public-private key pair with a corresponding identity is written to an integrated circuit including a processor, a non-volatile memory, and a cryptographic engine coupled to the processor and the non-volatile memory. The private key is written to the non-volatile memory. The integrated circuit is implemented in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor 14 nm or smaller technology. The integrated circuit is permanently modified, subsequent to the writing, such that further writing to the non-volatile memory is disabled and such that the private key can be read only by the cryptographic engine and not off-chip. Corresponding integrated circuits and wafers are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Richard H. Boivie, Eduard A. Cartier, Daniel J. Friedman, Kohji Hosokawa, Charanjit Jutla, Wanki Kim, Chandrasekara Kothandaraman, Chung Lam, Frank R. Libsch, Seiji Munetoh, Ramachandran Muralidhar, Vijay Narayanan, Dirk Pfeiffer, Devendra K. Sadana, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Robert L. Wisnieff
  • Patent number: 10430700
    Abstract: A system for labeling an object uses at least one object label made from a material that absorbs and reflects incident energy uniformly across all wavelengths of incident energy at a ratio proportional to a thickness of the material and that includes a pattern having variations in the thickness of the material along at least one of two orthogonal directions across the label. An interrogator directs a predetermined wavelength of radiation to the at least one label, and a reader to receives reflected radiation from the label at the predetermined wavelength and interprets the reflected radiation to recognize the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alberto Valdes Garcia, Dirk Pfeiffer, Fengnian Xia
  • Patent number: 10423805
    Abstract: A private key of a public-private key pair with a corresponding identity is written to an integrated circuit including a processor, a non-volatile memory, and a cryptographic engine coupled to the processor and the non-volatile memory. The private key is written to the non-volatile memory. The integrated circuit is implemented in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor 14 nm or smaller technology. The integrated circuit is permanently modified, subsequent to the writing, such that further writing to the non-volatile memory is disabled and such that the private key can be read only by the cryptographic engine and not off-chip. Corresponding integrated circuits and wafers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard H. Boivie, Eduard A. Cartier, Daniel J. Friedman, Kohji Hosokawa, Charanjit Jutla, Wanki Kim, Chandrasekara Kothandaraman, Chung Lam, Frank R. Libsch, Seiji Munetoh, Ramachandran Muralidhar, Vijay Narayanan, Dirk Pfeiffer, Devendra K. Sadana, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Robert L. Wisnieff
  • Patent number: 10157338
    Abstract: A system for labeling an object uses at least one object label made from a material that absorbs and reflects incident energy uniformly across all wavelengths of incident energy at a ratio proportional to a thickness of the material and that includes a pattern having variations in the thickness of the material along at least one of two orthogonal directions across the label. An interrogator directs a predetermined wavelength of radiation to the at least one label, and a reader to receives reflected radiation from the label at the predetermined wavelength and interprets the reflected radiation to recognize the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alberto Valdes Garcia, Dirk Pfeiffer, Fengnian Xia
  • Publication number: 20180181774
    Abstract: A private key of a public-private key pair with a corresponding identity is written to an integrated circuit including a processor, a non-volatile memory, and a cryptographic engine coupled to the processor and the non-volatile memory. The private key is written to the non-volatile memory. The integrated circuit is implemented in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor 14 nm or smaller technology. The integrated circuit is permanently modified, subsequent to the writing, such that further writing to the non-volatile memory is disabled and such that the private key can be read only by the cryptographic engine and not off-chip. Corresponding integrated circuits and wafers are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Richard H. Boivie, Eduard A. Cartier, Daniel J. Friedman, Kohji Hosokawa, Charanjit Jutla, Wanki Kim, Chandrasekara Kothandaraman, Chung Lam, Frank R. Libsch, Seiji Munetoh, Ramachandran Muralidhar, Vijay Narayanan, Dirk Pfeiffer, Devendra K. Sadana, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Robert L. Wisnieff
  • Patent number: 9939486
    Abstract: Methods for reliability testing include applying a stress voltage to a device under test (DUT); measuring a leakage current across the DUT; triggering measurement of optical emissions from the DUT based on the timing of the measurement of the leakage current; and correlating measurements of the leakage current with measurements of the optical emissions to determine a time and location of a defect occurrence within the DUT by locating instances of increased noise in the leakage current that correspond in time with instances of increased optical emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jifeng Chen, Dirk Pfeiffer, Thomas M. Shaw, Peilin Song, Franco Stellari
