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Embedded Security Solutions With dsPIC33 DSCs

Robust Security for Embedded Systems


Protecting embedded systems with robust security is essential in Internet of Things (IoT), automotive, medical, consumer, wireless, industrial and other connected designs. Security standards are available and constantly evolving to reinforce requirements of IoT applications. Many automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are including security in their design specifications to protect Electronic Control Units (ECUs) in connected vehicles from attacks. 

No matter what market or application they address, these security specifications contain similar requirements:

  • Unique passwords for all devices without default passwords
  • Secure storage to isolate sensitive cryptographic keys
  • Firmware verification at boot to enable integrity before execution and after software updates
  • Secure communication between devices or ECUs and the external world

Secure Application Design


Secure applications can be designed using either the dsPIC33A DSC with cryptographic accelerators or the dsPIC33C DSCs combined with our ATECC608 CryptoAuthentication™ and TrustAnchor100 (TA100) CryptoAutomotive® security ICs. 

Our dsPIC33C DSCs deliver high performance, low power consumption and an application-specific feature set for low-power security, sensor interfacing, real-time control, functional safety, digital power conversion, Qi® wireless charger and motor control applications.

Security Features in dsPIC33Cs


Security Features dsPIC33A DSCs With Cryptographic Accelerators dsPIC33C DSCs dsPIC33CK-MPT Secure DSCs
Crypto Accelerators Support by pairing with external ATECC608 or TA100 device
IRT/Immutable Boot
Flash Segmentation and Access Control 8 configurable segments 2 configurable segments 2 configurable segments
Disable Debug
Secure Debug - -
RNG Support by pairing with external ATECC608 or TA100 device
Immutable Storage for Public Keys
Secure Storage for Private Keys and Symmetric Keys Support by pairing with external ATECC608 or TA100 device Support by pairing with external ATECC608 or TA100 device

Tools and Software


Part Number: Quantity: Price per Unit (in USD): Total Amt:
EV74H48A

The Curiosity Platform Development Board (EV74H48A) is a full-featured development and demonstration platform enabling customers to explore the capabilities of the dsPIC33A Digital Signal Controller (DSC) family and also the PIC32A MCU family. The board operation requires the insertion of a 120-pin General Purpose Dual In-Line Module (DIM) containing a dsPIC33A DSC device or a PIC32A MCU device.

EV80L65A

The dsPIC33AK512MPS512 General Purpose DIM (EV80L65A) is designed to demonstrate the capabilities of the dsPIC33AK512MPS512 family using the Curiosity Platform Development Board (EV74H48A) for a wide variety of applications.

EV02G02A

Evaluate this dsPIC33AK128MC106 General Purpose DIM (EV02G02A) is designed to demonstrate the capabilities of the dsPIC33AK128MC106 family using the Curiosity Platform Development Board (EV74H48A) for a wide variety of applications.

EV08U25A

This Plug-in Module (PIM) features a 100-pin dsPIC33CK512MPT608 Secure Digital Signal Controller (DSC) and can be used for evaluation of the dsPIC33CK512MPT608 and dsPIC33CK256MPT608.

EV97U97A

This board simplifies the evaluation of capacitive touch sensing using the dsPIC33C DSCs with core-independent touch capability or the device’s usage in automotive and industrial applications requiring CAN-FD, LIN or SENT communication. This board has on-board touch buttons, CAN/CAN FD, LIN and SENT transceivers, along with XPLAINED PRO and mikroBUS™ connectors to interface touch and other extension boards

EV10H29A

This Plug-in Module (PIM) features a 100-pin dsPIC33CK512MPT608 Secure Digital Signal Controller (DSC) and can be used for evaluation of the dsPIC33CK512MPT608 and dsPIC33CK256MPT608. The PIM works with the Explorer 16/32 Development Board (DM240001-2).

DM240001-2

The Explorer 16/32 Development Board is a low-cost modular development system for Microchip's 16-bit and 32-bit microcontrollers. It supports devices from the PIC24F, dsPIC®, and PIC32 families, with processor Plug-In Modules (PIMs) for easy device swapping. It includes a PICtail™ Plus daughter card connector for adding new functionalities.

DM330030

The dsPIC33CK Curiosity Development Board (DM330030) is a cost-effective development and demonstration platform for the dsPIC33CK family of single-core high performance digital signal controllers.
Designed to take full advantage of Microchip’s MPLAB® X IDE, the board includes an integrated programmer/debugger and requires no additional hardware, making it a perfect starting point to explore the dsPIC33CK family.

EV88G73A

The dsPIC33CK64MC105 Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit is a cost-effective hardware platform to evaluate the dsPIC33CK family of high-performance Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs). The board features the 100 MHz dsPIC33CK64MC105 DSC, which offers 64KB of ECC Flash, 8KB of RAM, a 12-bit/3.5 Msps ADC with 15 channels, 3 op amps, 1 analog comparator, a 12-bit DAC, 4x2 high-speed PWMs with 2 ns resolution and several Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs). The dsPIC33CK ‘MC1’ family is ideal for the design of automotive, motor control, sensor interfacing and control, high-performance, functional safety, and robust applications.

