Advanced Radio Frequency Resonance “Crypto-Graphic” Semiconductor Devices Designed for the Future of Automotive Transportation

Semiconductor devices have revolutionized the automotive industry. Electronic engine control, navigation aids, and environmental systems once considered futuristic fantasy are now commonplace. Two of the latest trends in semiconductor automotive designs are cryptographic security and Radio Frequency (RF) communication devices.

“Crypto-Chips” utilize state-of-the -art differential encoding schemes to encrypt stored information. These encryption algorithms make it possible to transmit identical data in any one of 64 billion different combinations without risk of duplication. The sheer number of possible transmissions make “code breaking” virtually impossibility. Cryptographic semiconductor devices are ideally suited for automotive applications requiring ultra high security such as automotive lock and key entry systems. RF (radio frequency) semiconductor devices manufacture their internal energy from a surrounding ambient magnetic field making these devices, in essence, self-contained independent radio transmitters. The need for customer interaction such as to “push-a -button” to begin a transmission or change the battery has been eliminated. RF devices are ideally suited for automotive applications involving passive entry systems or identification tags.

This paper will describe in detail the advances in semiconductor cryptographic devices coupled with an in-depth explanation of resonance magnetic RF communication devices. The combination of these two technologies into a single semiconductor device will be presented as the latest achievement in automotive electronics combining ultra high security with passive customer vehicle interaction. Highlighted, will be automotive applications, which include passive remote keyless entry, engine immoblizers, and passive identification tags.