Maxim's security reference design enables licensing control and secure feature-set upgrades for Spartan-6 FPGA-based designs

SUNNYVALE, USA: Maxim Integrated Products Inc. announced a reference design to protect Xilinx Spartan-6 field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The reference design comprises free security software from Maxim or Xilinx and the Maxim DS28E01-100, a 1-Wire secure memory device.

Operating over a single pin, the built-in challenge-and-response SHA-1 authentication scheme in the DS28E01-100 prevents unauthorized product builds and safeguards FPGA IP. The reference design allows manufacturers to remotely turn on fee-based software-controlled feature upgrades, without physically altering the installed hardware.

The security scheme requires secret keys to be loaded in the FPGA and the 1-Wire secure memory. Maxim's reference core seamlessly overlays on the Spartan-6 device; utilizes less than 5 percent of the logic cell resources and eases the loading of secret keys into the FPGA. Maxim can also preprogram* the DS28E01-100 with customer-specified keys prior to delivery.