4 Distinct Features on the PIC32CZ CA80/9X Family

HSM and PTC are two distinct features on the PIC32CZ CA80/9x Family MCUs, they provide additional layer of security and touch capability.

The following are the key features of HSM on the PIC32CZ CA80/CA9x:

  1. Cryptographic Acceleration: The HSM offers hardware acceleration for cryptographic algorithms, such as AES, RSA, ECC, and SHA. This reduces the processing load on the main CPU and increases the overall performance of cryptographic tasks, making secure operations faster and more efficient.
  2. Secure Key Storage: The HSM includes secure, non-volatile storage for cryptographic keys. This means sensitive information, such as private keys and certificates can be securely stored and accessed, minimizing the risk of key exposure even in the event of physical attacks on the device.
  3. Secure Boot: The HSM supports secure boot functionality, ensuring that the device only runs authenticated and authorized firmware. This prevents unauthorized code from executing on the microcontroller, enhancing device integrity from the moment it powers on.
  4. Random Number Generation: The HSM includes a hardware random number generator (TRNG), which is essential for generating cryptographically secure random numbers for key generation, nonce creation, and other cryptographic operations.
  5. Tamper Detection: Advanced tamper detection and response mechanisms are built into the HSM to protect against physical attacks, adding an additional layer of security against attempts to manipulate or extract data from the device.

    The HSM in the PIC32CZ CA80/CA9x family stands out because it offers a dedicated hardware module designed specifically for advanced cryptographic operations, secure key management, and tamper detection. This makes it more suitable for applications requiring high levels of security, such as secure boot and secure key storage. In contrast, the SAM E70/S70/V70/V71 family, while it offers cryptographic accelerators, does not provide the same level of dedicated security hardware and integrated security features, making the HSM in the PIC32CZ a distinct advantage for security-critical applications.

  6. PTC: The PTC on the PIC32CZ CA80/9x Family is one more distinct feature because it provides touch sensing capabilities integrated directly into the microcontroller. This makes it unique because:
    1. Integrated Capacitive Touch Sensing: The PTC can be used to implement capacitive touch sensing features (e.g., for buttons, sliders, or proximity sensing) without requiring additional external components.
    2. Low Power Consumption: The PTC is designed to operate efficiently in low power modes, which is crucial for battery-operated or power-sensitive applications.