Abstract: A load port is capable of monitoring various environmental parameters associated with a transport carrier to minimize and/or prevent exposure of the semiconductor substrates therein to increased humidity, increased oxygen, increased vibration, and/or one or more other elevated environmental conditions that might otherwise contaminate the semiconductor substrates, damage the semiconductor substrates, and/or cause processing defects. For example, the load port may monitor the environmental parameters as indicators of a potential blockage of a diffuser of the transport carrier, and a relief valve may be used to divert a gas away from the transport carrier based on a determination that a diffuser blockage has occurred. In this way, the gas may be diverted through the relief valve and away from the transport carrier to prevent increased humidity, contaminants, and/or vibration from contaminating and/or damaging the semiconductor substrates.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for determining intrinsic resistance and/or battery life of a coin cell battery based on the recovery time of the battery voltage after a significant current draw event. Once the intrinsic resistance and/or battery life is known, a device powered by the coin cell battery can take action to lengthen the battery's useful lifetime. One example technique of operating a device powered by a battery generally includes performing an operation with a relatively high current draw from the battery compared to other operations of the device, determining a recovery time of a voltage of the battery after the operation, and estimating a position of the battery in a lifetime of the battery based on the recovery time.

Abstract: Technologies for updating a processing device, where a first device image is stored in a first (non-volatile) memory. When a new second device image is received via a communication interface, a first boot of the device is performed and a boot loader performs security processing on the second device image. Once security processing has passed, the second device image is set as a trial image and executed. The executed image is monitored to determine if predetermined operational parameters in the device are met. If the parameters are met, the second device image is set as a current image and the first device image is deactivated. A second boot is performed to make the new image operational for the device and the anti-rollback version one-time programmable fuses are blown. If the parameters are not met, the device revers to the first device image.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method to securely activate or revoke a key. For example, the apparatus may comprise: a storage device to store a plurality of pre-stored keys; a communication interface to receive an activate key command and a certificate associated with one of the pre-stored keys; and a processor. The processor may be coupled to the storage device and the communication interface and may be configured to: implement the activate key command to reboot the apparatus with the pre-stored key and the certificate; and determine if the reboot is successful.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for securely writing patch code to a memory of a system-on-chip (SoC) are described. An example of a method for securely writing patch code to the memory of the SoC includes determining an authentication status of a patch code image, if the authentication status of the patch code image is authenticated, then writing the patch code from the patch code image into a one-time programmable (OTP) memory and generating a system reset signal, and if the authentication status of the patch code image is unauthenticated, then booting the SoC without writing the patch code from the patch code image into the OTP memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method to securely activate or revoke a key. For example, the apparatus may comprise: a storage device to store a plurality of pre-stored keys; a communication interface to receive an activate key command and a certificate associated with one of the pre-stored keys; and a processor. The processor may be coupled to the storage device and the communication interface and may be configured to: implement the activate key command to reboot the apparatus with the pre-stored key and the certificate; and determine if the reboot is successful.