Patent ID: 10466275

Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a glitch detection circuit monitoring a duration that a selected fractional supply voltage is below a predetermined voltage threshold. The selected fractional supply voltage may be at the predetermined threshold when the supply voltage is between a valid circuit-supply voltage and a power-on circuit-reset (POR). A glitch detect signal may be generated, for example, when the monitored duration is greater than a predetermined duration threshold. A test glitch generator may generate a test glitch, for example, having selectable voltage and duration, which may be selectably applied to the glitch detection circuit to verify operation. Various exemplary glitch detection circuits may advantageously determine externally produced tampering attempts by detecting circuit-supply voltages and durations that meet specific selectable supply voltage and duration criteria, improving security of sensitive field programmable gate array (FPGA) data by taking protective action in response to the detection.