Maxim Integrated Releases New Automotive-Grade Security Authenticator with Authenticity Verification to Improve Vehicle Safety and Reliability

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc recently announced the launch of the DS28E40 DeepCover® automotive application security authenticator, which helps designers improve the safety, reliability and data integrity of automobiles by securely authenticating automotive parts to ensure that they are genuine, while reducing design complexity and shortening software development time. In a critical system, only genuine parts can provide the highest safety and reliability. As the latest member of Maxim Integrated's automotive system solutions that meet the AEC-Q100 Grade 1 standard, the DS28E40 is a parasitic-powered security authenticator that uses a 1-Wire interface to effectively simplify system connections. This security authenticator can ensure that only genuine parts can be used in many electronic systems such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and electric vehicle batteries.

As automotive features become more complex, the potential risks to their safety and reliability also increase. Automakers have adopted two approaches to safety certification: ensuring that only OEM-certified parts can be safely connected to automotive systems; and reducing the growing risk of malware attacks. However, mature secure microcontrollers are relatively large in size, requiring software teams to spend a lot of time developing and conducting rigorous code testing and debugging.

The main problems with current microcontroller-based designs are: the larger the code base, the greater the likelihood of vulnerabilities or malware attacks, which can adversely affect its performance; in addition, most automotive safety certification solutions on the market today are implemented using I²C and SPI interfaces, which take up many interface pins - including dedicated power and reset lines, with as many as 5-6 pins. More pins result in greater power consumption and more reliability issues.

The DS28E40 DeepCover secure authenticator is a fixed-function 1-Wire solution that meets the AEC-Q100 Grade 1 standard and can replace microcontroller-based solutions. The single-function device provides OEMs with highly targeted algorithms and instruction sets to meet their specific secure authentication needs while reducing system design complexity and the workload of related code development. The device has built-in public/private key asymmetric ECDSA (ECC-P256 curve) and other key secure authentication algorithms, eliminating the need for OEMs to develop dedicated device-level code. The algorithms in the secure authentication IC and others provide the strongest protection against unauthorized components from compromising system performance, security, and data integrity.

The 1-Wire interface provides power and data communication through a single pin, requiring only two wires including ground. Fewer interface pins connect the ECU to the remote end through minimal cable harnesses, effectively reducing costs and further improving reliability. The DS28E40 is available in a small, 4mm x 3mm TDFN package and operates over a -40°C to +125°C temperature range.

Key Benefits

● High security: built-in symmetric secure hash algorithm (SHA-256); secure storage of ECDSA and SHA-256 keys; one-time programmable non-volatile memory for storing digital certificates and production data; hardware-based security solutions are more secure than software solutions.

● Higher reliability: Dedicated functions reduce code development workload; the 1-Wire interface reduces the number of pins from 6 to 2.

● Easy to integrate the system: The IC has built-in security algorithm, and no device-level code development is required; the 1-wire interface and extremely low software overhead on the host side effectively simplify system integration and do not require an external power supply.

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● "The parasitic-powered 1-Wire secure authenticator opens up a new paradigm for automotive terminal security authentication, allowing safe and reliable verification of component channels by adding only an ultra-small IC." said Michael Haight, director of the Embedded Security Division at Maxim Integrated. "Since power and data communication are achieved through a single contact, even passive components without electrical characteristics can be connected to the engine control unit (ECU) and securely authenticated."

Availability and Pricing

● The DS28E40 is available for purchase at the Maxim Integrated website and authorized distributors starting at $1.15 (1,000-up, FOB USA).

● The DS28E40EVKIT# evaluation kit is available for $97.57.