  • Patent number: 9874601
    Abstract: Systems for reliability testing include a picometer configured to measure a leakage current across a device under test (DUT); a camera configured to measure optical emissions from the DUT based on a timing of the measurement of the leakage current; and a test system configured to apply a stress voltage to the DUT and to correlate the leakage current with the optical emissions using a processor to determine a time and location of a defect occurrence within the DUT by locating instances of increased noise in the leakage current that correspond in time with instances of increased optical emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jifeng Chen, Dirk Pfeiffer, Thomas M. Shaw, Peilin Song, Franco Stellari
  • Publication number: 20180017509
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating an identifier include detecting emissions from a phosphor pattern with a sensor grid comprising one or more sensors when the phosphor pattern is stimulated with radiation. An output signal of each sensor in the sensor grid is compared to a threshold value to generate respective identifier bits. An identifier is generated from the identifier bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Dirk Pfeiffer, Sami Rosenblatt, Chandrasekara Kothandaraman
  • Publication number: 20180019881
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating an identifier includes testing an operational characteristic for each device in an array of pairs of devices. Each pair of devices includes a first device and a second device. The first device of each pair has a higher inter-device uniformity for the operational characteristic than the second device of the pair. The operational characteristic between the first device and the second device is compared for each pair of devices to generate a respective identifier bit for each pair of devices. An identifier is generated from the identifier bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Dirk Pfeiffer, Sami Rosenblatt, Chandrasekara Kothandaraman
  • Publication number: 20170323186
    Abstract: A system for labeling an object uses at least one object label made from a material that absorbs and reflects incident energy uniformly across all wavelengths of incident energy at a ratio proportional to a thickness of the material and that includes a pattern having variations in the thickness of the material along at least one of two orthogonal directions across the label. An interrogator directs a predetermined wavelength of radiation to the at least one label, and a reader to receives reflected radiation from the label at the predetermined wavelength and interprets the reflected radiation to recognize the pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Alberto VALDES GARCIA, Dirk PFEIFFER, Fengnian XIA
  • Patent number: 9787473
    Abstract: Techniques for use of carbon nanotubes as an anti-tampering feature and for use of randomly metallic or semiconducting carbon nanotubes in the generation of a physically unclonable cryptographic key generation are provided. In one aspect, a cryptographic key having an anti-tampering feature is provided which includes: an array of memory bits oriented along at least one bit line and at least one word line, wherein each of the memory bits comprises a memory cell, wherein the cryptographic key is stored in the memory cell, and wherein the memory cell is connected to the at least one bit line; and a metallic carbon nanotube interconnect which connects the memory cell to the at least one word line. A cryptographic key and method for processing the cryptographic key are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wilfried Haensch, Shu-Jen Han, Keith A. Jenkins, Dirk Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 9768288
    Abstract: Hall effect devices and field effect transistors are formed incorporating a carbon-based nanostructure layer such as carbon nanotubes and/or graphene with a sacrificial metal layer formed there over to protect the carbon-based nanostructure layer during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jack O. Chu, Christos D. Dimitrakopoulos, Alfred Grill, Timothy J. McArdle, Dirk Pfeiffer, Katherine L. Saenger, Robert L. Wisnieff
  • Publication number: 20170186881
    Abstract: Hall effect devices and field effect transistors are formed incorporating a carbon-based nanostructure layer such as carbon nanotubes and/or graphene with a sacrificial metal layer formed there over to protect the carbon-based nanostructure layer during processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: JACK O. CHU, CHRISTOS D. DIMITRAKOPOULOS, ALFRED GRILL, TIMOTHY J. McARDLE, DIRK PFEIFFER, KATHERINE L. SAENGER, ROBERT L. WISNIEFF
  • Patent number: 9692858
