Maxim Integrated unveils automotive-grade secure authenticator for genuine parts

Advertisement

Maxim Integrated’s line of AEC-Q100 Grade 1 solutions for automotive systems, the DS28E40 is a parasitically-powered authenticator utilizing a 1-Wire interface for simple connectivity.

This authenticator IC ensures only genuine components are used for many electronic systems, such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and electric vehicle batteries.

With cars becoming more sophisticated with the features they offer, safety and security risks grow as well.

Automotive manufacturers use authentication in two ways: to ensure only OEM-certified components are safely connected to vehicle systems and to reduce the growing threat of malware attacks.

But most full-blown secure microcontrollers have a relatively big footprint and require software development teams to create, rigorously test and debug their code.

Problems with current microcontroller-based solutions are: The bigger the code base is, the higher the risk of bugs or malware adversely affecting performance. Plus, I²C and SPI interface automotive security solutions available on the market may require many interface pins—as many as five or six, including dedicated power and reset lines. More pins can lead to higher costs and more reliability issues.

Michael Haight, director, Embedded Security at Maxim Integrated, said, “The parasitically powered 1-Wire authenticator really opens up automotive endpoints that can be secured and properly authenticated by adding just one chip.”

He added: “With the ground plus single contact for power and communication, even a passive automotive component that doesn’t otherwise have electronics could be connected to an engine control unit (ECU) and authenticated.”

DeepCover authenticator

DS28E40 DeepCover authenticator is a fixed-function, 1-Wire solution that meets the AEC-Q100 standard Grade 1 performance standards and replaces microcontroller-based approaches.

The fixed-function device gives OEMs a targeted algorithm and command toolset to meet their specific security needs, while reducing both system design complexity and associated code development efforts.

Its public/private key asymmetric ECDSA (ECC-P256 curve) and other key authentication algorithms are built into the IC, allowing OEMs to skip development of proprietary device-level code. This and other algorithms in the authenticator IC provide the strongest defense against unauthorized components that could compromise performance, safety and data integrity.

(With inputs from Automotive Lead Research Team)

If you like this article from Automotive Lead, please feel free to share this in your social media platforms to help your contacts to understand more on this subject

Also read: ASDC, FADA collaborate with Google for industry’s digital transformation