Secure element protects consumables against cloning
To help hosts reject unwanted parts while protecting usage data and brand integrity, the STSAFE-L010 secure element System-on-a-Chip (SoC) from STMicroelectronics authenticates consumables, batteries, and accessories.
In high-volume systems, counterfeit consumables and cloned accessories can affect safety, performance, service revenue, and the reputation of the original equipment manufacturer. The secure element provides authentication and data-management services to a local host. It allows a host microcontroller to check whether an attached peripheral or consumable is genuine before operation continues.
Authentication uses a digital signature generated over a challenge sent by the host. Traceability data or zone data can be added to the challenge, allowing the host to authenticate both the STSAFE-L010 and selected stored information. Each STSAFE-L010 contains a unique private key loaded at the ST secure personalization center. The host verifies the resulting signature using the public key held in the certificate chain, with STMicroelectronics acting as certificate authority.
The STSAFE-L010 also supports usage monitoring through decrement-only secure counters. This makes it useful in consumables, batteries, cartridges, filters, tanks, and accessories where usage, charge count, or service life must be controlled.
A 32KB nonvolatile memory area can be configured in up to 64 zones. Each zone can have defined access rights, supporting use cases such as read-only manufacturing data, protected configuration files, service logs, or field-updated usage records.
Security protections include a secure MCU, the STSAFE-L010 operating system, a unique serial number, environmental-parameter monitoring, and countermeasures against faults and side-channel attacks.