The FPGA Lock Core is an innovative FPGA solution designed to secure FPGAs and hardware against unauthorized access and counterfeiting, leveraging a Microchip ATSHA204A crypto authentication IC. It reads a unique ID, generates a 256-bit challenge, and uses secure hashing to verify the hardware's authenticity, ensuring hardware integrity in sensitive applications like military and medical fields. This solution allows hardware protection against IP theft by enforcing authentication and disables FPGA functionality if unauthorized access is detected. The core utilizes minimal logic resources and one FPGA pin, communicating through a bidirectional open drain link. The clarity of this system is enhanced by providing the core in VHDL, allowing users to thoroughly understand its functionality, supported by example designs on Cyclone10 and Artix 7 boards, catering to both Intel and Xilinx FPGA platforms. Complementing this security measure is the Key Writer Core, which allows programming of custom secret keys into the ATSHA204A in situ on assembled boards, ensuring a seamless integration with the FPGA Lock system. Available for various FPGA platforms, the Efinix version, distributed with TRS Star, expands its applicability, with webinars and user guides offering in-depth implementation insights.
