Patents by Inventor Nynke Verhaech

Nynke Verhaech 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).

  • Sensing circuit for devices with protective coating
    Patent number: 8138768
    Abstract: An integrated circuit has an inhomogeneous protective layer or coating over a circuit to be protected, and a sensing circuit (80) arranged to sense a first impedance of a part of the protective coating compared to a reference impedance (CO) located on the integrated circuit. The sensing circuit is able to measure a change in the first impedance, e.g. caused by tampering. The sensing circuit has an amplifier (OTA) having a feedback loop, such that the impedance being sensed is in the feedback loop. The sensing circuit can be incorporated in an oscillator circuit (OTA, Comp) so that the frequency depends on the impedance. Where the impedance is a capacitance, sensing electrodes adjacent to the protective layer or coating, form the capacitance. The electrodes can be arranged as selectable interdigitated comb structures, so that the protective layer or coating extends in between the teeth of the comb structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes A. J. Van Geloven, Robertus A. M. Wolters, Nynke Verhaech
  • SENSING CIRCUIT FOR DEVICES WITH PROTECTIVE COATING
    Publication number: 20100090714
    Abstract: An integrated circuit has an inhomogeneous protective layer or coating over a circuit to be protected, and a sensing circuit (80) arranged to sense a first impedance of a part of the protective coating compared to a reference impedance (CO) located on the integrated circuit. The sensing circuit is able to measure a change in the first impedance, e.g. caused by tampering. The sensing circuit has an amplifier (OTA) having a feedback loop, such that the impedance being sensed is in the feedback loop. The sensing circuit can be incorporated in an oscillator circuit (OTA, Comp) so that the frequency depends on the impedance. Where the impedance is a capacitance, sensing electrodes adjacent to the protective layer or coating, form the capacitance. The electrodes can be arranged as selectable interdigitated comb structures, so that the protective layer or coating extends in between the teeth of the comb structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes A. J. Van Geloven, Robertus A.M. Wolters, Nynke Verhaech