Patents by Inventor James L. Tucker

James L. Tucker 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).

  • Patent number: 11728328
    Abstract: Techniques to determine whether the design of integrated circuit (IC) has been tampered with during wafer manufacturing by using an enhanced library and layout methodology. The enhanced library may include location sensitive cells networked together in a mesh architecture where paths through the mesh can be used to detect relative position of location sensitive cells. The techniques further include algorithms that fill any unused space on an IC with additional elements from the enhanced library to minimize the opportunity to modify the IC by including additional circuit function or manipulating the layout. By physically locking down the circuit placement such that there is no available area and gives improved ability to detect changes in the physical location behavior of the circuit, therefore reduces the risk that unauthorized circuit manipulation will go undetected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20220199607
    Abstract: Techniques to determine whether the design of integrated circuit (IC) has been tampered with during wafer manufacturing by using an enhanced library and layout methodology. The enhanced library may include location sensitive cells networked together in a mesh architecture where paths through the mesh can be used to detect relative position of location sensitive cells. The techniques further include algorithms that fill any unused space on an IC with additional elements from the enhanced library to minimize the opportunity to modify the IC by including additional circuit function or manipulating the layout. By physically locking down the circuit placement such that there is no available area and gives improved ability to detect changes in the physical location behavior of the circuit, therefore reduces the risk that unauthorized circuit manipulation will go undetected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventor: James L. Tucker
  • Patent number: 11276678
    Abstract: Techniques to determine whether the design of integrated circuit (IC) has been tampered with during wafer manufacturing by using an enhanced library and layout methodology. The enhanced library may include location sensitive cells networked together in a mesh architecture where paths through the mesh can be used to detect relative position of location sensitive cells. The techniques further include algorithms that fill any unused space on an IC with additional elements from the enhanced library to minimize the opportunity to modify the IC by including additional circuit function or manipulating the layout. By physically locking down the circuit placement such that there is no available area and gives improved ability to detect changes in the physical location behavior of the circuit, therefore reduces the risk that unauthorized circuit manipulation will go undetected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Tucker
  • Patent number: 10708073
    Abstract: In some examples, a programmable device may load configuration data into a configuration storage to configure programmable logic of the programmable device. The programmable device may include a key generation logic that may read at least a portion of the configuration data from the configuration storage. The key generation logic may generate a cryptographic key based at least in part on the at least a portion of the configuration data read from the configuration storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Profumo, Thomas Cordella, James L. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20200212031
    Abstract: Techniques to determine whether the design of integrated circuit (IC) has been tampered with during wafer manufacturing by using an enhanced library and layout methodology. The enhanced library may include location sensitive cells networked together in a mesh architecture where paths through the mesh can be used to detect relative position of location sensitive cells. The techniques further include algorithms that fill any unused space on an IC with additional elements from the enhanced library to minimize the opportunity to modify the IC by including additional circuit function or manipulating the layout. By physically locking down the circuit placement such that there is no available area and gives improved ability to detect changes in the physical location behavior of the circuit, therefore reduces the risk that unauthorized circuit manipulation will go undetected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventor: James L. Tucker
  • Patent number: 10622345
    Abstract: Techniques to determine whether the design of integrated circuit (IC) has been tampered with during wafer manufacturing by using an enhanced library and layout methodology. The enhanced library may include location sensitive cells networked together in a mesh architecture where paths through the mesh can be used to detect relative position of location sensitive cells. The techniques further include algorithms that fill any unused space on an IC with additional elements from the enhanced library to minimize the opportunity to modify the IC by including additional circuit function or manipulating the layout. By physically locking down the circuit placement such that there is no available area and gives improved ability to detect changes in the physical location behavior of the circuit, therefore reduces the risk that unauthorized circuit manipulation will go undetected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20190229105
    Abstract: Techniques to determine whether the design of integrated circuit (IC) has been tampered with during wafer manufacturing by using an enhanced library and layout methodology. The enhanced library may include location sensitive cells networked together in a mesh architecture where paths through the mesh can be used to detect relative position of location sensitive cells. The techniques further include algorithms that fill any unused space on an IC with additional elements from the enhanced library to minimize the opportunity to modify the IC by including additional circuit function or manipulating the layout. By physically locking down the circuit placement such that there is no available area and gives improved ability to detect changes in the physical location behavior of the circuit, therefore reduces the risk that unauthorized circuit manipulation will go undetected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventor: James L. Tucker
  • Patent number: 10178786
    Abstract: A circuit package for electrically connecting a plurality of modules. The circuit package having a first and second mounting plate, each including a plurality of module connectors configured to receive and form electrical connections with the plurality of modules. The circuit package also having a first and second sidewall mounted to the first and second mounting plates. The first sidewall including a plurality of sidewall fins extending outward from the first sidewall so that the plurality of sidewall fins are positioned between the first and second mounting plates and at least partially interleave with the plurality of modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Tucker, Romney R. Katti
  • Patent number: 10013363
    Abstract: A system may encrypt the contents of a memory using an encryption key that is generated based on an entropy-based key derivation function. The system may generate a random value as a key split associated with an instance of writing data to memory. The system may generate an encryption key for encrypting the data using an entropy-based key derivation function based at least in part on the key split. The system may encrypt the data using the encryption key. The system may store the encrypted data and the key split to the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Tucker, Thomas Cordella, John D. Profumo