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing information services are disclosed. A method includes passing an instance an object, invoked by a user, to a memory device at a hardware layer of a network information system, the object being hosted for a tenant of a network information service. The method further includes determining by a processing unit of the memory device that storage of the object is not authorized by the tenant based on a security map provided by the tenant and accessible by the processing unit within the hardware layer. The method further includes preventing storage of the instance in the memory device based on the result of the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bhushan P. Jain, Sandeep R. Patil, Dirk Pfeiffer, Sri Ramanathan, Gandhi Sivakumar, Matthew B. Trevathan
  • Patent number: 9660806
    Abstract: Techniques for use of carbon nanotubes as an anti-tampering feature and for use of randomly metallic or semiconducting carbon nanotubes in the generation of a physically unclonable cryptographic key generation are provided. In one aspect, a cryptographic key having an anti-tampering feature is provided which includes: an array of memory bits oriented along at least one bit line and at least one word line, wherein each of the memory bits comprises a memory cell, wherein the cryptographic key is stored in the memory cell, and wherein the memory cell is connected to the at least one bit line; and a metallic carbon nanotube interconnect which connects the memory cell to the at least one word line. A cryptographic key and method for processing the cryptographic key are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wilfried Haensch, Shu-Jen Han, Keith A. Jenkins, Dirk Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20170122999
    Abstract: Methods for reliability testing include applying a stress voltage to a device under test (DUT); measuring a leakage current across the DUT; triggering measurement of optical emissions from the DUT based on the timing of the measurement of the leakage current; and correlating measurements of the leakage current with measurements of the optical emissions to determine a time and location of a defect occurrence within the DUT by locating instances of increased noise in the leakage current that correspond in time with instances of increased optical emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Jifeng Chen, Dirk Pfeiffer, Thomas M. Shaw, Peilin Song, Franco Stellari
  • Publication number: 20170063543
    Abstract: Techniques for use of carbon nanotubes as an anti-tampering feature and for use of randomly metallic or semiconducting carbon nanotubes in the generation of a physically unclonable cryptographic key generation are provided. In one aspect, a cryptographic key having an anti-tampering feature is provided which includes: an array of memory bits oriented along at least one bit line and at least one word line, wherein each of the memory bits comprises a memory cell, wherein the cryptographic key is stored in the memory cell, and wherein the memory cell is connected to the at least one bit line; and a metallic carbon nanotube interconnect which connects the memory cell to the at least one word line. A cryptographic key and method for processing the cryptographic key are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Wilfried Haensch, Shu-Jen Han, Keith A. Jenkins, Dirk Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 9568421
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a security device, in particular, a multilayered security device. The multilayered security device includes a substrate layer having a first substrate. The substrate layer attaches to the product. The multilayered security device also includes a graphene layer. The graphene layer has a first continuous graphene sheet that is made of a monolayer of covalently-bonded carbon atoms. The graphene layer also forms, in response to exposure to a verification stimulus, a contrasting pattern with respect to an exposed substrate area from the substrate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Damon B. Farmer, Dirk Pfeiffer, Joshua T. Smith
  • Patent number: 9557369
    Abstract: Methods for reliability testing include applying a stress voltage to a device under test (DUT); measuring a leakage current across the DUT; triggering measurement of optical emissions from the DUT based on the timing of the measurement of the leakage current; and correlating measurements of the leakage current with measurements of the optical emissions to determine a time and location of a defect occurrence within the DUT by locating instances of increased noise in the leakage current that correspond in time with instances of increased optical emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jifeng Chen, Dirk Pfeiffer, Thomas M. Shaw, Peilin Song, Franco Stellari
  • Publication number: 20170010322
    Abstract: Systems for reliability testing include a picometer configured to measure a leakage current across a device under test (DUT); a camera configured to measure optical emissions from the DUT based on a timing of the measurement of the leakage current; and a test system configured to apply a stress voltage to the DUT and to correlate the leakage current with the optical emissions using a processor to determine a time and location of a defect occurrence within the DUT by locating instances of increased noise in the leakage current that correspond in time with instances of increased optical emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Jifeng Chen, Dirk Pfeiffer, Thomas M. Shaw, Peilin Song, Franco Stellari