AC164167

The TA100 8-PIN SOIC Socket board is a mikroBUS extension board used to develop applications for the TA100 CryptoAutomotiveTM device.  The board supports both I2C and SPI versions of the device.

DT100104

The ATECC608 Trust is an add-on board for the CryptoAuth Trust Platform and other Microchip development platforms that contain a mikroBUS header For IoT Applications.
The board has ATECC608C-TFLXTLS, ATECC608C-TNGTLS, ATECC608C-TCSM and ECC608-TMNGTLS devices. 

 

MikroE Secure SOIC Click Photo

MikroE Secure SOIC Click

The Secure SOIC Click is designed for use with our CryptoAuthentication™ devices in an 8-pin SOIC package. It provides flexible communication support through the SPI, I2C and SWI interfaces.

MikroE Secure UDFN Click Photo

MikroE Secure UDFN Click

The Secure UDFN Click is designed for use with our CryptoAuthentication devices in an 8-pin UDFN package. It provides flexible communication support through the SPI, I2C and SWI interfaces.

Part Number: Quantity: Price per Unit (in USD): Total Amt:
MPLAB-X-IDE

MPLAB X IDE is a highly configurable software platform that provides powerful, free tools for developing, debugging and qualifying embedded designs that use microcontrollers and digital signal controllers.

MPLAB-XC-DSC

The MPLAB XC-DSC C Compiler is a full-featured, optimizing compiler that translates standard ANSI C programs into Digital Signal Controller (DSC) device assembly language sources. This compiler also supports many command-line options and language extensions that allow full access to the DSC device hardware capabilities and gives users fine control of the compiler code generator.

code-configurator

MPLAB Code Configurator supports 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit PIC® microcontrollers. MCC is incorporated into both the downloadable MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and the cloud-based MPLAB Xpress IDE.

Design Resources


Bootloader Icon

Secure Boot and Secure Firmware Upgrades: dsPIC33A DSC Bootloader Demo

The dsPIC33A DSC bootloader demo leverages the Crypto Accelerator Module (CAM) and hardware security features of the dsPIC33A DSC to implement secure boot and secure firmware upgrades.

Security Icon

Cryptographic Library for dsPIC33A DSCs

This library provides an easy-to-use abstraction layer for the crypto accelerators on dsPIC33A DSCs. 

  • Comprehensive library supporting symmetric and public-private key cryptography, hashing functions, digital signature algorithms and True Random Number Generators (TRNG)
  • Essential building block for implementing security use cases such as secure boot, secure firmware updates and secure communication
Bootloader Icon

Secure Boot and Secure Firmware Upgrades: dsPIC33 Bootloader Library

The bootloader in MPLAB® Code Configurator (MCC)/MPLAB Harmony leverages the hardware- security features of the dsPIC33A and dsPIC33C to implement secure boot and secure firmware upgrades. This library can also be used for applications using the dsPIC33 DSCs with ATECC608 and TA100.

Security Icon

CryptoAuthLib Library

Designed to work with the ATECC608 CryptoAuthentication and TA100 CryptoAutomotive devices, this software support library is available with MCC as a component of any application or device driver that requires crypto services from a crypto coprocessor. It works seamlessly with dsPIC33C DSCs.

Secure Wireless Connectivity

Node Authentication and Secure Communication: Cloud Connectivity

Visit our Internet of Things area to learn about reference applications for the dsPIC33C DSCs that use the CryptoAuthLib library to showcase Amazon Web Service (AWS) and Microsoft® Azure® Cloud connectivity. These reference applications, which are based on our PIC-IoT series of development boards, demonstrate secure node authentication and secure communication.

Trust Platform Design Suite Logo

Secure Provisioning

Avoid the high risks of exposure to your keys and reduce the costs of mass production by leveraging our secure key provisioning service. Our Trust Platform provisioning service prevents your credentials from being exposed at any time during product development and production, while also eliminating the need for extensive knowledge of and the necessary secure networks to handle cryptographic keys securely.

Learning


Microchip University Graphic

Security Webinars

Join our security experts and partners to learn about the latest trends and new developments for safeguarding your designs.

Microchip University Graphic

Technical Training Courses on Embedded Security

Available for free and on demand from Microchip University, our dsPIC® Bootloaders Using MCC: Device Side offers a live demonstration of implementing a bootloader, secure boot and secure firmware upgrades.

Microchip University Graphic

Cryptography Primer

Learn about the fundamentals of cryptography.

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dsPIC® DSC Bootloaders Using MCC–Device Side

This course focuses on developing a secure 16-bit bootloader and a generic bootloader with dsPIC33 DSCs.

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