Patent ID: 7430293

Claim:
Cryptography processor for carrying out operations for cryptographic applications, comprising: a central processing unit for obtaining commands for executing an operation and for outputting results of an operation; a co-processor coupled to the central processing unit, the co-processor comprising: a plurality of calculating subunits, each calculating subunit comprising at least one arithmetical unit; and a single control unit coupled to each of the plurality of calculating subunits and arranged to sub-divide an operation into sub-operations, to distribute the sub-operations among the plurality of calculating subunits and to control the execution of the operation by the plurality of calculating subunits, wherein the single control unit is adapted to provide the calculating subunits with instructions in a serial manner, to activate a first calculating subunit at a certain time instant, and to activate a second calculating subunit, when the activation of the first calculating subunit is completed and during operation of the second calculating subunit, such that the first calculating subunit and the second calculating subunit operate simultaneously but in a time staggered manner, wherein the plurality of calculating subunits, the central processing unit, and the single control unit are integrated on a single chip, and wherein the single chip comprises a common supply current access for supplying the plurality of calculating subunits, the central processing unit, and the single control unit with current.