  • Patent number: 9997466
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a stacked integrated circuit system that includes two integrated circuit layers stacked on opposite sides of an interposer layer. The interposer layer may include at least one integrated circuit die and an interposer portion that includes a plurality of electrically conductive pillars arranged in a laterally patterned array within the interposer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Eric E. Vogt, Gregor D. Dougal, James L. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20180131528
    Abstract: In some examples, a programmable device may load configuration data into a configuration storage to configure programmable logic of the programmable device. The programmable device may include a key generation logic that may read at least a portion of the configuration data from the configuration storage. The key generation logic may generate a cryptographic key based at least in part on the at least a portion of the configuration data read from the configuration storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: John D. Profumo, Thomas Cordella, James L. Tucker
  • Patent number: 9947609
    Abstract: In some examples, an integrated circuit system includes a plurality of integrated circuit layers. At least one of the integrated circuit layers includes an integrated circuit die, which may not include any through-silicon vias that provide a pathway to an adjacent integrated circuit layer, and an interposer portion, which includes electrically conductive through-vias. The interposer portion may facilitate communication of the integrated circuit die with other integrated circuit layers of the integrated circuit system. In some examples, the stacked integrated circuit system may include more than one integrated circuit die, which may be in the same integrated circuit layer as at least one other integrated circuit die, or may be in a different integrated circuit layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Tucker, Gary Roosevelt, Kenneth H. Heffner, James Hobbs
  • Patent number: 9741644
    Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) system including a substrate, a contour support, and a first and second IC dies. The contour support including a first support frame attached to the substrate defining a first lateral contact surface substantially orthogonal to the substrate, a support plate on the first support frame substantially parallel to the substrate, and a second support frame on the support plate defining a second lateral contact surface substantially orthogonal to the substrate, with the first and second lateral contact surfaces laterally offset from each other. The first integrated circuit die with a side abutting the first lateral contact surface, the second integrated circuit die with a side abutting the second lateral contact surface such that at least a portion of the support plate is between the first and second integrated circuit dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Romney R. Katti, James L. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20170125352
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a stacked integrated circuit system that includes two integrated circuit layers stacked on opposite sides of an interposer layer. The interposer layer may include at least one integrated circuit die and an interposer portion that includes a plurality of electrically conductive pillars arranged in a laterally patterned array within the interposer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Eric E. Vogt, Gregor D. Dougal, James L. Tucker
  • Patent number: 9548277
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a stacked integrated circuit system that includes two integrated circuit layers stacked on opposite sides of an interposer layer. The interposer layer may include at least one integrated circuit die and an interposer portion that includes a plurality of electrically conductive pillars arranged in a laterally patterned array within the interposer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Eric E. Vogt, Gregor D. Dougal, James L. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20170005699
    Abstract: Spread spectrum clocking circuitry may be configured to produce a spread spectrum clock signal that coordinates the actions of functional circuitry. Spread spectrum clocking circuitry may be configured to include delay circuitry configured to generate a random delay signal based on a random input value and generate the spread spectrum clock signal based on the random delay signal. By introducing true randomness into the delay signal, spread spectrum clocking signal may be able to generate a truly random, as opposed to a merely pseudo random, clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: James L. Tucker, Thomas Cordella
  • Patent number: 9525457
    Abstract: Spread spectrum clocking circuitry may be configured to produce a spread spectrum clock signal that coordinates the actions of functional circuitry. Spread spectrum clocking circuitry may be configured to include delay circuitry configured to generate a random delay signal based on a random input value and generate the spread spectrum clock signal based on the random delay signal. By introducing true randomness into the delay signal, spread spectrum clocking signal may be able to generate a truly random, as opposed to a merely pseudo random, clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Tucker, Thomas Cordella
  • Publication number: 20160330854
    Abstract: A circuit package for electrically connecting a plurality of modules. The circuit package having a first and second mounting plate, each including a plurality of module connectors configured to receive and form electrical connections with the plurality of modules. The circuit package also having a first and second sidewall mourned to the first and second mounting plates. The first sidewall including a plurality of sidewall fins extending outward from the first sidewall so that the plurality of sidewall fins are positioned between the first and second mounting plates and at least partially interleave with the plurality of modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: James L. Tucker, Romney R. Katti
  • Publication number: 20160329271
    Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) system including a substrate, a contour support, and a first and second IC dies. The contour support including a first support frame attached to the substrate defining a first lateral contact surface substantially orthogonal to the substrate, a support plate on the first support frame substantially parallel to the substrate, and a second support frame on the support plate defining a second lateral contact surface substantially orthogonal to the substrate, with the first and second lateral contact surfaces laterally offset from each other. The first integrated circuit die with a side abutting the first lateral contact surface, the second integrated circuit die with a side abutting the second lateral contact surface such that at least a portion of the support plate is between the first and second integrated circuit dies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Romney R. Katti, James L. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20160315055
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a stacked integrated circuit system that includes two integrated circuit layers stacked on opposite sides of an interposer layer. The interposer layer may include at least one integrated circuit die and an interposer portion that includes a plurality of electrically conductive pillars arranged in a laterally patterned array within the interposer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Eric E. Vogt, Gregor D. Dougal, James L. Tucker